Can You Cut a Dog’s Whiskers? (And Why Do They Have Them)?

Whether you’re a seasoned dog parent or a first-time companion to a canine, you might be wondering, “Can you cut a dog’s whiskers?”

The answer? It’s complicated. 

Technically, you can cut through dog whiskers—traditional shears and scissors will cut through dog whiskers. Some dog lovers have differing opinions on the topic, but anyone interested in trimming their dog’s whiskers should carefully consider the repercussions. 

We break down everything you need to know about dog whiskers—what they are, what they do, whether or not you should cut them, and grooming dos and don’ts. 

What’s up With Whiskers?

Whiskers aren’t just normal hairs—they are more complicated than you might think. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of your pup’s all-important facial hair. 

What Are Whiskers?

Human whiskers and dog whiskers aren’t remotely the same. Sure, they can both be stiff, coarse, and long (if untrimmed), but there’s a crucial difference—human whiskers are just a secondary sex characteristic, while dog whiskers serve numerous critical functions (we’ll break those down below). 

Technically, dog whiskers are vibrissae, meaning “vibrated” in Latin. Many animals have vibrissae, including:

• Cats
• Rats and mice
• Aquatic mammals (like manatees)
• Foxes and other woodland mammals

Vibrissae are considered a sensory organ separate from a dog’s fur coat. Like human hairs, dogs’ coats keep them warm and help protect their skin from dirt and oils, but veterinarians and zoologists consider whiskers independent of the rest of an animal’s hair. 

Do All Dogs Have Whiskers?

All dogs have whiskers—even as domesticated dogs have evolved throughout history, the presence of whiskers has remained consistent. 

Even puppies have whiskers. Humans must usually reach puberty before developing many secondary sex characteristics (like coarse facial hairs), but whiskers are some of the first hairs that puppies grow. Sometimes they’re even present at birth. 

But, when they’re not present at birth, whiskers pop up early in puppyhood—usually before the rest of their coat comes in. Since whiskers are so functional, puppies’ bodies develop them as early in life as possible.

Where Are Whiskers on a Dog?

Dog whiskers are typically located:

• Above the eyes
• On the chin
• Above the upper lip

Different breeds feature unique whisker configurations, but dog parents can generally find whiskers in these areas (unless they’ve gotten cut off by a groomer, which we’ll discuss in more detail later). 

Whiskers generally appear in the snout and face area because dogs’ faces sit far forward compared to the rest of the body. One of the whiskers’ most crucial functions is sensory processing—since dogs walk face-first, their whiskers are the first line of defense as they navigate the world. 

What Do Whiskers Do?

Whiskers perform numerous vital functions for dogs (and every mammal that has them). 

Whiskers are powerful because the hair follicles they spout from are full of nerve endings and blood vessels—features that aid them in sending information to the brain. Each of a dog’s whiskers connects directly to a specific area of the brain. 

What kind of information are the whiskers sending to your dog’s brain?

• Up-close sensory details – Dogs have acute hearing and olfactory (scent) senses, but their close-up vision leaves much to be desired. Whiskers help dogs sense the things directly in front of them, providing information their eyes can skip. 

• Air currents – Dogs’ whiskers can sense even slight changes in air currents—that’s why dogs are superior hunters and trackers. Combined with their sense of smell, sensory information from air currents helps dogs track down the rest of their pack, sense predators, and locate items in the dark. 

• Defensive signals – Whiskers help a dog’s brain produce defensive functions or movements. For example, if a speck of dirt lands on a dog’s whiskers, it might shake its head, sneeze, or blink to keep the dirt out of its sensitive eyes. 

But, whiskers can also “tell” humans or other animals what’s going on in a dog’s brain:

• Resting-state – When dogs sleep, their whiskers stay relaxed—laying down instead of standing up, twitching, or moving. Even if your dog is lying down, they may not be asleep. But, you can tell whether your dog is taking a light snooze or a deep sleep by looking at their whiskers. 

• Emotional response – Happy, relaxed dogs’ whiskers often rise or point out from their muzzle. Since they feel safe, they’re not as heightened to potential threats—or information that would alert them to dangers. But, when dogs feel threatened, their whiskers point forward to help them collect as much information as possible about the stimulus.

Can You Cut a Dog’s Whiskers? 

So, can you cut a dog’s whiskers? Technically, yes. But should you cut your dog’s whiskers?

The consensus of the veterinary and zoological communities is that you should refrain from cutting or trimming your dog’s whiskers. Trimming whiskers for aesthetic purposes is against animal welfare laws in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. 

Additionally, both the American Kennel Club and VCA Animal Hospitals recommend leaving dogs’ whiskers alone during the grooming process. Why?

• When you cut or trim a dog’s whiskers, you’re essentially depriving a significant portion of their brain of stimulus. It would be like taking away a human’s sense of smell, taste, or sight.

• Whiskers help keep dogs safe. Even though you may not see your dog using their whiskers, they keep your pup from running into walls in the dark, damaging their eyes with foreign materials, and mistaking safe situations for dangerous ones (which can cause anxiety).

• Dogs whose whiskers are trimmed or cut walk slower, which can decrease their activity level and increase their restlessness. Since they’re moving through the world with reduced sensory information, dogs take care to move slowly, look at their surroundings closely, and keep their ears alert for as much environmental information as possible in the absence of working whiskers. 

If you’ve groomed your dog’s whiskers in the past, don’t panic—they grow back (as do eyelashes), but slowly. In the future, ask your groomer to skip the whiskers while they trim your dog’s coat.

Do’s and Don’ts of Dog Whiskers

So, now that you know how vital whiskers can be to a dog’s health, safety, and happiness, how should you handle them in the future? Check out this list of Dos and Don’ts:

• Do:
  • Locate your dog’s whiskers and get familiar with their resting, active, and frightened positions and directions. 

• Treat your dog’s whiskers with care. When you wash your dog at home, wash their whisker areas gently to prevent sensory overload or discomfort. 

• Observe your dog’s whiskers to make sure they’re functioning correctly. If you see something stuck in your dog’s whiskers, but they don’t seem to notice, mention this to your vet during your next visit. 

• Take note of whisker growth in newborn puppies. If a puppy doesn’t seem to be growing whiskers, take your pup to the vet. 

• Don’t:
  • Pluck, shear, or trim your dog’s whiskers. They’re crucial for your dog’s sensory processing, and removing them deprives them of an entire sense.

• Pull on your dog’s whiskers, even if you’re just playing. Since the follicles that sprout whiskers are full of nerve endings and blood vessels, they’re more sensitive than the rest of the hairs on their coat.

• Ignore signs that your dog’s whiskers may not be functioning correctly. That could signal a more serious health problem, so any worries about whiskers should get directed to your vet. 

• Forget to mention your pup’s whiskers to your groomer. A groomer’s default move might be to trim dogs’ whiskers while they trim the rest of the snout—if you want to make sure a groomer leaves your dog’s whiskers alone, you need to let them know. 

Most importantly, don’t panic—if you’ve cut your dog’s whiskers in the past, rest assured that they’ll grow back. In the future, remember that cutting your dog’s whiskers does more harm than good. 

Final Thoughts

Cutting your dog’s whiskers won’t cause serious consequences, but there really is no good reason to do so. Whiskers are important to a dog’s normal functioning, and limiting that in any way just to change their aesthetic appearance is not fair to the dog.