Are you supposed to cut the whiskers?

 I know in cats that is bad bad bad. But I think dog show people cut the dogs whiskers off.

 It is routine in show dogs to trim the whiskers off, many feel it gives the head a "cleaner" look. Dogs with shaved faces such as poodles obviously have their whisker's cut off regularly. It isn't any kind of issue and they grow back quick but since your dog is just a pet and you don't like it - tell the groomer to leave the whiskers :)

Hi Lori,

Years ago most breeds had then shaved off for the dhow ring to present a cleaner and often younger looking face.  There was no real reason for doong it , only that it made your animal look much younger and better groomed.  Now very few hound folks still do it.  It is to a certain extent a form of mutliation since they actually use the whisker for everything from depth perception to ease of passage through a tight area. I not only do not remove them but I refuse to alllow my puppies to have them done. After speaking with many judges they say the same thing it is such a tiny effort in grooming that they don't give extra mental points Another odd fyi,, most of the folks I have spoken with over the years swear the dog greys faster if you make it a practice to trim the whiskers

Bonita of Bwana

Bonita of Bwana

Another odd fyi,, most of the folks I have spoken with over the years swear the dog greys faster if you make it a practice to trim the whiskers

 I do whiskers generally on my Belgians for show and have seen no difference in greying. I have GSDs who have never had whiskers done. One of my GSDs started greying at 2 years old, just like her mom but the other only just started greying at 8ish. Of the Belgians my 9 year old still barely has any grey. My 6 year old has quite a bit of white aorund the front of his mouth which started when he was around a year old but his daughter (also the 9 year old's daughter) has no grey at close to 4. Greying and age of greying IME is a genetic thing and doesn't have much to do with the whiskers.

AgileGSD

I do whiskers generally on my Belgians for show and have seen no difference in greying. I have GSDs who have never had whiskers done. One of my GSDs started greying at 2 years old, just like her mom but the other only just started greying at 8ish. Of the Belgians my 9 year old still barely has any grey. My 6 year old has quite a bit of white aorund the front of his mouth which started when he was around a year old but his daughter (also the 9 year old's daughter) has no grey at close to 4. Greying and age of greying IME is a genetic thing and doesn't have much to do with the whiskers.

Speaking specifically about Ridgebacks I have followed several lines and actually seen a true difference in greying in regards to trimimng whiskers. My old girl is VERY white faced. we trimmed her whiskers for nearly 2 years. Her Mate who also had his whiskers trimed greyed at a very early age. Thier daughter  who was never trimmed has the smallest amount of white in her face at 9 years.  A son who was trimed , was very grey by age 4. The color of nose did not have an effect as this was a solid mix of liver and black noses.  Other kennels who we have shown with for decades also have mentioned they are seeing this as a pattern on a more regular basis.  Not all RRs grey,  and most will grey in a line specific pattern, for example most of my kids will , when they grey get a white shadowing under the eyes before anywhere else.  The dogs I have not trimmed whiskers on has next to no grey around the muzzle area.  I think it is different for many breeds. And I think the level of sensitivity differs greatly with breed as well.  A dog who is stripped , like a terrier has less issue with having thier hair pulled to thin the coat, poodles don't seem to worry terribly about having thier ear hair pulled out but I can assure you a RR would have serious problems with either activity.  does it cause everlasting damage? No I don't think so , but as I said after polling enough judges and hearing they did not want to see the shaved face we stopped . Watching a dog up close and personal it is funny to watch the expression they can convey twitching the whiskers in a a rather comical  manner. 

I think it is a case of to each their own. Cropping ears puzzles me, I love the sensitive and long houndy ears that have such emotion to them. Docking most tails has a reason , weather it is purely historical or asthetic it is still pretty much an owner's choice.  I think it is simple to agree to disagree on things like this.  Just as coats difer in type and texture.Cs

Bonita of Bwana

Bonita of Bwana

Now very few hound folks still do it.

Almost always done in conformation, with Beagles.

Personal choice...I've done it and never noticed any difference in the function on a day to day basis. I agree with Agile...mention you want whiskers left on, no reason for a pet dog to have them off.

As mentioned above--in conformation it depends on the handler/groomer.  Some like it, some don't, and in some breeds it is more prevalent or in some almost exclusively done.  I've heard it said, if you're showing and you don't know if you should or not--wait 'till you get in your grooming area and see who else is doing it.  Don't be the odd dog out.   

The Samoyed club actually had it put in to the breed standard, whiskers are not to be trimmed. A great move, and now nobody has to agonize over whether to trim or not.

I have heard that if you have hunting dogs or others that run through the brush, they will have fewer eye injuries if you leave the whiskers on.

Thanks guys.  I'm glad I asked and that it's not a big no no like with cats.  But, I think I'm going to request that they leave them alone from now on.  It did make her face look different and I didn't care for it.

Thanks again!

Lori

I can see how trimming whiskers would neaten up the appearance of a smooth coated dog, but have never understood doing it on a dog with a big fluffy coat. They look like something is missing.

Plus, when they start to grow out and rub their muzzle on you, talk about whisker burn. Ouch!