Do dogs have whiskers?

Not merely cosmetic, dog's whiskers help them navigate their world. Dogs have a set of stiff hairs protruding from the sides of their muzzles that are popularly called "whiskers." These are not at all like the nonfunctional whiskers that men sometimes grow on their faces and they are technically called vibrissae. read more

Whiskers—for which the technical term is “vibrissae”—are a specialized type of hair found in many mammals, including cats and dogs. These long, coarse hairs “play a special role in tactile sensation, helping animals define where they are in space,” says Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, DVM, and author of All Dogs Go to Kevin. read more

For humans, touch is a sense most often associated with the fingers. But man's best friend, the dog, touches the world a different way — with his face. Whiskers, or vibrissae, are long, coarse hairs protruding from a dog's muzzle, jaw and above its eyes. read more