University of Illinois Extension

Whiskers

Whiskers on a dog are different than your dad’s.  They are found around the nose, eyes, upper lip and chin.  They have deep roots and are very sensitive.  They are used to sense vibrations in the air currents.  This helps to identify the size, shape, and how close objects are.  For example, what do you think the whiskers around the eyes do?  They sense objects close to the eyes causing them to blink.