New topic -- Just For Fun

[Doc E]

The whiskers on a dog's snout probably have various functions.

The quesion is : What is the PRIMARY reason for the whiskers at the sides of a dog's nose ?
(This is not a joke or trick question). Anybody know ?


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[slistoe]

To attract the ladies.

[Mountaineer]

Same as for a cat...locating and orienting themselves within their sensory and physical needs.

Saw this question on at least three message boards....kinda like a circuit.

[Gertie]

Ok, I'll bite I believe that the whisker's primary function is to aid in spacial perception. Meaning that the dog uses his whiskers to feel things near his face and they work similarly to a how your hands and feet work when you close your eyes and walk through a room. Basically they are a tactile way for a dog to gather information. I've also heard that the whiskers collect scent too. Was I close?

[Doc E]

Good guesses so far.

Hint : When the whiskers touch something, a protective reflex takes place......... What does that reflex do ?



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[tommyboy72]

They act like human fingers to feel things. Their reflex is to blink or jerk their heads back. They also help with their balance.

[Doc E]

They act like human fingers to feel things. Their reflex is to blink .

Close enough to be the winner.
The PRIMARY function is to initiate the eye blink reflex. The eye will blink shut on whichever side the whiskers are touched.
That's why our dogs can bust through brush and almost never get an injury to the cornea. they may get pokes, scratches and cuts around the eye --- but almost never to the eye itself.

Just touch the whiskers --- the eye on that side (sometimes both) will blink shut.



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[SHORTFAT]

Very interesting... and all this time I thought they were just for dripping milk on my wifes sofa...

[Double Shot Banks]

this probably sounds silly, but what if the dog needs them for protection, if the dog flinches in-voluntarily when the whiskers are touched..
Isaac and Banks

[Doc E]

Very interesting... and all this time I thought they were just for dripping milk on my wifes sofa...

As I said in the original poa\st, "The whiskers on a dog's snout probably have various functions".
Dripping milk on the sofa is secondary and not primary.



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[Doc E]

this probably sounds silly, but what if the dog needs them for protection, if the dog flinches in-voluntarily when the whiskers are touched..
Isaac and Banks

When something touches the whiskers, it shouldn't make them flinch -- it should make them shut their eye(s).



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