Trimming a dog's whiskers: perfectly fine or abject cruelty...?

I was reading some letters about this in one of the dog magazines. Just wondered what Dogsey folk feel on this issue...?

In the mag, some owners insisted it's totally fine to give a dog's whiskers the occasional trim. Other owners however maintain that it is cruel in the extreme.

What is your point of view?
Do you/have you trimmed your dog's whiskers?

Why would it be cruel?

Because you are taking away a primary sensor. ( whiskers). According to some views!

i don't know why it would cross anyones mind to trim a dogs whiskers must be for the looks. No I wouldn't

They are sensitive thick `feelers` aren`t they? Not just long strands of hair. I don`t like to see dogs tweezed and plucked personally.

It doesn't bother me.
I don't trim them, but know people who do and I don't think it affects the dogs at all.

I've never noticed my dogs "using" their whiskers in any way at all.

I prefer then to be left
I wouldnt go as far as to say its cruel, dogs adapt without them fine but dogs do seem to use them

and I think they look lovely too

Ben loves me scritching about his whiskers

I agree (we do joke about putting some 'Just for Men' on Max's grey whiskers though )

I think on breeds who need regular trimming - it can be hard not to trim the whiskers a little... but I don't know where to stand on this... I have often thought about trimming Louie's split end whiskers though - split ends annoy me and Sadie could do with some Loreal around her whiskers - just like Max

I don't think it's cruel exactly, but I really don't like it, I must say.

I really hate it on some horses that are shown - Arabs, for instance. They take away the natural look and then put baby oil on the muzzle to enhance the satin sheen of the coat. I think their whiskers are just beautiful and I'd imagine more important for a horse in fact.

But to me it's going too far on the whole primpy thing and I feel the same about dogs. Also if they are used for sensing, I'd say leave it, don't mend what ain't busted!

Wys
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