Whiskers - Trim'em or keep'em...

[Bev]

What's the trend these days? Does it matter anymore, or do you think ring judges prefer them shaved still?

[TC]

I personally think when you trim the whiskers it makes their face look softer. But I have shown my hounds with and without whiskers and have recieved placement with and with out whiskers.

I do think however when you do take time and groom your dog and there is similar dogs in the ring they are gonna start looking at how much detail you paid to your dog so it may cost you a win if you are competing against similar dogs.

[Honey Pot Hounds]

In the AKC rings competition is usually so stiff that not to remove the whiskers would be asking to look like a novice...and the judges seem to prefer to dump the easiest person to dump, IMHO. Not only do you need to groom to perfection in AKC but you must hold your own amongst "faces" who will give the judge a pissy attitude and slander them to all the regulars if they get dumped.

The judge really wants to put up the people he has to see all the time so as not to make enemies (this is the typical, lazy judge...not the real "dogman" judges which seem to be a dying breed) so if you don't fight for that win you are NOT going to get it. If they see insecurity on your part about your dog "good-bye."

So, since none of us are "faces" and we are all pretty much novices here in the AKC conformation rings SHAVE THEM WHISKERS

JUST MY HONEST OPINION

[Honey Pot Hounds]

I wanted to add that I am letting my pregnant bitches whiskers grow out. I figure they might be useful to her for some reason during nursing and motherhood. Anyone have any thoughts on this matter?

[TOUCHSTONE]

My last AkC show dog finished its ch easily and went on to hound group placements all owner handled against numerous professional handlers -with wiskers. If you hunt the dog certainly keep the wiskers and avoid the injuries to your dog. Injuries will be a much greater detriment in the show ring. For UKC show keep the wiskers. UKC recomends not trimming them. Dan

[show dog]

I just read a book about the use of whiskers on a dog. When whiskers are shaved and a dog is blind, the dog has no way to tell where anything is unless he runs into the objects. So even if the dog is sighted, whiskers play an important roll in protecting the head- a depth gauge, width finder and general amazing computer. Beagles charging through the thick after a rabbit without whiskers is an accident waiting to happen. I would not now run my dogs in the wild with their whiskers shaved!

Carolyn

[blunder]

Know your dog!! Rest assured that the judge is going to put their hands on your dog. If there is the chance that when the dogs bite etc,etc is checked that having its wiskers munched could cause the dog tp back away from the judge by all means shave them down. If the dog has no reaction to having its wiskers munched and you feel that removing them could lead to injuries,,,,,,,, well,,,,,,, most judges know that all dogs have wiskers.
If you happened to watch the dog show on Thanksgiving day you should have noticed how this can cause a dog to go from 1st to 4th in a single heartbeat.

tom

[TOUCHSTONE]

I did not see the show you are referring to but I am curious why you believe that having wiskers was the factor which put the dog from 1st to 4th. There were likely other factors which led to the judges decision. Whiskers or not plays little or no role in a judges decision. Blindness is a disquallification. Keep the wiskers. Dan

[blunder]

I did not see the show you are referring to but I am curious why you believe that having wiskers was the factor which put the dog from 1st to 4th

A Pug (#2 dog in the nation) while up on the bench, backed away from the judge and sat down when she went over it's face. This instentlly took the dog from being the favorite to go Group 1 to being just an 'also ran'.

Whiskers or not plays little or no role in a judges decision

Correct,,, but,,, the dogs reaction to having them tuched may play a roll, and the dogs reaction is what should be considdered when deciding to remove them or not.

tom

[TOUCHSTONE]

You are making an assumption that wiskers caused the dog to sit down and therefore caused the dog to be a second rate show dog.....and yet the pug has its wiskers and is in fact a great show dog (#2 in the nation). This is a dilemma in critical and creative reasoning. I have shown dogs successfully for over 30 years and have found that many things can cause a dog to perform poorly on a given day. Cologne on the judges hand, the dog just did not feel good,......... A well trained and experienced dog does not act that way because of wiskers. You disprove your theory in stating that the #2 dog in the nation has wiskers. I agree that the muzzle looks cleaner when wiskers are removed. Those who have foofoo dogs that will never see the brush may want to trim them. the point I am making is that they are an essential part of the animal and are far more an asset than a hinderence. A working dog or any dog that may stick its face in a bush even should have them. Injuries are far more detrimental to a show dog. Dan

[blunder]

That is why I started my origional post with this;

Know your dog

For instence, we have one that will play hop scotch when gaited on grass if we trim the hair between her pads, but gates beautifully if we only trim the top of her feet and leave the bottoms alone.
There is no set rule on trimming wiskers, and since they are a senceory organ they are best left alone unless------------.

Oh, and why the Pug reacted the way it did at that show is inmaterial, it is only how your dog reacts to having it's wiskers handled that should be considdered.

I personally think when you trim the whiskers it makes their face look softer

The reverse of this is also true, and some don't need to look any softer.

tom