Stupid I know but do they always grow straight? Whistlers are all over the show and I have to keep them trimmed or they stick in his eye's. Jake's are straight and lovely, Whis looks like he has a permanent bad hair day.

Sometimes we get the odd dog that has curlier whiskers than the rest, nothing you can do about it.  In my breed they don't curl enough to go in the eyes but they are just one of their little quirks.

Emma

Thanks Emma for your response his often make him sneeze ticking his nose the groomer cuts them off, this wouldnt cause him any problems would it?

> this wouldnt cause him any problems would it?

No, they are generally trimmed off for the show ring.

> No, they are generally trimmed off for the show ring

Not in my breed they are not (except some peopel in the USA).

what breeds commonly have this done? certainly not something i have done, and wouldnt. i have a rhodesian ridgeback.

> what breeds commonly have this done?

Cocker Spaniels, Americans too I should imagine as they certainly tidy their faces up.  Be a bit hard to trim around the whiskers   It does them no harm.  They are not like cats and should not be sticking their heads through cat flaps anyway

Mines a cocker spaniel - must be a breed trait then, thanks Isabel.

a dog that my two walk with has very curly ones! i think its cute, they dont bother him.
do cats use them to see if they can fit threw a gap? not sure if that is right? when my cats whiskers dont fit she just turns her head sideways then squeezes threw! lol

Clever cat I knew thats what they were for in cats but Jake is huge so his are no guide, Bless they are both sleeping here in the office perfect peace until my workman trundle back in... I have a nice cup of tea and life's good.

> do cats use them to see if they can fit threw a gap? not sure if that is right? when my cats whiskers dont fit she just turns her head sideways then squeezes threw! lol

And does she get stuck?

> And does she get stuck?

no....not yet she hasnt! she is so big im surprised she hasnt! its all them mice she eats! yuk!

Yes, American cockers have faces clipped so whiskers all go too. My Cavaliers get the long ones trimmed if they are growing in a funny direction like up towards the eye, also the long 'eyebrow' whiskers. I know a few judges that like all whiskers off on a Cavalier, only done it once as was going under one of these, they didn't look too bad and one of my friends does it all the time on hers now, but I prefer mine with whiskers.

Mind you Isabel, mine go through the dog door, but they don't need to check the width to do it!

> Mind you Isabel, mine go through the dog door, but they don't need to check the width to do it!

You mean they are going through anyway!