Is it true that show dogs must

[PoodleMommy]

I know this is kind of a stupid question, but do they tend to walk into stuff like cats?

No, not at all.

 

[setter-chick]

Labs have to have their wiskers on.. it says in the standard.. Vizslas doesnt matter... we clean up the neck and leave the nose one on.. I cut out the Wire Fox's because they are really pokey in their soft beard.. and the stick out.

 

[Toller_08]

As others have said, it's really not a big deal and depends on the breed. I shave Keira's whiskers off -- she looks much better without them. I wish I could shave the Tollers' off, but their standard says that they must have their whiskers for some reason.

 

[Doberdogs]

removed, not so much. They grow back so fast. Shaved or trimmed yes.

 

[Doberdogs]

No, not at all.

I second this.

 

[Romy]

I asked a lot of borzoi people this question, and it seems about half of them do and half don't, and some only shave individual whiskers that are on a contrasting color of fur, like a random black whisker on a light muzzled dog.

From what I have observed, it seems to make no difference with that breed in the ring. One show I went to had a shaved dog take BOB one day, and a whiskered dog take BOB the next day.

Personally I will never trim his whiskers again. I did it once for a show and missed them so much! And it definitely didn't help us win that's for sure.

 

[Laurelin]

Beau's nose has to be shaved for show. His hair is uneven and it gives him a roman nose of sorts. Judges don't like that.

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

I never knew people shaved their dogs whiskers... new one on me!

I'd never shave Triumph, Jake, or Annie's, if given the choice. But during normal grooming, there's no way to evenly clip around their whiskers, so they end up getting shaved off with the rest of the hair.

I had no clue that whiskers were clipped for showing. Interesting!

 

[lizzybeth727]

Somebody told me once that chihuahuas have to have their whiskers plucked for a show, which I always thought was way too cruel. Glad to hear that they can be shaved or clipped instead! Though I wouldn't do it with Luna, her whiskers are too cute... I always say she looks like a catfish.

 

[Laurelin]

Somebody told me once that chihuahuas have to have their whiskers plucked for a show, which I always thought was way too cruel. Glad to hear that they can be shaved or clipped instead! Though I wouldn't do it with Luna, her whiskers are too cute... I always say she looks like a catfish.

I don't know anyone who plucks whiskers. About half shave the muzzle, it's really not preferred one way or another (unless you have a dog with a big honker like Beau, lol) Kind of like dewclaws, you see half and half in the breed.

 

[Romy]

I don't know anyone who plucks whiskers. About half shave the muzzle, it's really not preferred one way or another (unless you have a dog with a big honker like Beau, lol) Kind of like dewclaws, you see half and half in the breed.

Yeah, a lot of the people who shaved whiskers were telling me you have to be really careful not to make their face sensitive to being touched through shaving them, because then they will shy away from the judge during the mouth exam, and that is not a good thing. I imagine a dog that had it's whiskers pulled out completely wouldn't be happy about having it's muzzle touched after that.

 

[DogstarAcademy]

Yeah, a lot of the people who shaved whiskers were telling me you have to be really careful not to make their face sensitive to being touched through shaving them, because then they will shy away from the judge during the mouth exam, and that is not a good thing. I imagine a dog that had it's whiskers pulled out completely wouldn't be happy about having it's muzzle touched after that.

I know some of the collie people shave htem, but more seem to use tiny scissors or (in my case) people nail nippers. ;P If you pull gently on the whisker and then clip close, it sinks back down and doesn't stick out at all.

I like whiskers, but Mal looks SO elegant without them.

 

[sillysally]

I wish I could shave the Tollers' off, but their standard says that they must have their whiskers for some reason.

I wonder if maybe they help them in the field in some capacity, like navigating through undergrowth?

 

[Beanie]

I trim a few of Auggie's - like he has some that curve very sharply backwards against his face. Plucking whiskers does sound painful - I always thought everybody trimmed them or used clippers!

I trimmed all of Auggie's whiskers off once a couple years ago to see how he'd look without 'em (a lot of sheltie people I know trim off all whiskers, even if they aren't showing in confo) and I missed his little catfish face. So now it's just a matter of cleaning a few up, shortening some that are obscenely long, but leaving almost all of them as they are.
There's one person locally that on occasion has made snide remarks about his whiskers, but he's my dog and I like 'em that way! My catfish face. <3

 

[HoundedByHounds]

My hounds being shown have them off the retirees don't. Leonbergers are not permitted to be trimmed anywhere aside from feet. Some standards mention it and it completely depends upon your breed.

 

[HoundedByHounds]

The only hound I ever had injure her eye (while head down tracking something in the yard)....had whiskers. LOL.

Mine don't care at all if you shave them...they're like nails, or ears...if a dog knows they can fuss a small amount and you give in and will not push it...they will fuss even harder the next time. Doesn't mean it's any great discomfort most of the time...just means they are training you...lol.

 

[Psyfalcon]

I wonder if maybe they help them in the field in some capacity, like navigating through undergrowth?

I think its just as likely to prevent people from messing with the muzzle with those clippers.

 

[sprintime]

Shepherds are shown as naturally as possible - meaning the whiskers are not shaved.

 

[Val_theAussie]

Well, truth to tell, I'm not sure I'm up for show dog stuff. My breeder might think that I should show the dog, but I don't want to be pressured into taking on this type of activity. I'm not a show type person and I am not sure that's something that I want to take on at this juncture in life. I'd like the puppy I purchased to just grow into being the best dog he can be in general, and of course, he will always be a "champ" to me!

 

[YodelDogs]

Most Basenji people, including myself, leave the whiskers natural.