Dog vibrissae

Although dogs belong to the first domesticated animals, their sensory systems are almost not investigated. This is particularly true for the vibrissal system of the dog. There are neither morphological studies nor profound scientific publications on the sensory physiology of the vibrissal system of dogs. In a behavioral experiment, the sensitivity of the vibrissae of dogs shall be determined (frequency dependent detection threshold). Moreover the external appearance of the vibrissae of dogs shall be described for different dog breeds. This classification is aimed to provide breed-specific differences and to inform about putative functions of the vibrissae.