Why dogs shake when they’re wet — Harvard Gazette

Why dogs shake when they’re wet — Harvard Gazette

Science & Tech Ever wonder why your dog does this? Study decodes neural mechanism that causes hairy mammals to shake their fur when wet Alvin Powell Harvard Staff Writer November 26, 2024 6 min read It’s a regular occurrence when taking our canine pals for drizzly walks and summer swims. But until recently, the biology behind the water-flinging, human-drenching, muzzle-distorting “wet dog shak…

There’s A Scientific Reason Behind Why Wet Dogs Shake

If you’re a dog owner, you’ve most likely experienced your canine companion coming up to you and shaking cold water off its fur after running through the sprinklers on a summer day or after receiving a bath. A team of scientists has finally uncovered why dogs do this curious behavior when they’re wet. According to new research, a receptor in mammal skin called C-LTMR is responsible for the shake. It causes furry animals like dogs, cats, bears, a…