The Neuroscience Behind Why Dogs Shake When Wet
Scientists have discovered that the "wet dog shake" in mammals, including dogs, is triggered by a skin receptor called C-LTMR. This receptor, which responds to light touch, prompts animals to shake off water or other stimuli from their fur. The study, published in Science, used genetic tools and optogenetics to identify C-LTMRs as the key receptors responsible for this behavior, suggesting they evolved as a defensive mechanism to remove potentially harmful stimuli from the fur.