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It wasn’t so long ago that it was assumed dogs could only see in black and white, and among some people, that myth seems to live on today. However, research has proven that dogs see a much wider range of colors than this.
Admittedly though, they cannot see as many colors as us lucky humans can.We now know that dogs have dichromatic vision, much like some people with color blindness. They can see on the blue-yellow spectrum but cannot differentiate reds and greens. This article explores their vision in great detail and discusses why this matters and how you can use this information to your advantage, when caring for your beloved pet.
Dogs find yellow, blues, and grays easy to see. They find it hard to notice or differentiate colors such as greens, reds, and oranges.
Yes, it is true that their color vision is limited, but they see far more than just shades of gray. The colors they see best are blue and yellow. These are the shades and hues that stand out to them and that have the greatest contrast.
If I were to throw streamers of every color onto the lawn, it would be the blues and yellows that they see most vibrantly, and would probably investigate first.
The science behind vision is complicated- to say the least- and, when we compare dogs and humans, there are several differences.
The photoreceptor cells of the retina are the cones and the rods. Rods work best in low light and dogs have lots more rods than we do. This means they’re better than us at spotting motion and at seeing in dim light- ideal for hunting during dawn and dusk.
Humans have trichromatic vision; red, green and blue sensitive receptors. This allows us to see the full spectrum of colours. In contrast, dogs are dichromatic, They have two types of cone cells, only being sensitive to blue and yellow.
While our canine companions find blue and yellows very easy to see, anything that is red or green is seen differently to reality.
Things of this color can appear more brown or gray vs their true color.
If you throw a bright red ball on green grass, it can quickly blend into the background for them.
You may not even notice your dog’s lack of color perception though, as they’re likely to find that red ball rapidly, by detecting any motion and using their keen sense of smell.
Of course, there is a reason why this has happened, and it is by design.
Dogs’ ancestors prioritised rods over cones, ensuring they could spot their prey in the distance and see easily when the sun goes down or hasn’t yet risen.
Humans need to see a wider range of colours to detect things like ripe berries and flushed cheeks on other people- while furry, carnivorous, dogs simply do not need to be able to do these things.
There are quite a lot of differences when we compare our vision to that of our four-legged friends, and color perception is just one.
Human eyes are excellent at picking out fine detail and seeing small things, like printed words in a book or an expression on someone’s face across the room.
Dogs are great at spotting movement far away, but the world can be a bit fuzzier for them.
Dogs have a wider field of view than we do, although how wide is quite breed dependent, and does depend on the anatomy of the skull and eyes.
Sighthounds like Salukis and Whippets can scan the whole horizon with ease, while shorter-nosed dogs like Pugs and Frenchies can see things with better depth.
The large binocular overlap of human vision means that they have good depth perception. Dogs are not great at judging depth. Their eyes are spaced a bit too far apart for this. They tend to compensate for this by using their other senses.
The tapetum lucidum is a reflective layer behind the retina that dogs possess, which helps them spot motion in dim light.
However, the reflection can blur images, so would not be ideal for reading a sign.
If you shine a light on your dog’s eyes you should be able to spot the glowing reflection of the tapetum lucidum. This eerie glow provides dogs a real advantage when it comes to night vision.
It is not just the dog that has a tapetum lucidum, it is also seen in animals including cats, wolves, deer, and birds.
If you focused on color detection alone, you might presume a dogs’ vision is lacking in comparison to us. Though seeing colors is not their forte, in several areas, they outperform us.
Dogs have a keen ability to detect motion and a very wide range of view. They’re better attuned to detecting light from dark contrasts in dimly lit areas, and they can actually detect flickers when humans may just see a constant stream of light.
All of the above is a result of evolution, and of dogs’ eyesight adapting to what was needed of it. It wasn’t long ago that a dog’s life depended on its ability to spot prey and hunt it.
So, what does all of the above mean for your relationship with your dog? Let’s take a look at how this knowledge can be practically applied.
When it comes to the accessories in your dog’s life, it makes sense to consider the color, and how they may be perceived by them (and not just by you!).
Toys, food puzzles, and balls should ideally be colored with blues and yellows. This way, they can be easily seen and won’t blend into backgrounds or get lost on the sofa. Reds and greens are tricker for your dog to spot, especially if thrown across a grassy field.
When it comes to sports and agility, we need to be dog-focused. Things like tunnels and weaving poles are easier to spot if they’re yellow or blue. Indeed, just using these colours could lead to fewer mistakes and quicker agility times.
Stationary objects like bowls or beds can really be any color. Even if your dog sees the red as a shade of brown, this won’t affect them using it. Stick to the shades that please you most, as your dog won’t care what color their bowl or bed is- they’re more worried about the contents of the dish and the comfort of the bed!
As mentioned, sticking to high contrast yellow and blues is ideal when you want your dog to spot a pole or hurdle, or to see their toy across a room.
You can actually use their trouble with seeing reds and greens to your advantage. For scent work, as you increase difficulty when training progresses, you can start to use hard-to-see colors, so your dog needs to rely more on their sense of smell.
Do dogs only see black and white?
Certainly, not. Although dogs cannot make out as many colors as we can, they can see a broad range of colors.
They see blues and yellows best, and struggle with differentiating reds and greens.
Are dogs color blind?
By a human’s definition, yes, dogs are red-green color blind.
This does not mean that they cannot see any colors, it means that red and greens seem dull to them.
Can dogs see red?
Dogs struggle to see red in the same way that we do. It is not bright or vibrant, it is more of a muddy brown. They find it trickiest to see when it is on a red or green background.
Does breed affect color vision in dogs?
Breed is not really a factor when it comes to the perception of colors. Breed does affect things like the ability to detect motion, depth perception, and night vision.
How do scientists test dog color vision?
They may train the dogs that they will be rewarded when certain colors are detected by them, or they might observe their natural behaviour and preferences in specific situations. Tools like electroretinography can also be helpful, for measuring the retina’s response to what it sees.
Dogs are dichromats (blue–yellow spectrum). This does not mean that they only see blue and yellow. These are just the most vivid colors for them.
Reds and greens can appear gray or brown. This is why your dog may struggle to spot a red toy on a patch of green grass.
Blue & yellow toys/objects stand out most. Consider this the next time you’re in the toy store, picking something special for Rex.
The myth of “black & white only” vision is false. We now know thanks to scientific tests and observational studies that dogs can see many more colors than just black and white.
For accessories, stick to blues and yellows when you can.
Those of us that are not color blind will find it easy to detect a bright red ball on green grass. For a dog, this task is not so easy. If the ball is moving and in the distance, they may well perceive it before a human can.
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