Are Dogs Color Blind?

Are Dogs Color Blind?

Are Dogs Really Color Blind Video

Were you told dogs see in black and white or that they are color blind? Today we take a look at a question that may dog enthusiast ask! In fact dogs are attracted to certain color items and bright color toys!Some people will say that they mans best friend can only see in black and white. Others pet parents have a puzzle look and some dog owners will give a resounding no. In truth until a few decades ago scientists were not sure either. But one thing for sure is I know my dog can tell the difference between his red ball and the identical ball in green. So what do you think? Let’s take a look…

Are Dogs Color Blind a Myth

The following article may help clear up some of the confusion and curiosity about color perception in the eyes of a dog.

Decades ago scientists observe that the retina of a dog’s eyes did not have the cone-shaped cells as those found in human eyes (as well as the the eyes of other primates). In primates, the cone-shaped cells occur in greatest numbers in the portion of the retina called the fovea. This area is where the vision is most acute.

A simple explanation to a more scientific one is that the number the of cone-shape cells decreases as the distance from the fovea increases. So while it was once a popular theory that dogs see everything in black and white has been proven false. In fact dogs see a color spectrum similar to that of humans, but with red-green colorblindness, says the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Whereas the eyes of humans with normal vision contain three color receptors (also known as cones) perceive the full range of the visible light spectrum. And people with a red-green colorblindness only have two cones.

With this said a dogs eyes have only two cones. Which means that they cannot perceive the colors red or green. This means that dogs see more than black and white. However like their human color blind counterpart they are unable to see the subtle changes such as in the brightness or shade of a color.

What Colors Can Dogs See

Dogs can see shades of yellow, blue and brown. As well they can see various hues of gray, black and white. This means that if your dog has a red ball, it will appear brown to him. Whereas an orange toy, which is a mix of red and yellow, will appear a brownish yellow. It also means that if you want to fully engage all of your dog’s senses during playtime, you should include toys that are either blue or yellow. This explains why my dog Oscar loves his lime green ball.

The bright toys stand out from the dull shades of brown and gray in your dog’s field of vision. Which make it easy to understand why dogs have their favorite dog toys.

Favorite Color Toys

As mentioned previously my dog Oscar has a clear preference for certain objects. As a pup we bought a variety of balls, of which are identical in size, shape and brand. Everything is the same except the color. To the point that he will only play with 2 in the house and one outdoors. One may say he is picky but no, he will play with lots of his plush toys. But he knows exactly which ball is which.

Maybe It Is the Scent?

Many pet parents wonder if it the scent that helps their dog differentiate. And thought scent is powerful many toys items smell the same, And even when we put all of the dog balls in a bag together to make sure it was not about the scent. Without a doubt he can see, and the green ball wins out every time.

The Final Test – Are Dogs Colorblind

In short the answer is no! Dogs are not colorblind. In fact they can see a lot and they have favorite colors too. So next time you are picking toys for your dog, don’t choose the colors you prefer. But pick bright colors that your dog is more likely to interact with. The bright ones!