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Pet parents often become so close with their dogs that they may start to wonder about their thoughts, emotions and capabilities. They may question what their dog dreams about or if their dog loves them, too. They might also wonder if their dog can see the world as we humans do.
A dog’s eye functions similarly to a human’s—but there are some differences. Both canine and human eyes are made up of cones and rods, called photoreceptors. Cones aid in colour differentiation while rods help with motion and night vision.
Although dogs have more rods in their eyes, humans have more cones. We have three types of cones, whereas dogs have two. Our three cones enable us to see more colours than dogs.
“Dogs have better night vision than we do because they’re designed for hunting at night. They have more rods [in their eyes than we do]…and they have something called a tapetum lucidum in the back of the eye that helps with low-light situations,” says Dr. Lawrence Putter, D.V.M., a veterinarian and owner of Lenox Hill Veterinarians in New York City.
Dogs aren’t colourblind, but their vision is not as clear as that of a human.
Can Dogs See Colour?
Yes, dogs can see colour. Historically, it was believed that dogs saw the world in black and white. However, science has since proven that dogs can see some colours, although not as many as humans.
What Colours Do Dogs See?
Dogs can see blue, yellow and various shades of grey, since they have two types of cones that correspond with blue and yellow. Humans can see more colours because we have three types of cones in our eyes that coordinate with red, blue and green colour combinations.
This means that red and green colours would most likely register as a grey or brown shade to your dog. This is ironic considering that many dog toys tend to come in shades of bright red, orange and green—all colours that dogs can’t see. Throwing a yellow or blue ball that’s actually seen better by dogs is probably more effective. But dogs also have a highly developed sense of small that helps them find their toys.
A dog’s eyesight is much better at night due to having more rods in their eyes than humans do.
Are Dogs Colour Blind?
It’s a popular myth that dogs are fully colour blind. They can see some colours, just not all of them. As all dogs can not see red and green colours, they are born technically colour blind, which is the term used to describe the ability to see (or not see) certain colours. In this respect, they would be considered red-green colour blind, which is also the most common form of colour blindness in humans. People with this type of colour blindness can’t differentiate red and green colours. Dogs have the same deficit due to the limited number of cones in their eyes, compared to humans.
What Colours Do Dogs See Compared to Humans?
Dogs can see blue, yellow and various shades of grey. Humans can see about one million different colours due to the three types of cones in our eyes, with each cone detecting around 100 different shades of colour.
Dogs can see blue, yellow, and various shades of grey.
While your pup may not be able to tell the difference between a blue ball and a purple ball (both look about the same), that doesn’t mean a game of fetch is any less fun.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dog Vision
Can dogs see in the dark?
Yes, dogs can see in the dark. Due to an increased number of rods in their eyes, dogs have better night vision than humans. They also have a tapetum lucidum, a reflector system, behind their retina that allows them to see better at night.
Do dogs ever need glasses?
Compared to an ideal human’s 20/20 vision, dogs have more of a 20/75 vision. They see the world with a blurry outlook and can’t see objects that are far away. For instance, if a human can see an object from 75 feet away, a dog will only be able to detect the same object from 20 feet away.
In this regard, dogs would be considered near-sighted and would need glasses. But because their other senses are superior, dogs can live without glasses, so you don’t have to worry about your pet insurance company covering the cost of frames and lenses for your pooch.
Can dogs live a happy life without their vision?
Yes, dogs can live a happy life without vision because sight is not one of a dog’s most vital senses—they rely more on smell and hearing to get around. They also have a fantastic memory when it comes to where furniture and other objects are placed in your home.
