One of the most frequently asked questions among pet owners is whether dogs see in black and white. There are many myths about how they perceive the world, but the truth is more complex and fascinating than we might think. In this blog, we will explore dogs’ vision, how they perceive colours and what this means for their well-being and their interaction with their environment.
1. Do dogs see in black and white? The short answer: No
Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not see in black and white. Although their view of the world is different from ours, it does not mean that they perceive everything in shades of grey or without colour. The truth is that dogs have a more limited colour vision than humans, but it is not black and white.
2. Dogs’ vision: What colours do they see?
Dogs have a type of vision called dichromatism, which means they see fewer colours than humans, who have trichromatic vision (i.e. we can see three primary colours: red, green and blue). Dogs, on the other hand, can only see two primary colours: blue and yellow.
a) Blue and yellow
Most dogs can see colours in the blue and yellow spectrum. This means that dogs can distinguish between shades of blue and some shades of yellow.
b) Red and green
Dogs have difficulty distinguishing between red and green, as they cannot perceive them in the same way as humans. Red and green tones appear to dogs as duller tones or even as a dark grey, which gives them a limited perception of warm colours.
3. How do dogs perceive the world?
Dogs’ vision is not only limited to colour perception. There are other interesting features of their eyesight:
a) Night vision
Dogs have much better night vision than humans. This is due to a structure in their eyes called the tapetum lucidum, which acts like a mirror to reflect light back into the eye. This ability allows dogs to see in low light conditions more clearly than humans.
b) Reduced visual acuity
While dogs can see in colour, their visual acuity is not as accurate as that of humans. Dogs cannot see fine details at a distance and their long-range vision is more blurred. This means that they probably do not see objects as clearly as humans, but they have a greater ability to detect movement, even at long distances.
4. How does the vision of dogs influence their behaviour?
Dogs’ limited colour perception does not affect their quality of life as much as we might think, as dogs are mainly guided by other senses that are much more developed than their sight:
Smell: Dogs have an incredibly acute sense of smell, much more developed than humans. This allows them to perceive details of their environment that we cannot even imagine.
Hearing: Dogs’ hearing ability is also much better than that of humans. They can hear higher and lower frequencies than we can, which helps them detect distant sounds or subtle details in the environment.
Sensitivity to movement: Dogs have an increased ability to detect movement, even in low light conditions. This helps them react quickly to changes in their environment.
5. How to improve your dog’s visual experience?
Although dogs cannot see colours in the same way as humans, there are still ways you can help make their vision more comfortable and their visual experience richer:
a) Brightly coloured toys
Opt for blue and yellow coloured toys so that your dog can see them more clearly. Dogs cannot distinguish red and green, so toys in these colours may be less appealing to them.
b) Avoid the use of red and green tones in the dog’s environment.
When decorating or choosing accessories for your dog, it is helpful to choose colours that they can see clearly. Opting for colours such as blue and yellow for their beds, toys or even collars can make their environment more visually accessible.
c) Focus on other senses
Remember that dogs rely on their sense of smell, hearing and sensitivity to movement. Be sure to provide them with a stimulating environment that encourages these other senses.
6. Conclusion: The view of dogs and their adaptation to the world
Although dogs do not see in black and white, their colour perception is limited to shades of blue and yellow. This does not prevent them from enjoying a world full of stimuli through their keen sense of smell and excellent ability to detect movement. By understanding how they perceive the world, we can adapt our environment and the way we interact with them to make their experience even more enriching.
