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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 (photoreceptors). Cones aid in color 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 colors 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.
Photo Credit: Unsplash And Dog VISION Tool By András Péter
Caption: Dogs aren’t colorblind, but their vision is not as clear as that of a human.
Can Dogs See Color?
Yes, dogs can see color. Historically, it was believed that dogs saw the world in black and white. However, science has since proven that dogs can see some colors, although not as many as humans.
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What Colors Do Dogs See?
Dogs can see blue, yellow, and various shades of gray, since they have two types of cones that correspond with blue and yellow. Humans can see more colors because we have three types of cones in our eyes that coordinate with red, blue and green color combinations.
“Red and green colors would come up as maybe a gray or brown shade [to your dog],” Putter says.
This is ironic considering that many dog toys tend to come in shades of bright red, orange and green—all colors that dogs can’t see. “Throwing a yellow or blue ball that’s actually seen better by dogs is [more effective],” Putter adds.
Photo Credit: Unsplash And Dog VISION Tool By András Péter
Caption: A dog’s eyesight is much better at night due to having more rods in their eyes than humans do.
Are Dogs Color Blind?
It’s a popular myth that dogs are fully color blind. They can see some colors, just not all of them. In this respect, they would be considered red-green color blind, which is also the most common form of color blindness in humans.
“People with [this type of] color blindness can’t differentiate red and green colors. Dogs have the same deficit. They wouldn’t be able to look at a green light and think, ‘Oh, that’s a green light.” Just like a color blind person,” Putter explains.
Causes of Color Blindness In Dogs
All dogs are born technically color blind, with the inability to see red and green colors. Canines are biologically limited to seeing the world in blue, yellow, brown and gray due to the limited number of cones in their eyes, compared to humans.
What Colors Do Dogs See Compared to Humans?
Dogs can see blue, yellow, and various shades of gray. Humans can see about 1 million different colors due to the three types of cones in our eyes, with each cone detecting around 100 different shades of color.
Photo Credit: Unsplash And Dog VISION Tool By András Péter
Caption: Dogs can see blue, yellow, and various shades of gray.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dog Vision
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 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 it 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.
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.
“Dogs in a household can live very well with poor vision or no vision. A blind dog will learn where everything [in your home] is,” says Putter. He adds one pet care tip, should your dog lose its eyesight: “Just don’t rearrange the furniture, because then they will have to relearn where everything is.”
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