What colors can dogs see? Explaining your pet's worldview.
The human brain and eyes process light into color, allowing us to see various hues and shades of the rainbow. But our furry friends see differently than we do.
You are out for a stroll with your dog, and you look at the bright green grass, light blue sky and blazing yellow sun. You cannot help but wonder, "Do dogs see color?"
It is widely believed dogs see in black and white, and for years, this idea was accepted as fact. However, recent studies are proving otherwise for what colors dogs can see.
Can dogs see color?
In order to differentiate color, the retina uses "cones," according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Human eyes have three types of cones: red-sensing, green-sensing and blue-sensing cones.
Dogs, on the other hand, only have two types of cones in their eyes, which allow them to detect blue and yellow. This limited color perception is called dichromatic vision, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.
What colors can dogs see?
Dogs can identify blue and yellow, so they can make out combinations with those colors.
However, since dogs do not have red-sensing cones, their sight is comparable to that of someone with red-green color blindness, according to research by Jay Neitz, professor of ophthalmology and a color vision researcher at the University of Washington.
A human with red-green color blindness will mistake shades of a certain color with another. For instance, black could be perceived as multiple shades of red or bright green could be identified as yellow, according to Healthline.
For dogs, it is similar. Most of their worldview is grayish-brown, according to the American Kennel Club. A red rubber ball may be brown through a dog's eyes. Your pup's favorite green dinosaur plush toy could appear yellowish to them.
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Do dogs see differently than human?
Along with seeing contrasting colors, humans and dogs have other vision differences, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.
Dogs are more near-sighted than humans. If you and your dog are looking at a tree from the same distance, it may appear blurrier to them. In comparison to humans, dogs' peripheral vision is better, but their depth perception has a smaller range.
Dogs are also less sensitive to changes in brightness, so what you see as a distinct shade would be more muted to your pup.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Do dogs see color? Yes, but differently than humans.
