Updated on April 16, 2023
The old wives’ tale that dogs can only see in black and white is something we’ve all heard. Many dog owners seem to hold this opinion; but, is it merely a myth or could there be some truth to it?
Our dogs aren’t living in a black and white cinema, but they do lack the human ability to perceive a wide range of colors.
Our dogs can’t see the whole spectrum of colors, and we want to know why and how that affects their daily lives.
HOW DOES A DOG’S COLOUR VISION DIFFER FROM HUMANS?
Thankfully, dogs’ color vision isn’t restricted to black and white like some of their wild ancestors’ were.
Rods and cones, two tiny optical instruments, are present in the eyes of both humans and canines. Both of these things are helpful to the eyes. The rods are responsible for motion perception and allowing us to see in varying light conditions, while the cones are what allow us to make out individual colors.
On average, each human eye contains three cones, which provide us with a wide range of color perception.
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Read on for further explanations.
Red, green, and blue light are perceived by separate cones in the eye. The combination of the colors perceived by these three cones allows us to see the whole spectrum of colors.
If one of these cones is damaged or defective, a person will only have two functional cones, resulting in either red-green or blue-yellow color blindness. To be “dichromatic” means to be “blind” to colors.
Unfortunately, our dogs only have two cones in each eye, so they can only see yellow and blue. For this reason, their color perception is extremely close to that of those who are red-green colorblind.
WHAT COLOURS CAN DOGS SEE?
There’s no doubt that canines have color vision. Your dog would mistake a bright red toy for a boring brown one if you gave it to him.
Does this explain why so many dogs go crazy over a single yellow tennis ball?
Your dog’s enthusiasm for its new toy is unlikely to be affected by its hue. Despite this, it’s not out of the question that they’d choose a blue or yellow toy than a red or green one.
Do dogs have color vision?
My dog doesn’t seem to recognize any colors.
Although dogs don’t really give a hoot about the color of their toys, most people will choose a brilliantly colored toy over a drab one at the pet store.
If you do decide to get a yellow or blue ball, your dog will be less likely to misplace it in the park because it will stand out more against the green grass.
DOES BEING COLOUR BLIND HINDER OUR DOGS?
A dog’s vision may be limited in terms of the range of colors it can perceive, but it’s still rather good. Cones and rods make up the eyes of both humans and dogs.
Dogs’ eyes contain much more rods than human eyes do, giving them enhanced night vision and sensitivity to motion. Thus, our puppies acquire the ideal set of hunting skills.
As their names imply, sighthounds like Greyhounds and Whippets have vision that far beyond that of humans. These canines have been bred to perfection for the hunt, with an uncanny ability to track their prey and lightning-fast reflexes to close the deal.
Additionally, while dogs have a limited color vision, their other senses more than make up for it. Dogs have superior senses than ours, including a keener sense of smell and the ability to detect odors at far lower concentrations than we do.
As a whole, we may lament the fact that our dogs are unable to take in the world’s dazzling array of color. However, their eyesight, like with all of their other senses, is vastly superior to ours and should not be taken lightly.
WHY DID WE BELIEVE DOGS ONLY SEE IN BLACK AND WHITE?
Unfortunately, our canine companions are unable to communicate with us in any way, so most of what we believe about dogs comes from hearsay and the experiences of others. Many false beliefs about dogs, such as the idea that they can only see in black and white, have flourished as a result.
Will Judy, a dog lover and the founder of National Dog Week, is credited with starting this myth when he authored a training manual in the 1930s in which he speculated that canines probably only perceive in shades of grey and black. From then, the rumor immediately became viral.
In the 1960s, scientists believed that only primates could distinguish between different colors. There was scant proof for this, yet the story nevertheless gained traction.
Newer research into whether or not dogs can detect color has debunked this long-held belief.
RECAP
Dogs can see more than just black and white; they can distinguish between shades of blue and yellow, for example. Still, they suffer from a form of color blindness analogous to human red-green deficiency.
You might feel bad for your dog if you could experience the world through its eyes, which are limited to seeing in black and white.
The fact that your dog has never known anything other and is gifted with an exceptional sense of smell and hearing to help him or her get about will provide far more joy to their lives than any additional hues.
