Through Your Dog’s Eyes: Can a Dog See Colors?

As a dog owner, you likely have a million questions about your pet. If only there was a way to speak to your dog to truly understand what’s on their mind and how they feel. Science has yet to decode the canine language, but it has taught us a lot about them.

Can a dog see colors? You might be surprised to learn the answer to this age-old question. Keep reading to learn the truth about whether dogs see in black and white, how human and dog vision is different, and what DNA testing can reveal about your pet.

The Science of Dog Color Vision

First, the answer to your burning question. Yes, your dog can see colors, only they perceive them differently from you^[1]. Like humans, dogs have rod and cone cells in their eyes. Unlike you, dogs have fewer cone cells and more rod cells^[2]. 

Let’s look at the different photoreceptors to help you understand the differences between dog vision and human vision:

• Cone cells: Sensitive to bright light and responsible for color vision
• Rod cells: Sensitive to movement and enable night vision

Humans have three types of cone cells, making us what’s called “trichromatic”^[3], while dogs have two, making them “dichromatic”^[4]. That means your dog has a view of the world that differs significantly from yours. While it can’t see colors the way you can, dog colorblindness isn’t the norm—unless you mean by human standards.

When looking at a rainbow, most people see the full spectrum of colors, from purple to red. Your dog, on the other hand, sees shades of blue and yellow. Interestingly, that’s almost identical to how a person with green-red colorblindness views the world^[5]. So, next time you pick a toy for your dog, remember a blue or yellow one might be the most bright and inviting.

What Colors Can a Dog See?

Contrary to popular belief, your dog doesn’t only see in black and white^[6]. A longstanding myth exists stating that dogs can only see monochrome colors. In truth, your dog’s vision isn’t as vibrant as yours, but it’s far from black and white. Dogs can see the nuances between blue and yellow in fine detail, providing them with a technicolor view of the world.

They see blue and yellow because the two types of cone cells they possess enable them to easily distinguish between those colors. Purples, reds, and greens might fade into one grayish hue for dogs, meaning your beautiful green lawn might simply appear as a muted yellow.

Unique Aspects of Canine Vision

Your dog might not be able to appreciate the nuances of your interior design choices, but its vision is impressive in other ways. First and foremost, as a descendant of crepuscular (twilight) hunters, it has a major advantage when it comes to seeing in dim lighting. First off, the presence of more rods in their eyes means dogs can see in the dark—well, better than we can, at least^[7]. Second, thanks to a special layer behind their eyes called a tapetum lucidum, their eyes are able to catch and reflect the faintest light sources. If you’ve ever seen your dog’s eyes glow in photos, that’s why. 

Have you ever wondered if your dog can see the TV and understand what’s happening on the screen? Believe it or not, it can—and what it sees might appear sped up because it processes images faster than you^[8]. The high refresh rate of modern screens means dogs can watch TV—the only limitation being the dog’s unique blue and yellow color perspective. 

Practical Applications for Pet Owners

Now that you know which colors your dog can see^[9], you can make more stimulating choices when it comes to picking out toys, choosing beds and comforters, and setting up play zones. For example, a blue ball would help it see better when playing fetch on a lush green lawn. Likewise, a yellow agility ramp would be more visually striking than a green one, helping it see and react quicker. Tailoring your pet’s experiences to its visual strengths is a great way to make playtime more engaging and joyful. 

Consider your dog’s vision next time you’re ready to refresh their home environment. When it’s time to get new food or a new water bowl, you might opt for blue and yellow to make it more inviting. For their next bed, remember that blue or yellow is visually stimulating, so perhaps opt for a shade of red or brown to signal calm and tranquility.    

DNA Testing for Unique Pet Characteristics

Understanding canine vision is scratching the surface of the wealth of information that science has uncovered about dogs. If you’ve ever wanted to know specific details about your pet, DNA testing is available to provide in-depth insights into your dog’s breed and potential traits. Beyond identifying your dog’s lineage, you can learn about its genetic predispositions.

For anyone who wants to understand their beloved canine companion as well as possible, DNA testing for dogs unravels a hidden story that’s sure to make you feel closer to your beloved friend.  

Unparalleled Insights Into Your Dog’s World

The better you know your pet, the deeper your bond. Learning about your dog’s genetics makes shared experiences more enriching. Plus, knowing that your dog’s quirks are more than habits empowers you to be the best possible dog owner.

Ready to get definitive answers to questions you might never have thought could be answered? Order a Know Your Pet DNA test kit for your dog and decode the mysteries written into its genes.