What colours does a dog see?

Dogs see the world differently from humans, particularly when it comes to colours. Whilst humans can perceive a wide range of colours, a dog’s vision is limited to a narrower spectrum. In this article, we explain how dogs perceive colours, why their colour vision is different, and how their eyes have adapted to their needs.

Colour Vision in Dogs

Dogs have a limited colour spectrum compared to humans. This is because dogs have only two types of cones (colour-sensitive cells) in their retinas, whereas humans have three. Cones in the eye are responsible for detecting colours. Limited Colour Spectrum

• Blue and Yellow: Dogs can see colours in the blue-yellow range well. This means they can distinguish between shades of blue and shades of yellow.
• Red and Green: Dogs cannot perceive the colours red and green in the same way as humans. To dogs, red and green look like different shades of yellow or brownish-grey. For example, where we would see a bright red ball, a dog would see it as a sort of mustard yellow.

Colour perception in dogs

• Blue: Dogs are particularly good at distinguishing between different shades of blue.
• Yellow: Yellow is another colour that dogs can see well. This is why objects such as a yellow toy or a ball stand out more easily in their field of vision.
• Red and Green: Dogs see these colours as variations of grey and brown. If you place a red object in front of a dog, the dog will likely see it as a brownish shade.

Dogs’ Visual Abilities

Although dogs have a limited colour spectrum, they compensate for this with other visual advantages. Dog eyes have evolved to perform better in specific conditions that were important for their survival as hunters. Sharp Vision at Dusk

• Dogs have a special part in their eyes known as the tapetum lucidum. This layer behind the retina reflects light and improves vision in the dark or in low light. This makes dogs well-adapted to twilight conditions, such as at sunrise or sunset, when they would naturally go hunting.

Motion Detection

• Dogs are excellent at detecting movement. Although their colour vision is limited, they have a highly developed ability to distinguish moving objects from stationary ones. This is crucial for their survival, as movement helps them spot prey or potential threats.

Spatial Vision

• Dogs have a wider field of vision than humans. Whilst humans have a field of vision of around 180°, dogs can have a field of vision of up to 240°, depending on the breed. This wide field of vision helps them keep a better eye on their surroundings and makes them alert to what is happening around them.

Colour Perception in Dogs: Examples

To get a better idea of how dogs see colours, it is useful to give a few examples of what a dog might see compared to a human. Red toy on grass

• For humans: The red toy stands out against the green grass.
• For dogs: The red toy appears mustard-yellow or brown and is barely distinguishable from the grass, which dogs also perceive as a yellowish hue.

Blue ball on sand

• For humans: The blue ball contrasts clearly against the light-coloured sand.
• For dogs: The blue ball remains clearly visible to them too, as they can easily distinguish shades of blue from the lighter sand colour.

Yellow frisbee in the air

• For humans: A bright yellow Frisbee against the blue sky is clearly visible.
• For dogs: Dogs can see both the yellow Frisbee and the sky clearly, making it an attractive object to follow whilst playing.

Why Do Dogs See Colours Differently from Humans?

Dogs’ limited colour perception is linked to their evolution as hunters. Whilst humans have three types of cones that are sensitive to red, green and blue light, dogs have only two types of cones. This means their world consists mainly of shades of blue and yellow, with little to no distinction between red and green. For dogs, detecting exercise and being able to see in low light was probably much more important for their survival than distinguishing a wide range of colours. As a result, their eyes have evolved to perform better in situations where colour is less important.

Conclusion

Dogs see the world very differently from humans. Their colour spectrum is limited to shades of blue and yellow, whilst red and green are perceived by them as variations of grey and brown. Although their colour vision is limited, dogs have adapted to their environment through an enhanced ability to detect exercise and see well in low light. This helps them survive in situations where they are hunting or need to keep an eye on their surroundings.