Did you know that dogs aren’t actually color blind the way many people think? Over time, countless myths, stories, and misconceptions have fueled the idea that our furry friends see the world only in black and white.
Questions like “Do dogs really see everything in grayscale?”, “Can my dog see colors?”, and the ever-popular “Are dogs color blind?” are common among curious pet owners.
For years, the assumption was that dogs viewed the world through a monochrome lens. But thanks to modern research, we now know that while dogs don’t perceive colors the same way humans do, they can still see a limited range of them.
Understanding how dogs see the world is especially important if your dog serves as an emotional support animal. If that’s the case, securing an ESA letter not only strengthens your bond but also ensures your dog can stay by your side where it matters most.
So, what colors can dogs actually see? And how different is their world from ours? Keep reading to uncover the truth about canine vision and finally bust the myth of total color blindness in dogs.
Color blindness is a unique vision condition that prevents a person or animal from identifying and differentiating between certain colors. This genetic condition is caused when the light-sensitive cells and receptors, named rods and cones, found in the retina of the eyes, respond differently to specific colors.
These cells respond to wavelengths of light that enable the retina to identify and differentiate between different colors. In humans, there are two types of color blindness. It includes red-green color blindness and blue-yellow color blindness.
The type of color blindness that a person has depends on the color receptors that are affected. For example, a person with blue-yellow color blindness will not be able to differentiate between the two colors.
The symptoms of these conditions are not as obvious as those of other conditions. Usually, parents observe that there is a problem in a child’s vision at an early age.
In other cases, those symptoms are so casual that they can not be noticed by people. Some common symptoms include:
Color blindness has no known treatment as yet. However, there are contact lenses available that help a person cope with color deficiencies.
Understanding how the eyes work is essential when learning about color blindness in dogs. The eyes function on the basis of specialized cells and receptors called rods and cones. Rods detect the motion of light while the cones control the color perception.
Highlights
A human eye has three types of cones, while a dog has only two. It means that dogs see only two colors, including yellow and blue only. Unlike humans, who can generally see and distinguish between bright red, blue, green, and other colors, dogs could see two colors only.
The dog’s vision, therefore, is called dichromatic. Unlike the common and widespread myth, dogs do not see the world in the shades of black and white. They can see and perceive some colors, especially blue and yellow, but they perceive it differently than humans.
Due to dichromatic vision, dogs perfectly see and distinguish between two colors and their variations. In their case, these colors are blue and yellow.
Are dogs really color blind or only spectrum challenged? For years, researchers have been studying and conducting experiments to understand how the canine eye works. It is through these studies that experts concluded that dogs have night vision.
Unlike humans, dogs have more rods in their retinas, which helps them see in dim light also. However, having more rods does not make the color spectrum larger for them. They still see two colors only.
It is due to the fact that color perception is based on both rods and cones. Dogs dominantly see yellow, blue, and their relevant shades and tones. They easily distinguish between blue, blue-green, and violet.
As per the research conducted by Jay Neiz from Neitz Color Vision Lab, the dogs’ vision works the same as the vision of a human with red-green color blindness.
In contrast to this, shades of red and green are not identified by the dog’s retina. The perceiving colors in substitute of red and green are brown and grayscale shades. It means that a field of green grass may just be dry brown hay for the dogs.
Any canine lover would feel sad about it but, dogs make up for their limited color identification quality with other skills. Dogs have a remarkable sense of smell and hearing.
They have over 300 million receptors in their nose, which is way more than humans, with only about six million receptors.
If dogs could see two primary colors, then how did everyone perceive that canines have a black and white vision? The theory was given by Will Judy, the founder of the National Dog Week, who believed that dogs see the world in black and white only.
Later in the 1960s, researchers wrongly stated that only primates could perceive and identify different colors.
Are Dogs Color Blind - Testing & Experiment
In 2013, Russian researchers challenged this belief. They argued that dogs could see yellow and blue hues and conducted an experiment to prove their point.
They placed four pieces of paper, all of the different colors, on four feed boxes. The one with dark yellow paper had a piece of meat or food in it. Later, when the dogs learned about associating the yellow paper with food, the researchers placed food in the box having blue paper.
They concluded that if the dogs went for the blue paper, then it is because of food. Surprisingly, they went for yellow paper, proving that it was the color rather than food.
Now that you know what colors your dog can see, you can choose their products accordingly. Get them toys with colors they can identify and can react to. There is a reason why certain dogs react happily and go crazy seeing a specified color object as they recognize.
According to Stanley Coren, AKC Family Dog columnist,
‘The most popular colors for dog toys today are red or orange. However, red and orange are difficult for dogs to see. That means that when your own pet version of Lassie runs right past the toy that you tossed, she may not be stubborn or stupid. It may be your fault for choosing a toy with a color that is hard to discriminate from the green grass of your lawn.’
Since dogs could not perceive orange, red, and green colors, getting toys of this color would not do them any good. For greater benefit and better training, you should get your dog’s toys in yellow and blue colors.
Moreover, when training your dog or playing with them, use objects that they easily differentiate in terms of colors. It will be easier for them as well as for you.
Are you looking for a way to ensure your ESA has the legal protection it deserves?
Get an ESA letter today and make sure your beloved companion enjoys all the rights and privileges available under the law.
With an ESA letter for dog, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your loyal companion is always protected!
WRITTEN BY
Harper Jefcoat
Harper Jefcoat is a licensed mental health professional with over a decade of experience in emotional support animal (ESA) evaluations, counseling, and ESA-related legal guidance. With a strong background in therapy and mental health advocacy, Harper has helped thousands of clients receive legitimate ESA letters while promoting emotional well-being. As the official blog author for RealESALetter.com, Harper is dedicated to educating the public on ESA benefits, laws, and mental wellness.
Share this Article
Your password has been sent to
