We all know that dogs can see some colors, but that’s about as far as most of us go. What about the details? Dogs’ visual systems are in many ways similar to ours, but they also have a few distinct differences and some fascinating quirks.
Many dog breeds have instincts unlike humans, such as herding livestock or hunting game. These breeds rely on keen eyesight to spot their prey and could do without the distraction of color vision.
Dogs might not appreciate all the colors like humans, but their world is not black and white. Let’s learn about how dogs see colors and more.
What’s Inside!
What Does a Dog’s Vision Look Like?
Dogs are dichromatic, and that’s why they are only limited to shades of gray, brown, yellow, and blue. Each type of cone detects a distinct wavelength of light. Humans can tell a crimson rose from a Granny Smith apple because they have separate cones tuned to red and green light. Red-green cones are lacking in dogs and some color-blind people, which is why a dog’s color vision resembles red-green color blindness in humans.
Most dogs are more sensitive to green light than humans, which is why many dog training collars use green light for correction. Most dogs have amber or brown eyes, and their peripheral vision is much greater than ours, covering roughly 250 degrees compared to about 190 degrees for people.
Fact: Dogs also beat us at spotting motion. A 2017 study found dogs can see clearly from farther away than humans can when something is moving, which is part of why a fast, low bounce catches a dog’s eye faster than a still, brightly colored toy does, according to the American Kennel Club.
How Do Dogs See Colors?
There are just two different cones in a dog’s eye (just 20 percent of the cones in human eyes). As a result, a dog’s color palette is limited to grays, browns, blues, and yellows. This is known as dichromatic vision, and it is similar to red-green color blindness in people.
Some colors, such as red and orange tones, may seem to dogs as a different color, such as brown. Greens tend to look brownish or gray to dogs too, much like reds do, rather than the vivid green people see. Dogs may also have trouble distinguishing between shades of the same color, such as light blue and dark blue.
If your dog has trouble finding toys or rewards, keep this in mind. It’s not that he’s uninterested: it’s more probable that he can’t perceive what you’re trying to offer.
Try something blue or yellow the next time you’re shopping for dog toys to make your dog stand out more.
How Many Colors Does a Dog See?
One common misconception is that dogs can only see in black and white. The truth is that dogs do have color vision — it’s just more limited than ours, with less information to process.
The dog’s cone cells are concentrated on the retina’s center and are less sensitive to light than ours. That means they can’t see as many colors, but they can see a larger area.
Millions of rod-shaped cells provide vision in lower light at the back of the eye (retina).
Dogs’ eyes also have a membrane lining that reflects incoming light like a mirror — it’s called tapetum lucidum, which means “bright carpet.” It is located behind the retina, reflecting the incoming light to increase night vision.
Good to know: The tapetum lucidum is also why a dog’s eyes seem to glow in flash photos or car headlights at night — light bounces off this mirror-like layer a second time on its way back out of the eye, giving the retina an extra chance to catch it, per VCA Animal Hospitals.
Even though dogs can see color, their world is not full of colors. But they’re pretty good at recognizing what’s around them without much color information. They see best at a mid-range distance and are nearsighted. A visual sharpness is 50% less than a human’s during the daytime, so things may seem blurrier to them. However, they can still rely on their heightened sense of hearing and smell.
Can Dogs See in the Dark?
Yes, dogs can see in the dark better than humans can, thanks to more rod cells and the tapetum lucidum, though they still can’t see in complete darkness with no light at all. They have a layer of light-sensitive tissue called “rods and cones,” which are much more sensitive to light than humans.
In most cases, dogs can see people and objects at night more clearly than we can, since their eyes are built for low light. Night vision is an essential function of the rods and cones in the retina. Dogs with dark eyes might struggle to see clearly at night.
Can Dogs See White?
Dogs live in a world where white is present but only infrequently. They need to have a much broader palette of colors for dogs to see the world as we do. Dogs can see a range of brightnesses and shades, but white is one of their main challenges.
Yellow is one of the colors dogs see most clearly, alongside blue. Blue skies and objects also stand out to them, while reds and oranges tend to look more brown or gray, as covered above. White takes longer to distinguish, and dogs with brown eyes see it as black.
Color Blindness in Dogs
Many dogs with red-green color blindness are never diagnosed. Their owners do not know it, and even the veterinarian might be unable to tell. In order for their owners to know about this condition, subtle signs are needed by the owner.
The most obvious sign is coat color
Red-green color blindness in dogs can be distinguished from a black or white dog simply by examining the coat. Those dogs with brown or amber eyes usually have more difficulty showing their actual coat color.
Dogs can be classified into three types of “color blindness” based on the nature of their vision:
Worth noting: Nearly all dogs share the same basic dichromatic (blue-and-yellow) vision described above — it isn’t a spectrum where some dogs see normally and others don’t. What the list below calls “normal” and “deuteranopia” both describe this same typical dog eyesight; true total color blindness (achromatopsia) is a separate, much rarer inherited condition, per AKC.
- Normal: A dog with normal color vision can see in yellow, green, and orange shades. Dogs who are not red-green colorblind can distinguish between yellow and black objects. They also respond to red and blue hues better than green ones.
- Deuteranopia: Dogs with this color blindness can see yellow, orange, and red best. The rest of the colors fall into green or black categories.
- Achromatopsia: A dog with achromatopsia (also called cone degeneration or day blindness) cannot see any color at all, only shades of gray and brown. This is a real, well-documented inherited condition in certain breeds, such as Alaskan Malamutes and German Shorthaired Pointers, according to the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory.
Most dogs have normal color vision and cannot see red and orange very well. They can tell the difference between black and white objects, but they may not distinguish shades of gray or brown.
The first step in correcting the problem is determining whether this is a color blindness problem by taking your dog to the vet. If it is determined that it isn’t an eye disorder, then talk to your veterinarian about an available color vision test.
Signs Your Dog Needs an Eye Exam
The best way to determine whether your dog needs an eye exam is to watch him play. For example, when he chases a ball or frisbee, he must detect it visually (not with his nose).
When you engage in a game of fetch with your dog, you should notice that the ball slows down his movement so that he can track it better. If your dog always seems to have trouble tracking objects and playing fetch, it could be a sign that he needs an eye exam.
See a vet if: your dog suddenly squints, has red or cloudy eyes, unusual discharge, or seems to bump into furniture. These can signal a genuine eye problem and are worth a prompt vet visit, per VCA Animal Hospitals.
It is possible to have a normal eye exam with subnormal vision, so if you suspect your dog has something wrong with his eyes, you should still take him in.
Some dogs are born with or develop impaired vision that’s easy to miss, and often don’t know the difference themselves. These dogs see varying degrees of blackness or redness. In some cases, the reduced vision may be mild (fuzzy); in others, it may be severe enough to cause problems for the dog.
The first step in correcting the problem is determining whether this is a color blindness problem by taking your dog to a veterinarian and examining his eyes. If it is determined that it isn’t an eye disorder, then talk to your veterinarian about an available color vision test.
Final thoughts
Dogs are unique creatures. Their eyes can see, but that doesn’t necessarily mean their vision is the same as ours. Animals depend on their senses and instincts to survive and lead happy life.
The next time you’re with your dog, sit back and admire how he sees the world!
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