What Colors Can Dogs See? (2024 Guide) (2024)

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Pet parents often become so close with their dogs that they may start to wonder about their thoughts, emotions and capabilities. They may question what their dog dreams about or if their dog loves them, too. They might also wonder if their dog can see the world as we humans do.

A dog’s eye functions similarly to a human’s—but there are some differences. Both canine and human eyes are made up of cones and rods (photoreceptors). Cones aid in color differentiation while rods help with motion and night vision.

Although dogs have more rods in their eyes, humans have more cones. We have three types of cones, whereas dogs have two. Our three cones enable us to see more colors than dogs.

“Dogs have better night vision than we do because they’re designed for hunting at night. They have more rods [in their eyes than we do]…and they have something called a tapetum lucidum in the back of the eye that helps with low-light situations,” says Dr. Lawrence Putter, D.V.M., a veterinarian and owner of Lenox Hill Veterinarians in New York City.

What Colors Can Dogs See? (2024 Guide) (1)Photo Credit: Unsplash And Dog VISION Tool By András Péter

Caption: Dogs aren’t colorblind, but their vision is not as clear as that of a human.

Can Dogs See Color?

Yes, dogs can see color. Historically, it was believed that dogs saw the world in black and white. However, science has since proven that dogs can see some colors, although not as many as humans.

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What Colors Do Dogs See?

Dogs can see blue, yellow, and various shades of gray, since they have two types of cones that correspond with blue and yellow. Humans can see more colors because we have three types of cones in our eyes that coordinate with red, blue and green color combinations.

“Red and green colors would come up as maybe a gray or brown shade [to your dog],” Putter says.

This is ironic considering that many dog toys tend to come in shades of bright red, orange and green—all colors that dogs can’t see. “Throwing a yellow or blue ball that’s actually seen better by dogs is [more effective],” Putter adds.

What Colors Can Dogs See? (2024 Guide) (2)Photo Credit: Unsplash And Dog VISION Tool By András Péter

Caption: A dog’s eyesight is much better at night due to having more rods in their eyes than humans do.

Are Dogs Color Blind?

It’s a popular myth that dogs are fully color blind. They can see some colors, just not all of them. In this respect, they would be considered red-green color blind, which is also the most common form of color blindness in humans.

“People with [this type of] color blindness can’t differentiate red and green colors. Dogs have the same deficit. They wouldn’t be able to look at a green light and think, ‘Oh, that’s a green light.” Just like a color blind person,” Putter explains.

Causes of Color Blindness In Dogs

All dogs are born technically color blind, with the inability to see red and green colors. Canines are biologically limited to seeing the world in blue, yellow, brown and gray due to the limited number of cones in their eyes, compared to humans.

What Colors Do Dogs See Compared to Humans?

Dogs can see blue, yellow, and various shades of gray. Humans can see about 1 million different colors due to the three types of cones in our eyes, with each cone detecting around 100 different shades of color.

What Colors Can Dogs See? (2024 Guide) (3)Photo Credit: Unsplash And Dog VISION Tool By András Péter

Caption: Dogs can see blue, yellow, and various shades of gray.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dog Vision

Can Dogs See In The Dark?

Yes, dogs can see in the dark. Due to an increased number of rods in their eyes, dogs have better night vision than humans. They also have a tapetum lucidum, a reflector system, behind their retina that allows them to see better at night.

Do Dogs Need Glasses?

Compared to an ideal human’s 20/20 vision, dogs have more of a 20/75 vision. They see the world with a blurry outlook and can’t see objects that are far away. For instance, if a human can see an object from 75 feet away, a dog will only be able to detect it from 20 feet away.

In this regard, dogs would be considered near-sighted and would need glasses. But because their other senses are superior, dogs can live without glasses, so you don’t have to worry about your pet insurance company covering the cost of frames and lenses for your pooch.

Can Dogs Live a Happy Life Without Vision?

Yes, dogs can live a happy life without vision because sight is not one of a dog’s most vital senses—they rely more on smell and hearing to get around. They also have a fantastic memory when it comes to where furniture and other objects are placed in your home.

“Dogs in a household can live very well with poor vision or no vision. A blind dog will learn where everything [in your home] is,” says Putter. He adds one pet care tip, should your dog lose its eyesight: “Just don’t rearrange the furniture, because then they will have to relearn where everything is.”

What Colors Can Dogs See? (2024 Guide) (2024)

FAQs

What Colors Can Dogs See? (2024 Guide)? ›

What Colors Do Dogs See? Dogs can see blue, yellow, and various shades of gray, since they have two types of cones that correspond with blue and yellow. Humans can see more colors because we have three types of cones in our eyes that coordinate with red, blue and green color combinations.

What 4 colors can dogs see? ›

Because dogs' eyes only have two types of cones (just 20 percent of the cones in human eyes), their color spectrum is limited to shades of gray, brown, yellow and blue. This is called dichromatic vision, which is similar to humans who experience red-green color blindness.

Can guide dogs see color? ›

Although dogs are not color blind, their ability to see colors is limited compared to human beings. Guide dogs are trained to assist people but it is a misconception that they're capable to reading traffic signals. They do not understand or know when the light changes from red or yellow to green.

What colours are best for dogs to see? ›

For example, red appears dark brownish-gray or black to a dog. And yellow, orange, and green all look a bit yellowish to a dog. Our furry friends see blue well, but purple looks the same as blue to them. When playing a game of fetch, dogs cannot tell the difference between a red ball and a yellow ball.

What color is hardest for dogs to see? ›

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.”

Can dogs see navy blue? ›

A dog's color spectrum is more muted, allowing them to distinguish blue, yellow, and various shades of gray. Dogs may also have difficulty distinguishing between different shades of the same color, like light blue and dark blue.

What does pink look like to dogs? ›

The color pink is simply a lighter version of the color red. Since dogs most likely see the color red as brown, it is likely that dogs view the color pink as a light beige. Like all other colors, these shades of this beige can differ depending on what shade of pink the dog is looking at.

Can guide dogs see rainbow crossings? ›

They can only discern blue and yellow. The initial idea was for there to be a rainbow zebra crossing, which Transport for London vetoed because of the issues with visually impaired people and guide dogs not being to recognise colours as easily as they might a black and white crossing.

What colors can dogs not see properly? ›

Dogs, on the other hand, have only two types of cones, which means they can only discern blue and yellow. As a result, dogs are red-green colour blind.

Do guide dogs ever get to play? ›

Play is a big part of a guide dog's life, just as it is for any dog. It gives them an outlet for their energy, and a chance to interact with and learn from the world around them.

What color calms dogs? ›

Blue: The calming and soothing properties of blue can help alleviate anxiety and promote a sense of tranquility for dogs. Green: Representing balance and harmony, green can help reduce stress and create a serene environment for dogs to unwind.

What color do dogs love the most? ›

Zoetis suggests that dogs see blue and yellow as the most vibrant colors in their visual world. These colors are more distinct and appealing to them compared to others. Next time you pick out a toy for your furry friend, consider opting for shades of blue or yellow to capture their attention and enthusiasm.

What colors make dogs happy? ›

For dogs, a blue or yellow bowl might be more visually appealing due to their colour perception. Moreover, the therapeutic effects of these colours might make mealtime more relaxing or invigorating, depending on the shade.

What 3 colours can dogs see? ›

Dogs can see blue, yellow, and various shades of gray, since they have two types of cones that correspond with blue and yellow. Humans can see more colors because we have three types of cones in our eyes that coordinate with red, blue and green color combinations.

What are dog friendly colors? ›

“For a canine-friendly colour scheme, look to incorporate bursts of bright blues and yellows throughout your home. Especially consider this when choosing dog-specific accessories, such as their food bowl and toys, so they can easily see, appreciate and engage with these objects.

What is a dog's favorite color? ›

While it's unfortunate that we can't give you much information about what colors your dog can see or what colors your dog likes, we can tell you what they're most equipped to enjoy, and that's going to be toys in shades of vibrant yellows and blues.

What color toys are best for dogs? ›

Yellow and blue are the two shades that dogs prefer as they are the hues that canines can effortlessly discern. Dogs will be capable of noticing these easily recognizable colors amid their surroundings that are composed of other shades subdued by their eyesight.

What color can dogs see best in grass? ›

The greens in grass, trees and other plants are also tan to a dog. That bright red ball lying in the lush green grass may be very clear to you, but to your pet dog, the ball and the grass are both brown. Buy your dog a yellow or blue toy, however, and it will be as visible to your dog as it is to you.

Is Bluey made in dog vision colors? ›

Yes the main characters are rendered in colors that read pretty much the same for humans and dogs. But, like most children's shows, it relies on a lot of bold, primary colors... of which dogs can see two out of three so this is perhaps less “incredible hidden detail” as it is “unremarkable coincidence.”

What does a dog's vision look like? ›

Dogs can only see blues, yellows, and shades of grey. While the cones and rods are absorbing color, light, and movement, they relay that information to the ganglion cells, which then transmit all image information to the brain.

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