Are Dogs Really Color-Blind?

We have often wondered if dogs can see in color or is it only in black and white? Well, veterinarians used to believe that it was only in black and white, but recent studies have shown that dogs do have some vision in color. They are unable to see as brightly and as much of a variety as we are, but they do have 20% of the cone photoreceptor cells that humans do.

If only we could ask dogs to participate in an eye chart or to pick out certain colors, then we could really know what they can see exactly. But there are behavioral tests that suggest dogs can see in varying shades of yellow and blue and are unable to see colors  ranging from red to green. So they live in a world that is made up of yellow, gray, and blue.

What makes this sort of funny is that most dog toys are made in red or orange, which makes it difficult for the dog to see them. So if you see your dog running past his toy or having a hard time finding it, it may not be because his eyesight is unhealthy or that he is stubborn. He most likely cannot see it against the green grass.

The visual acuity of a dog is also less developed than a human. The expert belief is that dogs only pertain 20-40% of a human's visual acuity. For example, certain objects humans can see might appear blurry to your dog, even if judging it at the same distance.

On the other hand, canines can see in much dimmer light than a human can. They also have the ability to detect motion. That ability serves them quite well when in the wild so that they can hunt nocturnally amongst their camouflaged prey.

A dog can outperform humans visually in another way. They also have a wider grade of peripheral vision, contributing to their natural ability as hunters. This enables them to see their prey even if it is fast-moving.

So while we call it "colorblindness," the truth is that even a human who may be colorblind is not truly blind to all colors. It just means that they are unable to see certain colors, and this is what is true of a dog. There is no need to feel sorry for dogs, because what they lack in seeing in color, they are privileged with a great sense of smell.