Let’s settle the debate, are our furry best mates actually colour blind? You've probably heard they only see in black and white, but that's a bit of a tall tale. While dogs don’t see the world exactly like we do, they’re not stumbling around in a dull, grey fog either.
Here’s everything you need to know about how your pup sees the world, which colours pop in their eyes, and why your red tennis ball might be a total flop at the dog park.
How Your Dog’s Eyes Work Compared to Yours
Humans are what the science world calls trichromatic, we’ve got three types of colour-detecting cells in our eyes that help us see red, green, and blue. That’s why we can tell the difference between cherry red and fire truck red (and argue about it).
Dogs, however, are dichromatic. This fancy term just means they only have two types of those colour-detecting cones. They’re pretty great at spotting blue and yellow, but red and green? Not so much. Those shades just kind of blend into the background like a magic eye puzzle they never quite figure out.
Are Dogs Actually Colour Blind Then?
Technically, yes but it’s not as sad as it sounds. Your dog isn’t seeing the world like a black-and-white film from the 1940s. They just have a limited palette, like an artist who forgot half their paint set.
They can still see colour, just not the full rainbow. So, while your cherry red collar might look fabulous to you, your dog is probably wondering why you picked a dull grey one.
Which Colours Can Dogs See Best?
Here’s a cheat sheet for how your dog sees the world:
Blue – big yes
Yellow – another yes
Gray – sure, it’s neutral
Red – nope, looks like brown or grey
Green – nah, just blends in
Orange – looks like a weird version of yellow or brown
That means your dog's favourite red toy might be practically invisible on green grass. It’s not them ignoring it—they just can’t see it clearly.
How This Impacts Toy Time and Training
If your dog seems to lose their red ball five seconds after you throw it, don’t worry they’re not being lazy or distracted. To their eyes, that toy probably camouflaged itself the moment it hit the grass.
So what does that mean for you? It’s time to stock up on toys in yellow and blue. They stand out like neon signs in your dog’s world and are much easier to track mid-air.
For training sessions, try using props or visual cues in colours they can actually see. Your dog might be the next genius in the park, but only if they can spot what you’re asking them to focus on.
What About Their Night Vision?
Here’s where dogs totally one-up us. Thanks to something called the tapetum lucidum (basically a mirror in their eyeballs), dogs can see in low light way better than we can. That’s why they can chase a possum across the yard at 2am while you’re still squinting to find the light switch.
Their world might lack reds and greens, but it more than makes up for it with excellent night vision and motion detection.
What It All Means for You and Your Pup
Your dog’s world may be less colourful, but it’s perfectly tailored to their needs. They don’t need a full Crayola box to thrive. They rely more on movement, contrast, and smell to explore the world and honestly, they’re doing just fine.
Next time you’re choosing a toy, opt for something in blue or yellow. Your dog will have a much easier time finding it, and you’ll have fewer moments yelling “where’s the ball?” while your dog looks at you like you’re the one who lost it.
Want to See the World Through Their Eyes?
There are some fun online tools where you can upload a photo and see how it looks to your dog. It’s a cool way to understand why they might walk past a red frisbee and go nuts for a blue tug toy.
