Many dog owners wonder what colors their pets see. Do dogs see the world the same way as humans? It turns out that their color perception is completely different. For owners, when choosing accessories such as leashes or collars, it is important to understand how dogs perceive colors in order to choose the best products for their four-legged friends.
Color Vision in Dogs – How Does It Work?
Dogs, unlike humans, do not see the full range of colors. Their vision is much less diverse in terms of distinguishing colors. Humans have three types of cones in the retina, which allows them to distinguish a wide range of colors, while dogs only have two types of cones. For this reason, their color perception is limited to shades that are close to yellow and blue. It is worth taking care of the additional aesthetic value of accessories for dogs as well.
What colours do dogs see?
Dogs see the world mainly in shades of blue and yellow. Colours that are intense to us, such as red, pink or purple, may be practically invisible to a dog or perceived as shades of grey. For this reason, blue and yellow are the easiest colours for dogs to distinguish. Colours such as red , pink , purple or navy blue will be less visible to a dog - so you should also consider the colour of the leash or collar for your dog.
Researchers in the work Color vision in the dog indicate that
There are several types of dichromats whose color vision seems to be
similar to the vision of a dog. The most obvious is the human deuteranope.
The spectral sensitivity gain threshold function of the dog is very similar to
the function of the human deuteranope (Zrenner, 1983),
What does it mean to have impaired vision of colors, e.g. green and confusing them with red - Deuteranopia
Leash, collar, or dog accessories – what colors will be best?
- Neon Pink : While neon pink is an intense and eye-catching color to us, to a dog it will be more of a shade of gray. However, neon pink is a good choice for accessories if you want them to be more visible in low light, as intense colors can be seen better by us in the dark.
- Red wine : To a dog, red wine will be seen mainly as a shade of dark gray. Although it is not an ideal choice in terms of colors perceived by dogs, it can be an interesting alternative for owners who want their pet to look elegant in accessories.
- Pastel Purple : Like other colors in the red palette, pastel purple will not be clearly visible to the dog. However, it can be attractive to owners looking for trendy and subtle accessories.
- Sea Blue and Navy Blue : These shades are one of the best choices when it comes to dogs’ color vision. Sea blue and navy blue are highly visible to your quadrupeds, while also looking aesthetically pleasing and stylish.
