It’s a common question: Are dogs colour blind, or have we just misunderstood how they see? The truth is more interesting than most people realise. Dogs don’t see the world in black and white—but they also don’t see it like we do.
So how exactly does a dog’s vision work?
- Can they see the colour of their favourite ball?
- Do they recognise the colour of their Mad Paws Pet Sitter’s front door?
- And why did we once think they saw the world in greyscale, like an old film?
In our article, Things People Get Wrong About Dogs, we revealed that the truth is much more nuanced. Learning how dogs see helps us create a brighter, safer world for them. So, with that said, let’s explore further.
What does it mean to be colour blind?
Before we answer “Are dogs colour blind?” we need to understand what colour blindness means.
All animals see thanks to special cells in the eye called photoreceptors. These come in two types: rods and cones. Rods detect light and motion. Cones detect colour.
Each species has a different mix of rods and cones, depending on their needs. The amount of rods and cones an animal has isn’t just about their environment, but also their lifestyle.
Dolphins, for example, don’t see much colour. They live in deep blue environments and rely more on rods to see in low light.
Butterflies, on the other hand, need to spot flowers, other insects, and potential mates. So they have lots of cones to see a wide range of colours.
Nocturnal animals, like owls, have many rods but few cones. They need to see well in the dark, not in colour.
Now let’s apply this to our furry friends.
So, fact or fiction: Are dogs colour blind?
In short – Dogs aren’t completely colour blind.
Unlike completely colour blind animals who lack cones, dogs do have some cones to be able to see a range of colours.
But, colour vision isn’t just about whether an animal has cones. It’s also about how many and what kinds. We humans have three types of cones, allowing us to see the colours blue, red, and green. And, we have up to seven million of them!
Dogs, on the other hand, have two types of cones, which give them the ability to see yellow and blue. For a doggo, red and green are similar to yellow, and you can forget about colours like purple and orange. The world to a dog, in other words, is essentially yellow, blue and grey. And, they have significantly fewer cones than we do—about one fifth the amount of humans. So, their ability to differentiate between colours is significantly weaker.
Want to compare your dog’s vision to your own? Check out a video to see the difference.
Why don’t dogs see colour like we do?
The idea that dogs only see in black and white goes back to the 1930s. No one knows where the idea came from, but it stuck. Even in the 1960s, some researchers claimed that primates were the only animals capable of colour vision. It wasn’t until a 2013 study in Russia that this myth began to fade.
The next question, of course, was why would dogs need to see colour? What could they use it for? And why don’t they see as well as we do?
Dogs evolved from wolves, who are crepuscular – that means they’re most active at dawn and dusk. This helped them hunt in low light and even in full darkness, like the wolves that live in far northern regions.
Modern dogs inherited this night-friendly vision. They don’t need perfect colour vision to find food or stay safe. Instead, they benefit from strong night vision and movement detection.
Plus, dogs don’t rely on colour the way some animals do. They don’t need to spot ripe fruit or colourful feathers. So, evolution favoured light sensitivity over colour accuracy.
In other words, in the game of evolutionary cost-benefit analysis, imperfect colour vision and excellent night vision was the best option for the canine.
Conduct a colour vision test with your dog
Want to see your dog’s colour vision in action? Try this simple test:
Get three identical objects in blue, red, and green. Make sure they’re the same shape and shade intensity.
Start with red and blue. Hold one in each hand and train your dog to touch the red one for a treat. To your dog, the red may look yellowish.
Shuffle the toys behind your back and ask your dog to choose the red one again.
Once they learn the task, swap in green instead of blue. Now you’re using two colours they likely can’t tell apart. You might notice your dog hesitating or choosing randomly.
If your pup seems confused, switch back to the red-blue combo. End the game on a positive note with some praise, a treat, and a pat.
How to make your dog’s world more dog-colour friendly
Chances are, your pup isn’t silently wishing that you would redesign your whole home with blues and yellows. But, if you want to spruce things up for them, there are a few things that can make their world more dog-friendly:
Pick blue and yellow toys. Dogs see these best. If your dog keeps losing their ball, try switching to one of these colours. It’ll be easier for them to find—and less likely to get mixed up at the dog park or with your Pet Sitter.
Brighten up their food station. Not much research exists on colour therapy for dogs, but blue or yellow food bowls could make mealtimes more engaging.
Use patterns or textures for safety. If your dog is clumsy or tends to bump into things, try adding textured rugs, patterned furniture, or visual contrasts. These help them navigate better in their mostly grey-toned world.
Are dogs colour blind? No, but there’s a lot more to learn!
We may be able to answer the question, “Are dogs colour blind?” with a simple no. But that doesn’t mean that scientists are done researching doggy sight. Lucky for those of us curious about our canines, there’s still a lot to learn about dog vision!
