Dogs have dichromatic vision, meaning they can see colors but not the full spectrum that humans can. Unlike humans who have trichromatic vision and can see red, green, and blue light, dogs are missing some of the cone photoreceptors in their eyes that allow for trichromatic vision. This means dogs can only see blue and yellow light and are red-green colorblind.
What colors can dogs see?
While dogs can’t see the full range of colors that humans can, they do have some color vision. The two cone photoreceptors in a dog’s eye detect blue and yellow light. This means dogs can see shades of blue, greenish-blue, yellow, and reddish-yellow. These hues would appear as shades of gray to a totally colorblind animal. Dogs are similar to people with red-green color blindness – they have difficulty distinguishing between reds, greens, browns, and oranges. These colors all appear as shades of yellow to a dog.
Blue
Dogs have receptors that can detect blue light. This means they can see shades of blue from light sky blue to deep navy. Blue is the color dogs see best. Scientists believe this may be an evolutionary adaptation since the sky and water appear blue. Being able to spot water sources by following blue shades in their field of vision would have helped dogs (and their wolf ancestors) survive.
Yellow
The other cone in dogs’ eyes detects yellow light. Dogs are able to see pale yellow, yellowy-beige, yellow-brown, and dark brown colors. Yellow and blue are opposite on the color wheel, so they provide dogs with the maximum contrast which helps them see detail and variation in shades.
Green
While dogs can’t distinguish green from red, they do see greenish shades as a faint yellow. So dogs can detect pale greens like lime and mint, as well as some olive greens. However, green would appear substantially greener to human eyes. Grass looks like a yellowish tan color to dogs rather than the bright greens humans see.
Red
Dogs have a hard time seeing the difference between reds and greens. Reds may register as a very faint yellow to dogs or be indistinguishable from black or dark greys. So while dogs can see orangey shades of red like salmon and brick, bold reds like crimson and scarlet would just look like a neutral dark color to a pup.
Purple
Since purple is a mix of blue and red light, dogs would only be able to see the blue part of the spectrum. Lavender and lilac would appear light blue or grey while plum and violet would look like a darker neutral shade. The red tones in purple are invisible to dogs.
Brown
Brown contains both red and green light. Dogs would only see the green element which registers as a faint yellow-beige. So dogs can see brown but only as a dull tan color. Chocolates and deep coffee browns would look similar to black in their eyes.
White
Dogs have no trouble seeing white. The lack of pigment reflects back all wavelengths of light to their eyes. Crisp whites would stand out sharply for a dog.
Black
Black absorbs most light, so dogs see it as the absence of color. Black contrasts strongly with lighter shades in a dog’s vision.
How dogs see compared to humans
While humans have trichromatic vision and can see the full light spectrum, dogs only have dichromatic vision. This table summarizes what the world looks like to dogs compared to people:
| Color | How humans see it | How dogs see it |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Vibrant, saturated reds | Faint yellows or neutral dark shades |
| Green | Rich greens from lime to forest | Faint yellow-beige and tan |
| Blue | Sky blue to navy | Blue shades from pale to dark |
| Purple | Lavender, lilac, violet | Light to dark blue or neutral grey |
| Yellow | Pale lemon to rich gold | Pale yellow to brown |
| Brown | Light tan to deep chocolate | Tan, beige, yellowish brown |
| White | Crisp, bright white | Crisp white |
| Black | Inky black | Neutral dark shade |
While humans can distinguish millions of colors, dogs only have about 10% of that color acuity. However, what dogs lack in the richness of their color perception is made up for by their excellent motion detection skills. Dogs have many more rod photoreceptors which are more sensitive to changes in brightness. This allows them to pick up on movements very quickly – handy for spotting prey or predators back when they lived in the wild as wolves!
Do all dogs see the same colors?
All dogs only have blue and yellow color receptors. So while there is some individual variation, the range of colors they see is similar across breeds. Some dogs may have a mutation that causes them to have more rod receptors and fewer functioning cone cells. This can make them worse at seeing color but better at detecting motion in low light. But generally, the dichromatic color vision of dogs is common across breeds.
Can dogs distinguish between colors?
While dogs can’t see the full spectrum, they can differentiate between some colors when they are held up next to each other. Scientists have tested dogs’ ability to tell apart colors by training them to select a certain colored piece of paper using their paws or nose. One study found that dogs could be trained to reliably choose blue over green. This shows that they can see blue as distinct from green, even though red and greens appear similar to them.
However, another study showed dogs struggle to tell the difference between red, yellow, green and grey pieces of paper when they are side by side. This confirms red and green look very similar to dogs, and even yellow is hard for them to distinguish if not bright enough. So dogs can differentiate blue from other colors and some brighter shades of yellow from neutral grey tones. But discerning between red, green, orange and browns is very difficult for them.
Do dogs see as many shades as humans?
It’s estimated that people can see over 1 million different shades and hues. Dogs only have 2 color receptors compared to humans’ 3, so they cannot see the full spectrum of colors. Researchers guess dogs can only see about 10% of the shades that humans can. However, dogs may make up for this with their superior ability to detect brightness and subtle movements.
Do dogs see color as vividly as humans?
Dogs only have 2 cone photoreceptors compared to humans’ 3 cones, so their color vision is less vivid and rich. The world appears in simpler, duller shades to dogs with much less variation between hues. For example, bright crimson would just look like a dark neutral color to a dog rather than the bold saturated red humans see. Dogs essentially see the world like a person with red-green color blindness – lacking the full spectrum that most humans can detect.
Do puppies see color differently than adult dogs?
Puppies are born with the same visual capacities as adult dogs, though their eyes and brain pathways are still developing. The cone photoreceptors needed to detect color are present at birth. However, it takes several weeks for a puppy’s vision to reach full maturity. At first, they respond more to brightness and motion than specific colors. Their eyes and brain need exposure to light after opening at around 2 weeks old to fully develop color perception.
When do puppies develop full color vision?
Puppies do not see colors as vividly as adult dogs from birth. But they develop the ability to see shades of blue and yellow within their first month. Most puppies have full adult-like color vision by 6-8 weeks of age. Their vision sharply improves between 3-6 weeks as their eyes and brain pathways mature. Though it may take up to 16 weeks for a puppy’s attention to focus on colored objects rather than just motion and brightness.
Do certain breeds see color differently?
Most dogs only have two types of color receptors, so there is little variation between breeds. However, there is some evidence to suggest breeds with light blue eyes may have even more limited color vision. Albino dogs lack pigment in their eyes, which affects the development of the retina and optic nerve pathways to the brain. They are unable to process any color and see the world in black, white and shades of grey.
Some herding breeds like Australian Shepherds and Collies can carry a genetic mutation that gives them a third cone receptor. It’s believed this allows them to see some shades of red and distinguish red from green. However, this extra cone is rare even in breeds prone to the mutation. So while it gives those dogs slightly better color acuity, they still don’t have the full spectrum of color vision humans possess.
Do color blind dogs exist?
Most dogs do have limited color vision and are considered “red-green color blind” by human standards. They normally only have two types of cone cells, limiting them to blue and yellow shades. But there are some dogs who have dysfunction or complete loss of cone cells in their eyes. This leaves them totally color blind and unable to see any color at all.
Color blindness is more common in dogs with merle coat patterns, which is a mottled patchy color. The merle gene can affect retinal development causing missing or non-functioning cones. Certain breeds like Australian Shepherds have a high incidence of hereditary color blindness if two merle coated dogs are bred together.
Albino dogs also lack retinal pigment which affects cone cells needed for color vision. So albino dogs only see shades of grey and are totally color blind. Any dog can be born with complete color blindness, but it is more prevalent in breeds with merle coat patterns or albinism.
What do dogs see if they are color blind?
For dogs lacking cone photoreceptors that detect color, they see the world in grayscale. They can distinguish variations in brightness but cannot see any difference between red, green and blue light. Color blind dogs have vision similar to an old black and white television screen. Lacking the ability to detect color shades, these dogs rely more on their excellent motion detection skills to navigate and interact with the world around them.
Do color blind dogs act differently?
Dogs that lack cone photoreceptors have vision limited to black, white and shades of grey. To compensate, they typically use their other senses more. Color blind dogs are often more attentive to sounds and smells to gather information about their environment. They may also become ‘velcro dogs’ that stick close to their owners for security and guidance. Limited vision can make some dogs more timid or anxious without color cues to affirm their perceptions.
Owners may also notice color blind dogs startle more easily when approached suddenly as they rely on motion cues over color. Their navigation may depend more on memorizing paths and routines rather than eyeing landmarks. But with patience and the right training, color blind dogs can still live happy lives relying on their capable sensing abilities.
How to care for a color blind dog
Here are some tips for living with a color blind pup:
- Use simple verbal cues and be consistent with routines so they can get around easily.
- Avoid rearranging furniture frequently so they don’t get disoriented.
- Use their name before approaching to avoid startling them.
- Teach them commands using a reward system so they can learn to focus on your voice.
- Limit areas they can access to places you’ve puppy-proofed to avoid hazards.
- Use baby gates, leashes, and secure fences outside to keep them safe.
- Watch for signs of anxiety like pacing, whining or trembling and give reassurance.
- Consider a halo harness or GPS tracker outside to keep them from wandering astray.
- Use scents, sounds, and textures to provide mental stimulation.
- Socialize them to build confidence around new dogs and people.
While color blind dogs have some limitations to their vision, they use their other senses to adapt and thrive. With a loving home and proper care, they can live full happy lives.
Conclusion
Dogs have dichromatic vision and see the world in shades of blue, yellow and grey. They are essentially red-green color blind compared to humans, lacking the cone photoreceptors to distinguish red hues. While dogs can’t see the full spectrum of colors, they make up for it with excellent motion detection and low light vision skills. Color vision varies little between breeds – almost all dogs just have blue and yellow color receptors. Puppies develop their limited color perception within the first few months after birth. In rare cases, dogs with retinal issues can be completely color blind and only see black, white and grays. But with supportive training and care, color blind pups can thrive using their powerful senses of sound and smell.
