Visual Stimuli That Affect Dogs

During recent decades, there has been an increase of scientific research into the physical, mental and sensory capabilities of the domestic dog. This information has helped shape the way humans train, understand and live with dogs. Some of the most recent data helps explain how and why dogs react to specific visual stimuli.

  1. The Visual System

    • Thanks to recent research, it is now known that dogs see less color detail than humans. While humans have three different types of color sensing cells in their eyes, dogs only have two. This results in a visual system that can see more blues and yellows, but fewer oranges or purples. They also tend to confuse reds and greens, seeing them both as a muted, gray-brown. However, what dogs lack in color definition, they make up for in motion detection. Dogs have more motion and contrast sensitive cells than humans, which allows them to see activity at longer distances. Finally, while humans have approximately a 180 to 200 degree visual field, many dogs have nearly a 240 degree view.

    Television

    • There are many anecdotes about dogs who watch television. This often includes brightly colored shows such as cartoons and fast action such as sports. Plenty of dogs also enjoy watching video games, as the shapes of the characters and the motion can garner their attention. However, in today's world of high definition televisions, it is becoming increasingly frequent that dogs bark at the television, especially other dogs, large animals and fast moving cars. Because of their wider field of view and reduction of color sensitive cells, these images appear quite real to most dogs.

    Eyes of a Hunter

    • A wide field of view and sensitivity to motion make dogs particularly sensitive to quick and sporadic motion. In addition, evolution has helped them see better in the dark, picking out finer detail in contrast than humans. Often, an owner may not even be able to see what the dog sees until the animal or object gets closer. It is for this reason many dogs are spurred to chase small animals, birds and other prey type objects.

    Breed Influence

    • During hundreds of years, humans have selectively bred dogs. The outcome of this has resulted in a variety of head and eye shapes, excitement levels and hunting drives. For example, a pug, bred for companionship and close contact guarding, has a much more narrow field of vision due to his eyes being closer together and facing forward. In contrast, breed groups such as sight hounds and pointers were bred with their eyes further to the side of their heads. This results in the widest field of vision of most breeds, and a higher likelihood that they become stimulated by movement.

    To See What They See

    • Though our visual systems are built differently, we can improve our understanding of what dogs see by changing our perspective. The next time your dog freezes on a walk or stares out the window, don't dismiss his behavior. Instead, kneel down beside him and look into the distance with him. You may be surprised what a change of perspective can teach you about your dog's world.