Can Dogs See Color? Here’s What Veterinarians Say

You probably already know dogs have a superior sense of smell and better hearing than we do, but what about their vision? Is it actually true that dogs only see in black and white?

The short answer is no. In fact, dogs can see in color, but not in exactly the same we do. 

Dogs see color in a narrower range than most humans can see. This is because human eyes have three types of cones that help us discern color, while a dog’s retina only has two types of cones. This limits both the spectrum of colors dogs can see as well as the level of brightness. As a result, dogs see a dimmer version of the world than you’re probably used to. 

“Dogs have dichromatic color vision, which means they have two types of cone photoreceptors within their retina,” explains Dr. Kristin Fischer, DVM, DAVCO, a veterinary ophthalmologist at Animal Eye Care Associates in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. “This results in a more limited color spectrum visually as compared to humans, [most of whom] have trichromatic vision.”

Dogs can detect black and white, but not in the same sharp contrast that we enjoy.

When it comes to colors, dogs can detect different shades of yellow and blue. However, dogs aren’t really able to see colors like red and green.

“The two types of cones within the canine retina are sensitive to short-wavelength and medium- to long-wavelength light, resulting in perception of the world in shades of blue and yellow, with limited ability to differentiate between red and green,” Dr. Fischer says.

Sure, your dog will still appreciate a green disc or a red ball, but if you want to make a further enriching environment based on the colors dogs see best, try these products:

“[Dogs] are more like a color-blind person who has red and green color blindness, based on the cones in their eyes,” explains Dr. Laurie Hess, DVM, owner of Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics. While red and green hues are difficult for canine vision, others on the color spectrum—like shades of yellow and blue—appear much more vibrant to a dog’s point of view.

To help you “see” through your dog’s eyes, we used an image-processing tool to get an accurate interpretation of what dogs see vs. what we see.

Below, you’ll see a pup playing with an orange Frisco Fetch Squeaky Ball. The left side is what humans see, and the right is an approximation of what a dog would see in comparison:

As you can tell, even the green grass gets lost in translation, blurring against the rest of the frame.

And here’s the same Frisco Ball toy, only in blue, which stands out more clearly against the grass:

Next up, we tried the same experiment with a pink Frisco Puppy Toy. On the right hand side, the pink shows up much duller in a dog’s world than it does on the left (aka to humans).

Finally, we tried it again with the Frisco Puppy Toy, only this time in blue. Once again, the vibrant blue clearly pops against the background for both humans and dogs.

No matter what colors they can see, regular eye care is important for all dogs. Dr. Fischer recommends taking proactive steps to protect your dog’s vision, including:

• Routine veterinary examinations to detect problems early
• Watch for any change in appearance of the eye (redness, cloudiness, discharge) or comfort (squinting, tearing, rubbing)
• Monitor for any changes in vision and have your pet evaluated by your veterinarian or a veterinary ophthalmologist as soon as symptoms are noted
• Good nutrition is also key to promoting long term ocular health

What about their environment? If dogs mainly see yellow and blue, should you stick to blue and yellow dog toys?

“Dogs are used to having dichromatic vision with limited color variability, and therefore no modifications are necessary in your environment to help them see,” Dr. Fischer says. “You can certainly continue to buy toys in all shapes and sizes, and they will love them!”

Color blindness isn’t the only interesting thing about canine vision. Based on studies on dogs’ eyes and behaviors, we know plenty about the way dogs see their world. 

Most dog breeds detect color the same. However, other aspects of their vision acuity depend on factors like facial conformation, which can affect vision sharpness and width (similar to peripheral vision).

“In general, most dogs have close-to-perfect refraction or emmetropia,” Dr. Fischer says, which is another way of describing perfect visual function in a healthy eye, “but some dogs have conformational or breed-associated adaptations that affect their vision capabilities.”

For example, while Dr. Fischer mentions that breeds like Border Collies, Doberman Pinschers, and German Shepherds have “excellent visual acuity,” or sharpness and clarity of vision, while the short snouts and prominent bulging eyes of brachycephalic dogs, like French Bulldogs, often narrows their field of vision, says Dr. Fischer.

Another difference between human vision and dog vision is that dog eyes have significantly more rods. The rods process light and motion, which gives them better visual acuity for seeing in low light or in the dark.

In fact, you may have noticed that your dog’s eyes actually glow in the dark. This is because they quite literally have night vision.

“The tapetum, or tapetum lucidum, is a reflective structure found in many animal species that is located beneath the retina within the eye,” Dr. Fischer explains. “It functions to amplify photoreceptor stimulation in the eye, which ultimately enhances low-light vision. It basically acts like a mirror, allowing light to bounce around in the eye and stimulate as many rod photoreceptors as possible to enhance vision.”

Dr. Fischer adds, “It is also responsible for the green or yellow eyeshine you may appreciate when light reflects off the tapetum in animals at night.”

Those rods are also excellent at detecting movement, which is why dogs sometimes spot things—like squirrels in the distance or even a fly by the window—that humans may not notice.