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August 21, 2024Can your pup see the world in colour? And if so, what colours can Fido see? Let’s dive into how your furry friend sees the world and why you might want to start buying your dog toys in specific colours from now on.
What Colours Can a Dog See?
For various reasons, many people assume dogs are colour-blind and view the world in black & white. But in actuality, your canine companion can see colour, just in a smaller range than you do. When a person who isn’t colour blind looks at the world, they see it using colour detecting cells called cones. That person can see red, blue, green, and yellow wavelengths – and all the colours in between. With dogs, they only have two cones, allowing them to see blue and yellow wavelengths.
Do Dogs Only See Blue & Yellow Colours?
No, but since they only have two cones, it means that their spectrum for colour is smaller. Dogs see various shades of black, grey, yellow, and blue. For your canine companion, other colours may appear like a blended colour. Below are a few examples of what we mean:
- Red = Brownish
- Purple = Blue
- Green/Yellow/Orange = Yellowish/Brown (depending on the shade and intensity of the colour)
Does Colour Affect a Dog’s Preference in Toys?
The colour of a toy can most definitely sway your pooch to favour it over others. Sometimes you might buy a new toy for your canine that you’re sure they’ll love – but instead, they might seem almost entirely uninterested in the toy. This could be because Fido doesn’t notice the toy’s colour, and it just blends into the background for them.
For example, if you were to throw a red ball in a grassy backyard, it may blend in with the grass since the colours they see are nearly identical. If you were to try throwing a yellow or blue ball instead, they would have a far easier time tracking it across your yard.
What Colour Toys Should You Be Buying Your Dog?
If you want to buy a good toy for fetch in the backyard, blue is a great colour to pick because it would contrast how your pooch views the colour of the grass. In general, bright yellow and blue toys are the way to go if you want to appeal to your pup’s colour vision. But every dog is different, so just because the colour of a toy isn’t within the wavelengths that Fido can register doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll hate it. Your pooch may like a toy based on its squeaking ability, the way it smells, or maybe even just the texture of the toy.
Should You Only Buy These Colours for Your Dog?
No, it is perfectly fine to purchase toys that are in different wavelengths. If they are indoors playing with a toy it will likely be easier to find. Plus, your dog may like a toy based on other factors like the texture or materials it’s made from. When it comes to outdoors, your toy colour choices may require a quick review.
Final Thoughts on How to Choose the Best Toys for Your Dog
Overall, buying your pup toys in every colour of the rainbow isn’t mean and in no way makes you a bad pet parent. But knowing what colours your canine picks up and which ones they don’t could answer a lot of questions about their toy choice or vision-related choices they make. Not only that, but you can use colours to help with training your dog. If you are looking for some extra support with training your dog, toys are great, but so is our team at Lowveld Canine Coaching. We’re here to help you and your furry friend enjoy every moment together, from playtime to training sessions.
With Wagging Tails and Happy Hearts
