Dogs are fantastic creatures. They are lithe, brilliant, and have the most spectacular sense of smell. But did you know, these gregarious beings also have remarkable vision. Although their visual abilities differ from those of humans in some ways. Here are some interesting facts about a dog’s vision:
Color vision
Dogs have a limited ability to see color, and they perceive the world in shades of blue and yellow. They do not see the full range of colors that humans can, and they are less able to distinguish between shades of green, yellow, and red. In other words, their brains work in the same way as people who are red-green color blind. Humans have been endowed with three kinds of colour-detecting cells called cones. Dogs like most other mammals have only two such cones in their eyes; consequently, they can distinguish between the colors blue and yellow but not green and red. However, evidence suggests that dogs see more colours than we do. A study found that lenses in dogs’ eyes transmit ultraviolet light while these rays are blocked by lenses in human eyes, suggesting they see more blue light than humans.
Night vision
Dogs have superior night vision to humans. They have more light-sensitive cells in their eyes, which helps them see better in low-light conditions. They can also detect motion better than humans in low light. This is because dog eyes contain greater number of light-detecting cells known as rods; these cells are better able to differentiate between dark and light, therefore offer most functionality in low-light conditions.
Motion detection
Dogs are excellent at detecting motion. Their eyes are designed to quickly pick up movement, which is why they are so good at chasing after moving objects, such as balls or frisbees.
Peripheral vision
Dogs have a wider field of view than humans, which means they can see more of their surroundings without moving their heads. However, they have less visual acuity than humans, which means they cannot see details as well as we can.
Depth perception
Dogs have good depth perception, which helps them judge distances and navigate their environment. However, their depth perception is not as good as humans’, and they may have difficulty with certain tasks, such as jumping onto a platform or catching a ball mid-air.
Dogs have a unique set of visual abilities that allow them to navigate their world and interact with their environment in ways that differ from humans and, in some ways, they far surpass our visual abilities.
