It’s a common fun fact that dogs see the world differently than humans, but that does not mean their vision is bad! Dogs typically have 20/75 vision. This means they must be 20 feet from an object to see it as well as a human standing 75 feet away. Certain breeds can see better, like Labradors, commonly used as seeing-eye dogs, are bred for better eyesight and may have vision closer to 20/20!
How Do Dogs See Color?
The human eye can operate because of three kinds of color-detecting cells called cones. By comparing how these cones are stimulated by incoming visible light, our brains distinguish red wavelengths from green and blue wavelengths from yellow wavelengths. Like most other mammals, dogs’ eyes contain just two kinds of cones. These enable their brains to distinguish blue from yellow but not red from green.
Dogs are not completely colorblind, but their eyes are structured similarly to those of people with red-green color blindness, whose eyes also lack the third kind of cone normally present in humans.
What Colors Can Dogs See?
Dogs’ retinas can distinguish two colors: blue-violet and yellow. They can also differentiate between shades of gray. They can see blue really well, but purple looks the same as blue to them. Dogs cannot recognize the colors green, yellow, or orange as separate colors as they all look slightly yellowish to them.
Our canine companions must rely on other cues like smell, texture, brightness, and position rather than just the color of an object to determine what it is.
Do Dogs Have Night Vision?
Dog’s night vision is relatively blurry at about 20/250, but it is much more sensitive than a human’s night vision. Human eyes have many cones that help them detect color and work best during daylight, but dogs’ eyes have light-detecting cells known as rods, which distinguish between dark and light and thus are at their best in low-light conditions.
So, although dogs don’t have night vision comparable to a pair of night-vision goggles, they can see better in the dark than humans.
Our furry friends can be of great service to those of us with poor eyesight or disabilities who need help getting through life and performing daily tasks. Not all breeds of dogs make good service companions, but the Labrador Retriever and Poodle make great service dogs. In fact, the Labradoodle was initially created to be a guide dog!
At Blue Star Labradoodle, we raise Multi-Generation Australian Labradoodles that are nonallergenic and make perfect guide or therapy dogs. Our mission is to bring you the most healthy, gently tempered, and loving canine companion you could ask for.
Contact us at (509)979-0949 to learn more about the breed, and browse our upcoming litter’s page to find out when puppies will be available!
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