Are Our Dogs Truly Color Blind? Researchers Have Carried Out A Test!

Years ago, we were convinced that dogs could only see in various shades of grey. Since then, however, we have learned that this is completely false!

Instead, these days we’re aware that they can see color – but only to a certain extent. For the most part, they are red-green colorblind. Also known as deuteranopia, it is the most common form of colorblindness in humans as well. But what scientific proof do we have that this is the case?

The Italian scientists from the University of Bari’s Department of Veterinary Medicine composed experiment to see just how deuteranopia is in dogs. They employed a twist on traditional deuteranopia tests – instead of hiding numbers the participant had to call out inside a picture full of dots, they placed an image of a cat instead.

The study, as it turned out, proved the hypothesis to be correct – dogs struggle with differentiating reds from greens. While the cat was a bright, saturated color against the speckled, it easily caught the attention of the dogs. But once the reds were muted, it was clear the dogs did not notice the cat at all.

Marcello Siniscalchi, the lead researcher, theorized that this was because the need to differentiate these colors are not crucial for wild canines. This is especially so since they hunt during dawn and dusk, where it isn’t necessary at all.

For our beloved pooches who stay by our sides during the day, however, it’s best to keep an eye on them. They might not notice things we do!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay