{"id":249,"date":"2021-02-26T16:41:33","date_gmt":"2021-02-26T16:41:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happybostons.com\/?p=249"},"modified":"2021-05-24T00:40:56","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T00:40:56","slug":"are-boston-terriers-color-blind-10-cool-dog-eye-facts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happybostons.com\/are-boston-terriers-color-blind-10-cool-dog-eye-facts\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Boston Terriers Color Blind? 10 Cool Dog Eye Facts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It never occurred to me to ask if dogs are color blind. A recent conversation sent me into research mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boston Terriers, like all dogs, are red-green colorblind but are not limited to seeing only in black and white. Their rod-dominant eyes only have two types of cones, dichromatic, allowing them to distinguish yellows and blues. Reds and blues are seen as shades of yellow and grey. Dog vision is also less detailed than human vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had a friend ask if Boston Terriers are color blind. Oh no, is there something weird about the eyes of Boston Terriers? Here\u2019s what I found out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Color Blind Boston Terriers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Boston Terriers are no more or less color blind than other dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was long thought that dogs of all varieties were color blind. However, in 2013, a group of Russian scientists found<\/a> that they were more likely to recognize a piece of paper by its color rather than its brightness in a small test group of eight dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their findings suggest that dogs can see color, although not the same as humans see color. To understand this, we must look at the eye itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research has shown that dogs are not color-blind, but instead, they are visual spectrum challenged. This difference is similar to humans who are red-green color blind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that they can see yellows and blues but cannot perceive other colors and instead see shades of grade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s an example of the spectrum difference from Andr\u00e1s P\u00e9ter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visual color spectrum of humans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Visual color spectrum of dogs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why in the Russian researcher study, the colored paper that showed perception was yellow or blue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, why are Boston Terriers unable to see the full spectrum of colors as we do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dog vs. Human Eyes – What\u2019s Different?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s remember that dogs descended from a now-extinct wolf population<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were nocturnal prey hunters and therefore needed to be able to see well in low-light situations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the AKC\u2019s chief veterinary officer, Dr. Jerry Klein<\/a>, \u201cFor the purpose of hunting in the dark, canine eyes have a larger lens and corneal surface and a reflective membrane, known as a tapetum, that enhances night vision. They also have more rods, which improves low-light vision, in the retina.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In both the human and dog eye, there are receptors called rods and cones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rods catch motion and work in low light. Cones work in bright light, provide for detailed vision, and are the key to color perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: http:\/\/www.dsource.in\/course\/colour-theory\/science-colour\/science-colour.html<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Human and canine eyes contain both rods and cones. So, what\u2019s different?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It comes down to the quantity and type of cones and rods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cones come in different types, each responsible for detecting specific wavelengths of light. Ask a biologist<\/a> who can geek out on this with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humans are trichromats<\/a> having three types of cones. Dogs are dichromats, having two types of cones, each detecting yellows or blues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs have few if any red-green detecting cones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, dogs have fewer cones overall than the human eye. This lower cone count helps explain the poorer detailed vision in dogs than humans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, dogs have more rods than humans, so they can see better in the dark than we can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does dog vision look like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever wondered, what do dogs see? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Andr\u00e1s P\u00e9ter of Dog-Vision<\/a>, we can get a simulation of what we believe a dog sees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below is a side-by-side comparison of multi-colored dog play balls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Human vision vs. Dog vision<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The top part of the image is the normal human vision of the play balls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom half is how canines may perceive the color of the balls. Notice that anything not yellow or blue is perceived as grey, blue or yellow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In particular, reds and greens will appear as shades of yellow. (see the bottom ball in the picture above)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, notice that the bottom image looks out of focus. This demonstrates how the lack of cones makes for a less detailed vision for dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does this mean for my Boston Terrier?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with the fact that your dog sees perfectly fine for its needs regardless of the rods and cones in its eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the hooman to your Boston, it may be time to think about toys and colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your dog loses that new red Kong in the green grass, they aren\u2019t dumb or lazy. Red and green will look about the same to your dog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next time you consider purchasing a dog toy, think about getting one that is yellow or blue. These will be easier for your dog to distinguish from grass or green rugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kong, why are your products red?!?!?! \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember that reds and greens will appear as shades of yellow to your dog. Give them some variety and get some blue toys too! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a couple of examples of products:<\/p>\n\n\n\n