What Do Dogs See When They Watch TV?
We have all watched TV alongside our furry friends and wondered what is going on in their heads. Do our dogs understand what is happening in the show, or are they entirely oblivious? According to a study completed by Rover, ⅔ of parents leave the television on for their pups while away, 60% say dogs have a favorite show, and 80% report that their dog does react to what’s occurring on-screen.
But do dogs really watch our TV shows and process what is happening? Here is what occurs when your fido watches TV.
What Do Dogs See?
Contrary to popular belief, dogs cannot see what we do while watching TV. Although they cannot see the same as humans do, they can generally recognize what they hear and see.
Dogs’ eyes are structured differently and affect how our furry friends perceive the world around them. Inside of a dog’s eyes, there are two types of cones: a type of photoreceptor cell located in the retina. Unlike the two cones inside of a dog’s eyes, humans have three. This means that dogs are sensitive to and cannot differentiate between colors like we can. Different breeds of dogs see things differently, as well. Several species have various visual activities, meaning different shapes and numbers of visual receptors.
When humans watch TV, we see a fluid picture across the screen. Unlike humans, dogs do not see a consistent vision of television, but they typically see a flickering image. More modern televisions like HD/4K ones are a lot more fluid for our furry friends as they refresh at a quicker rate.
Doggy TV
Our four-legged friends do have a preference in subject matter for television shows – they love watching shows about dogs. Pups are more attentive to shows that feature barks, whines, and praising.
DOGTV launched to check these doggy-specific boxes in response to this information. After thorough scientific research, the station created shows that meet a dog’s vision and hearing needs. The channel was specifically designed to have more frames per second than a typical TV would to make watching for dogs easier. DOGTV says that by watching this channel, dogs will be “less likely to develop stress, separation anxiety, or other related problems.”
Do Dogs Enjoy TV?
Different personalities will react differently to television. Some are more reactive to television shows than others, depending on the breed. For example, herding breeds watch TV more intently than others as they were born to observe moving objects. Some dogs are more prone than others to react.
Try different television shows with your dog to see which they are more excited about. Maybe even leave a channel on when you leave home to try soothing their anxiety. Every doggy reacts differently to stimuli, so it is unclear whether all dogs enjoy TV or not. By testing out the theory, you can try catering to your furry friend’s needs.