What’s the Best Color for Dog Toys?
Can your pup see the world in color? And if so, what colors can Fido see? Let’s dive into how your furry friend sees the world and why you might want to start buying your dog toys in specific colors from now on.
What Colors Can a Dog See?
For various reasons, many people assume dogs are color-blind and view the world in black & white. But in actuality, your canine companion can see color, just in a smaller range than you do. When a person who isn’t color blind looks at the world, they see it using color detecting cells called cones. That person can see red, blue, green, and yellow wavelengths – and all the colors in between. With dogs, they only have two cones, allowing them to see blue and yellow wavelengths.
Do Dogs Only See Blue & Yellow Colors?
No, but since they only have two cones, it means that their spectrum for color is smaller. Dogs see various shades of black, gray, yellow, and blue. For your canine companion, other colors may appear like a blended color. Below are a few examples of what we mean:
- Red = Brownish
- Purple = Blue
- Green/Yellow/Orange = Yellowish/Brown depending on the shade and intensity of the color
Does Color Affect a Dog’s Preference in Toys?
The color of a toy can most definitely sway your pooch to favor it over others. Sometimes you might buy a new toy for your canine that you’re sure they’ll love – but instead, they might seem almost entirely uninterested in the toy. This could be because Fido doesn’t notice the toy’s color, and it just blends into the background for them.
For example, if you were to throw a red ball in a grassy backyard, it may blend in with the grass since the colors they see are nearly identical. If you were to try throwing a yellow or blue ball instead they would have a far easier time tracking it across your yard.
What Color Toys Should You Be Buying Your Dog?
If you want to buy a good toy for fetch in the backyard, blue is a great color to pick because it would contrast how your pooch views the color of the grass. In general, bright yellow and blue toys are the way to go if you want to appeal to your pup’s color vision. But every dog is different, so just because the color of a toy isn’t within the wavelengths that Fido can register – doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll hate it. Your pooch may like a toy based on its squeaking ability, the way it smells, or maybe even just the texture of the toy.
Should You Only Buy These Colors for Your Dog?
No, it is perfectly fine to purchase toys that are in different wavelengths. If they are indoors playing with a toy it will likely be easier to find. Plus, your dog may like a toy based on other factors. When it comes to outdoors, your toy color choices may require a quick review.
Final Thoughts on How to Choose the Best Toys for Your Dog
Overall, buying your pup toys in every color of the rainbow isn’t mean and in no way makes you a bad pet parent. But knowing what colors your canine picks up and which ones they don’t could answer a lot of questions about their toy choice or vision-related choices they make. Not only that, but you can use colors to help with training your dog. If you are looking for some extra support with training your dog, toys are great, but so is our team at Sit Means Sit Philadelphia. Contact our team to see how we can help you train your dog.