Dogs are one of the most curious animals on Earth. They love to explore and investigate, which is why they can often be found in your pantry or under the bed. This natural curiosity has led many pet owners to ask: do dogs watch TV?
The answer may surprise you! In this article, we will go through every single detail about whether dogs enjoy watching television and what effects it may have on them.
What do you think of when someone says they’re going to watch TV? Do you imagine a person sitting in a comfortable chair with remote control, flipping through channels and watching their favorite show?
They might have some popcorn or other snacks on the table next to them. Maybe they have ice cream for dessert.
But what if I asked you to imagine a dog watching TV? In this blog post, we’ll talk about what dogs understand from TV, what they actually see while watching TV, do they really watch TV in the true sense? and much much more.
Dogs Watch TV
Dogs may not be able to read subtitles, but they are capable of watching TV. It has been found that dogs are attentive and responsive to images on TV. This is because of their ability to process visual information in a way that we cannot comprehend.
Dogs’ brains perceive and respond to things differently. So, a lot has to be understood about how dogs perceive TV in comparison to humans so that we can actually provide the dog with proper programs.
One has to remember that dogs have a personality just like us humans and therefore, apart from the physiological needs, they will have other needs too.
On 12 August 2021, ‘The Washington’ reported that substantial progress had been made in the field of understanding dog cognition. If you would like to read more, the link is here below.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2021/08/12/dog-cognition-research/
What we know so far, thanks to the pioneering work of scientists such as Dr. Brian Hare and Dr. Alexandra Horowitz, is that dogs are among the smartest animals on the planet.
Dogs have been found to understand over 250 words and gestures! But what has really surprised researchers is how quickly our canine friends adapt their intelligence to suit different situations. So nothing is surprising about dogs watching TV.
However, the questions that arise here are:
Do dogs watch TV the way we think they watch TV?
Do dogs see what we see?
Do dogs understand TV the way we understand things?
Let’s look at the answers to these questions.
What Colors Can A Dog See?
Dogs are not colorblind, contrary to popular belief. Dogs can see blue and yellow. This is called dichromatic vision.
Dogs have two major types of cones in their eyes which are sensitive to either blue or yellow light and can differentiate between dark and light, and various hues of blue and yellow.
hence, they cannot see the same way as we do.
Here is an example of how we see things and dogs do.
In 2013, Russian scientists published a paper where they observed that dogs are more responsive to color than brightness when it comes to identifying objects. This is because the retina of a dog’s eye contains two types of photoreceptors, rods, and cones.
Here is the link to the paper if you would like to know more. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2013.1356
Dogs have red-green blindness. They can’t see green as bright as we can or red either. The condition is known as Deuteranopia. In 2017 a research paper was published where it was found that dogs cannot see red or green.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.170869
So, dogs can see black, grey, blue and yellow in various shades or hues as you would call it.
What Does A Dog See In A TV?
- Colors
Dogs are very interesting creatures that have a completely different perception of the world than humans. For example, when you watch TV with your dog, they see something completely different in front of them than what is really on screen.
This is because dogs only see things in black, grey, blue, and yellow. This means that all red objects would appear black to them, while green and purple look like shades of blue or gray (depending on lighting).
- Visual Acuity Higher Than Humans
Adam Miklosi, the author of ‘Dog Behavior, Evolution, and Cognition’ has done extensive research on dogs and their visual acuity. He says that dogs can only see clearly up to 6m.
This means that if the Tv is far away, the dogs cannot distinguish details. So if you can distinguish a rose from its leaves at a distance of 7m, it does not mean the dog can.
- Fovea Of The Dog
Dogs do not see like humans because they lack a fovea which allows for seeing clear images at high resolutions. This means that dogs typically only see shapes and shades of color rather than detailed images like we do.
Dogs also cannot focus on objects as well as people can which makes watching TV difficult unless the screen is very close by or in their direct line of sight.
- Motion Sensitivity
Dogs are amazing animals. They have senses that we humans could only dream of having. For example, they can detect motion up to 500 – 600 meters which is extremely impressive for a mammal with such small eyes.Â
I’m sure you’ve seen your dog staring at something intently. They’re often waiting for a squirrel to jump in front of them and they can’t help but be captivated by the sudden movement.
But what if I told you that your canine companion is watching with more than just their eyes? Dogs have an incredible sense of vision and motion detection, and this may explain why they seem so fascinated by the world around them.
This means that dogs can notice more movement on tv than humans can. So there are chances that your dog may get anxious after watching tv.
Since dogs adapt to human behavior, they will soon realize that this motion is something normal and they may stop bothering about it.
Pro Tip: So if you want to be a responsible pet owner and make sure your dog is having fun, here are some tips: 1. Watch with your dog in an area where he or she feels safe and secure (i.e., not right in front of the screen) 2. Make sure there’s plenty of room for him or her to move around freely if the dog would like to move away from the tv 3. Observe your dog for any difference in behavior or change in appetite
- Depth Perception
Dogs have depth perception. Depth perception is the ability to perceive how far away an object is by using two eyes and comparing the images that are seen. Dr. Noelle La Croix explains that this helps dogs isolate a particular object from others.
This is the key to their ability to hunt. When it comes to Tv, dogs may not watch the entire screen and end up isolating certain bits, meaning they may not comprehend the entire screen and fathom what’s happening.
Flicker Fusion Rate
The flicker fusion rate (FFR) is the frequency at which a light source can be viewed as steady by the human eye. It’s important to know because it affects how we’re able to see things. Flicker fusion rate is the frequency at which an eye can refresh its image.
It’s how quickly we see a series of still images as one continuous scene. The flicker fusion rate is different from frames per second.
Whilst flicker fusion rate is the speed at which a dog or human can view a smooth transition of images, the frames per second denote the number of frames required per second to achieve the correct flicker fusion rate.
Flicker fusion rate is the technical term for how quickly an image can be flashed on a screen before it’s perceived as constant.
Therefore, when dogs have a higher flicker fusion rate, they need more frames per second.
Frames Per Second
Dogs can see more frames per second than humans, which is why they seem to be able to keep up with a tennis ball that you might barely be able to follow.
Now, this doesn’t give them an advantage when it comes to catching the ball, but rather helps them notice and react quickly when something moves in their peripheral vision while they’re watching another object.
The human eye only sees around 60 frames per second (fps), meaning the television displays are at a speed of around 60 frames to ensure the human eye sees smooth movement on Tv. As a result, everything we watch appears in slow motion for our canine friends.
Dogs need more than 60-70 frames per second (fps) to be able to see smooth movement on a screen. In other words, if you want your dog’s full attention, make sure you have an HDTV that displays above 60-70 fps for it to even comprehend anything.
What Do Dogs Prefer Watching On Tv?
Have you ever wondered why your dog always seems to be more interested in what’s on the television screen than in interacting with you? Well, it turns out that dogs prefer watching other dogs over anything else.
This is because they connect better with their own species and can identify a lot of emotions from a TV show or movie. As a result, some dog owners have found that it is much easier to train their pets by using DVDs or videos of other dogs playing. It also helps them get rid of any energy they might have before bedtime!Â
Studies have shown that while humans are drawn to human-centric shows, dogs prefer watching the movements of other canines.
Dogs also seem more likely to choose their favorite show based on what type of animal they see on screen than what type of breed is featured in the program.
For example, a terrier might be drawn to watch bulldogs playing ball while golden retrievers enjoy seeing another golden retriever catching a Frisbee.
The study found that only about one-third of all pet owners were aware that their furry friends preferred canine programming and had no opinion about it at all.
Are There Programs for Dogs To Watch On Tv?
There are a plethora of dog TV programs that have been made for our four-legged friends. DogTV is a channel that has been created just for dogs to watch and it’s specifically designed by veterinarians and animal behaviorists to make your pup as happy as possible.
The program features short films with sounds, music, and images meant to stimulate the senses of dogs. There are also calming films for those times when they need some relaxation time from chasing squirrels in the backyard!
Here is a link that might actually surprise you and excite you as well.
Welcome – DOGTV: Television for Dogs
What Should You Do To Ensure Your Dog Is Comfortable Watching Tv?
- Dogs need an HD TV
- They need more than 60 to 70 frames per second
- A decent distance which is neither too far nor near to the TV
- A program made just for dogs. If not possible then at least a movie about dogs would be ideal.
- A nice comfortable couch
- A treat would be even awesome
- Low volume since your dogs can hear way better than you can.
Is It Okay For Dogs To Watch TV?
Dogs love to be around people, especially when we’re eating (because who doesn’t like food?). Unfortunately, they often get anxious when left alone for long periods without human companionship.
If you have a dog that gets anxious while you are gone, it might be because he is bored and needs something better to do than chew on all your things!
Dogs need stimulation and mental exercise just as much as physical exercise. So a TV for short periods is not a bad idea for your dog.
Dogs can watch TV but too much of anything can be bad. Your dog may not know that he is watching the news, a sitcom, or an infomercial.
The downside of having your pet spend his time in front of a screen is it could lead to weight gain.
Let’s go over some steps for how dogs can enjoy TV responsibly:
1) Keep your dog on a healthy diet so they don’t over eat while watching TV.Â
2) Provide more exercise time each day if possible – this will help keep them from becoming bored and lazy
3) Give your dogs some toys and something to chew. The chewable treats can help your dog’s teeth and provide some nutrition too.
4) Ensure your dog gets breaks from watching TV.
How Long Can A Dog Watch Tv?
Dogs need breaks from TV because they are not as intelligent as humans. They will watch the screen for hours on end if allowed, but this can lead to health problems and mental disorders. Dogs must get outside time each day to be healthy and happy!Â
- Dogs become physically unhealthy when they stay inside all day with nothing to do -Many breeds of dogs have short life spans (10-12 years) due to health complications related to obesity
- Dog’s brains cannot process information like human brains; watching TV excessively can cause them mental stress which leads to psychological issues such as depression or anxiety.
- Owners watching too much TV leads to the dog being made to feel ignored and can also be a cause for depression in dogs due to lack of attention from its owner. So too much TV is neither good for you or the dog.
How Do You Know Your Dog Is Watching Tv?
If you have ever observed your dog’s eyes and tail, it will be easy to tell. The pupils of the eye dilate when there is too much light or when their attention is caught by something on-screen.
Their tails wag in a particular way depending on what they’re watching. Dogs tend to be more excited about shows with other dogs, humans doing things, or anything related to food because this has more meaning for them than seeing an object being moved around without context.
 You will also see them being attentive and watching the screen intently.
Wrapping Up:
Dogs don’t watch tv as humans do. They need a high-definition television (HDTV) with at least 60 to 70 frames per second (fps) speed to see movement clearly, and they prefer watching other dogs rather than human beings on screen.
So if you want the family dog to enjoy your latest DVD or BluRay purchase, show it off in all its glory on an HDTV that meets their needs for maximum clarity of motion.
They also prefer watching dogs over people because of how close to them that makes them feel – which means you should probably include more canine content.
Related Questions:
Do Dogs Like Music?
Music has been known to soothe humans and dogs alike. However, the type of music that is best for your dog will depend on his or her personality.
Dogs have different musical preferences just like cats do! Dogs are known for their excellent sense of hearing. A dog’s ear canal is deeper than a human’s, so it can be easy to forget that dogs have an extraordinary sense of hearing.
Dogs hear sounds at four times the distance humans do and they also hear higher-pitched sounds. So low volume can soothe your dog whilst high volume can only be disturbing. Music can help sick dogs heal by improving their heart rate.
Research shows that playing relaxing music to animals in a veterinary clinic can help lower blood pressure, anxiety, and stress levels while also increasing the overall well-being of the animal(s).
This is because different types of music have been shown to affect our moods and emotions
