Dog Vision
What Your Dog Really Sees!

Well, dogs see differently than we do! Close up, they don’t see as well as we do. They have difficulty focusing at close range, and their eyes are located too far apart to give them accurate depth perception. Your dog sees objects close to him as being fuzzy.

Photo of Scout, taken by Matt Stratton.

Dogs’ eyes and brains contain the cells that normally see color. But studies have been done, and it appears that dogs see only in shades of gray or red (depending on the source)—no range of colors.

Ancestors of the modern dog were carnivorous hunters, so lateral vision was very important. Even today, a dog’s peripheral vision is more developed and accurate than ours.

Their wide angle of vision is better also—but this varies from breed to breed, depending on how far apart their eyes are placed.

Movement is another story! Your dog can detect even the most minimal movement and then concentrate on it. His eyes are highly developed for seeing movements, especially at a distance.

And if you go walking with your dog at night, he will see better in the dark than you! Many dogs can dilate their pupils more than we can to let in more light—this allows them to see better in the dark and gives them better night vision.

Dog vision varies from breed to breed too. A husky’s eyes are slanted, letting him see sideways. His eyes are also surrounded by dark skin which reduces the glare from snow. It also makes his eyes a prominent feature for communication.

Another example is the afghan hound. They were bred for their acute vision and speed. Their eyes are much more sensitive to light and movement than are ours.

And if you look at an afghan’s face, the slanted position of her eyes gives her exceptional peripheral vision.

And so, the next time you look at your dog and wonder what she sees…The answer is that they see better than we do when detecting movement at a distance. But, like many of us over 40, close vision is not too good!

For more information on dog vision, including how to care for your dog's eyes and keep them healthy, go to Dog Eye Care

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