‘Best colour’ toys to buy your dog based on what colours they can see | UK | News

It’s a common misconception that dogs can only see in black and white – but in truth, their world is much brighter than this.

In an attempt to improve their pet’s life, a dog owner has been searching for the ‘best’ toys to buy their pets – wondering whether its colour makes an impact.

They said on Reddit: “What colours do dogs see? Is it more fun for them to have toys of that colour?”

According to VCA Animal Hospital, dogs can see similar colours to humans but the shade and brightness may not be as strong for certain tones.

A statement reads: “They just may not see the ‘true’ colour of an object. They are also less sensitive to changes in brightness, so they can’t perceive colour in the rich, vibrant tones that we do.

“For example, red appears dark brownish-grey or black to a dog. And yellow, orange, and green all look a bit yellowish to a dog.

“Our furry friends see blue well, but purple looks the same as blue to them. When playing a game of fetch, dogs cannot tell the difference between a red ball and a yellow ball.

“Luckily, they have a great sense of smell, so they can usually identify their ball and avoid mix-ups when playing a game of fetch in the park.”

Not only this but dogs are more near-sighted than humans meaning they cannot clearly see items from a distance, explaining why they may struggle to see their bright yellow ball on an empty, flat, field.

Explaining why dog’s eyes work like this, the statement adds: “Dogs are equipped with visual accommodations that allow them to survive and thrive in the wild.

“Seeing well in dim light and picking up slight movements in the forest at great distances improve the dog’s hunting ability. These assets also help dogs know when they are the prey and need to flee.

“Times have changed, and most dogs are members of our human families now, so we provide them with nutritious food and protect them from predators. Even so, these visual abilities remain in the canine family.”

When it comes to buying your dog a toy, they’re more likely to gravitate to blue and yellow toys as these are amongst the colours they see strongest.

Commenting on this, one Reddit user said:” Yeah, blue is easiest for them to see, it stands out most on the greatest variety of backgrounds.

“That said, dogs aren’t super visually-oriented. They will be most attracted to a toy in motion, and if you want the toy to be something that they’ll just pick up and leave around at random, be more discerning about scent and texture.”

Another user added: “Blue toys are good for dogs to see since grass tends to be more yellow/greyish to dogs, so the blue will stand out in grass.

“Regardless, a moving toy will catch their attention better since toys are basically their ‘prey’.

“Anything that makes sound and smells will be of more interest and usefulness in the dog noticing it due to their heightened senses of smell and hearing.”