Why You Should Give Your Dog a Blue Toy Instead of a Red One
When you buy a ball or toy for your dog, you probably look at the shape, the price, whether it makes sounds and perhaps even whether it has a nice color. But that last one is perhaps the most important. Because it turns out that it is best to choose a blue or yellow toy instead of a red one. How that works has everything to do with their vision and color perception.
When you take a nice walk in nature with your dog, you may wonder if he can enjoy the colours around him as much as you do. However, it is a little different. You probably know that dogs can see less than we can. But not everyone knows exactly how this works. For example, it is often thought that they can only see black and white, but fortunately it is not that black and white. So how does it work? We will explain.
Rods and conesDogs see the world in a less colorful way than humans. And to explain this, it is first good to know how an eye actually works.
When there is light, it bounces through your pupil onto your retina. Your retina consists of two types of cells: rods and cones. They transmit signals to the nerves, but with a different function. For example, the rods can notice light intensity and cones notice colors.
No rainbow for your dogHumans have three types of cones, with which we can see the colours red, blue and yellow. Including all combinations, such as purple, green and orange. Dogs – but also cats – only have two types of cones: blue and yellow. As a result, they can see much more limited than we humans. And can only perceive blue, violet and yellow. Because of those two cones, the colours red and green also become brown/yellowish for dogs.
Other colours than blue, yellow and green are not very noticeable to dogs. So if you buy a blue toy for your dog? Then the blue light beam reflects via the pupil on the cone that is sensitive to blue. And the cone sends a nerve signal via the brain. In this way, your dog sees the blue colour. But if you give your dog a red toy? Then the red light beam falls into the pupil, but there are very few to no cones that can notice and pass this on. As a result, the red colour fades into insignificance and is not noticeable to your faithful four-legged friend.
All colours that are not blue or yellow will already be brown or vague for your dog. In the photo below you can see what your dog's vision is compared to our eyes. Therefore, preferably choose a toy that is blue, or otherwise yellow. Blue is by far the most noticeable for the dog - especially on a green background such as grass - and they are guaranteed to be happy with that!
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Header photo: Vasil Dimitrov - iStock
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