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A DOG OWNER HAS TAKEN TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO ASK WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE BUYING THEIR POOCH TOYS IN SPECIFIC COLOURS, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR PET CAN SEE 09:14, 29 May 2025 It's widely

believed that dogs are limited to a black-and-white vision, yet their visual experience is actually more colourful than this common myth suggests. A pet owner keen to enhance their furry

companion's playtime headed online to enquire about the impact of toy colour. Posting on popular forum Reddit, they asked: "What colours do dogs see? Is it more fun for them to

have toys of that colour?" VCA Animal Hospital has clarified that while dogs perceive colours similarly to humans, they may not experience the same intensity and vibrancy in certain

colours. This means certain colours look similar and others don't quite match with what we see. VCA explained: "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." The hospital further details canine colour perception:

"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" It turns out that blue is a colour dogs can discern

quite well, but they cannot distinguish purple from blue, reports the Express. VCA's statement added: "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." Article continues below Fortunately, dogs compensate with their excellent olfactory

abilities. VCA said: "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." Additionally,

dogs have a shorter range of clear vision compared to humans, which might explain why they sometimes struggle to spot a bright yellow ball on a vast, open field. The statement explains the

evolutionary advantage of a dog's vision: "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 selecting toys for dogs, their colour perception influences their preferences: Dogs tend to be drawn to blue and yellow toys as these colours are more vivid to

them. A Reddit user commented on this preference under the initial post, saying: "Yeah, blue is easiest for them to see, it stands out most on the greatest variety of backgrounds. JOIN

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on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "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 pointed out the contrast between toy and environment, writing: "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." Article continues below They also mentioned the importance of movement: "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."