Question

Dogs can only see black and white

Comments

It seems that the claim was untrue and misleading. It was proven wrong by many sources before, and it originated from an author of DogWeek Magazine. Great fact check!

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This claim is seemingly incorrect, as there’s no source to back up the claim.

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I really like how this explains the myth in a simple, easy to understand way! The comparison to red/green color blindness makes it super clear, and the AKC citation is a nice touch it makes the info feel really credible. Great job!

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The claim that dogs can only see black and white is false. Dogs can see shades of blue and yellow, but have difficulty distinguishing between red and green.

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The claim that "Dogs can only see black and white" has long been a popular and widley shared belief. However, recent scientific research has proved that this myth is incorrect. Supporting the idea that dogs do see color, however, not in the way that humans do. I discovered that dogs have only 20% of the cells that humans have, which are for detecting color. (Pedigree, 2025). Because of the lack of cells that dogs have, their vision is more limited, only seeing yellow and blue shades. Many media sources altered the assumption that dogs only see in black and white, without prven evidence.However, research specifically in veterinary studies has provided evidence that while dogs do not see the full spectrum of colors like humans, they are not colorblind in the way previously thought, only susceptible to certain shades.
Sources: https://www.pedigree.com/dog-care-articles/our-help-hub/training-resources/do-dogs-see-only-in-black-and-white

Answer 1

The myth that dogs can only see in black and white has been debunked and proven false. While they don’t see the same way humans do, they also don’t see the world as if it were just a grayscale photograph. Many studies over the years have worked to prove this myth wrong. According to Doggone: Your Best Friend is Red-Green Colorblind, research suggests that “dogs’ eyes have two cones, the photoreceptor cells responsible for color vision. One cone type is sensitive to yellow and another to blue,” Siniscalchi said. What this means is that dogs are able to see both yellow and blue.

Another source worth mentioning is Dog Vision: What Colors Can Dogs See? In this article, they explain that because dogs have two cones, their brains can tell the difference between blue and yellow. So, what does this mean? It means dogs most likely see the world in mostly blues and yellows, since those colors stand out the most. | Yes, Dogs Can See Colors — But Only Some | Live Science Dog vision: What colors can dogs see? | Live Science

Answer 2

Dogs do not see the world only in black and white, which is a common myth that has been disproven. According to Pedigree, dogs only have 20% of the cones photoreceptor cells that humans have, meaning they see colors, just not as bright as humans do. This allows them to see colors in the blue and yellow spectrum, while reds and greens appear more muted or grayish. Their vision is also adapted to detecting movement and seeing well in low light conditions because of the structure of their eyes. While dogs do not experience the full range of colors humans do, they definitely see more than just black and white. 

https://www.pedigree.com/dog-care-articles/our-help-hub/training-resources/do-dogs-see-only-in-black-and-white#:~:text=Veterinarians%20used%20to%20believe%20that,it%20from%20the%20same%20distance.

Answer 3

The claim that dogs can only see black and white, is incorrect. According to an article by Pet MD, which was written by a veterinarian, dogs can see the colors yellow and blue. This is because "Humans have three types of cones, while dogs have two", cones (cells in our eyes) help differentiate colors. Another source from Scientific American, written by a journalist and former vet, claims that scientists once believed that dogs could only see black and white, until "the myth was finally debunked in 1989 when ophthalmologist Jay Neitz, then at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his colleagues discovered that canines could see blues and yellows but not reds and greens". Looking further into Jay Neitzs research, three dogs were experimented on and the conclusion is that dogs have "dichromatic color vision" (meaning having or exhibiting two colors, not including black and white). In conclusion, the myth that dogs can only see black and white has been debunked and is untrue.

Answer 4

The claim that dogs can only see black and white is faulty and has been disproven on many accounts. While this specific claim was cited without direct evidence, it is a common misconception about dogs and other animals. An article from the American Kennel Club (https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/can-dogs-see-color/) debunks this claim and addresses myths about what dogs can and cannot see. Published in 2021 by Harriet Meyers, the article begins by defining color blindness as the absence of certain color-detecting molecules. According to the article, the myth that dogs can only see black and white originated from Will Judy, who made this claim.

Evidence-based studies examining canine eye structure show that, while dogs may not see the same way humans do, they are capable of perceiving colors to some extent. Dogs have two types of color-sensing receptors, called cones, in their retinas, according to Scientific American (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-colors-do-dogs-see/). They also note that “if you're really trying to imagine the world through the eyes of your dog, you should picture everything a lot blurrier.”

Similar evidence is presented in an article from the Patton Veterinary Hospital (https://pattonvethospital.com/blog/1155205-do-dogs-see-in-black-and-white_2), which explains how the “rods” and “cones” in humans differ from those in dogs. Dogs have two types of cones that detect only blue and yellow, but they have more rods in their retinas, allowing them to see better in dim light. The article also specifies that “dogs see shades of browns, yellows, greys and blues,” which, combined with the other evidence, clearly disproves the claim that dogs can only see in black and white.

Answer 5

This claim is false, Dogs have limited but real color vision. The BBC focus article on “How Dogs See the world” explains “Despite what you may have heard, this doggy world is much more than monochrome.” It explains that “dogs do have some colour vision. They basically seem similar to people that are red-green colour-blind,” This means dogs are dichromatic, seeing mainly shades of blue and yellow, rather than entirely black and white. The article further notes that “they just don’t see colour in the same way as us,” confirming that dogs perceive color differently but not absent altogether.

Some people might still believe that dogs are color-blind and only see black and white because earlier  research from before the 1960s lacked the technology to detect color receptive cone cells in dogs’ eyes. However, modern research using advanced imaging and behavioral testing has disproved this idea. credible institutions like the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Scientific American have published explanations debunking this myth, aligning with the evidence presented by Science Focus.

Based on evidence from BBC’s Science Focus and expert testimony, the claim that “dogs see only in black and white” is false. Dogs can perceive some colors, particularly blues and yellows, though not as vividly or as broadly as humans.

https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/how-do-dogs-see-the-world?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/can-dogs-see-color/