How well can dogs see?

YourFriendDeb · #1 10-22-2001, 11:11 AM

I was wondering about this because Legend was out in the back yard yesterday snoozing in the sunshine. I went out there and stood on the deck. He didn't wake up right away, but when he did (he was about 40 feet from me, on the other side of the yard) he jumped to his feet, stared at me, blinked a few times and started walking towards me veeerrryyy veerrrryyy slowly, with the fur along his spine raised!

He didn't bark or growl or anything, he just walked towards me very slow (I didn't say anything or move...I wanted to see how long it would take him to recognize me) and when he was about 10 feet from me, he put his ears back and started wiggling his butt, all playful.

Was it because he just woke up or are dogs nearsighted? Can they see colors? I've always wondered....

monty'smum · #2 10-22-2001, 12:44 PM

I really don't know how well dogs see, but Monty seems to have as good eyesight as me. If I can see a dog in the distance so can he. Alot of the time though he uses his nose, we can be out of site of anyone and he will suddenly lift up his nose, sniff and take off in their direction.

I wonder if Legend after waking, got up and the sun was in his eyes and he couldn't quite see you until he got nearer. At the moment the sun here is so low in the sky I cannot recognise anyone until I literally nearly bump into them. Just a thought Debbie.

JulieM · #3 10-22-2001, 01:15 PM

Here are a couple of sites about dog vision:

http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/dvision.htm
http://www.nahra.org/nahra/vision.htm

Basically dogs see colors in the same kind of way that red-green colorblind people do (they see blue and yellow as colors, and red/green are seen as shades of grey). Dogs do not see detail as well as humans, but see much better at night. They also have better peripheral vision.

**Boxerworld** · #4 10-22-2001, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JulieM
They also have better peripheral vision.

I guess this depends on the kind of dog breed: I am sure German Shepherd dogs have better peripheral vision than Boxers as their eyes are not in front of the face (like Boxers, Bulldogs & humans

).

Olly

JazznChase · #5 11-19-2001, 12:50 PM

I would have to say that mine see pretty darn good....We have a HUGE backyard with one little light back there in the middle of the night and they both can spot a frog from anywhere!!! It amazes me...How well they can see something like a small frog in the yard in the middle of the night!!!!

TatianaB · #6 11-20-2001, 03:43 PM

Debbie,

Pisu did exactly the same thing when we were out hiking. I went back to the car to get something, and when I returned, he was about 10 meters away and he became all defensive.

Also, if I turn the lights off in the house, he will bump right in my legs. One time, we had a fire alarm in the building, and we had to take the stairs in the dark. He refused to walk, and I had to carry 72lbs to the fifth floor.

Tatiana