The vision of dogs is different from that of humans, and understanding how your dog sees the world can help you better meet their needs and strengthen your relationship with them.

A dichromate vision
Contrary to popular belief, dogs don't see in black and white. However, their color perception is different from that of humans. Dogs have two types of cones in the retina, which allow them to see the colors blue and yellow, but not red and green. As a result, dogs perceive a more limited color spectrum than humans.

Recognizing people and objects at a distance
Our field of vision can cover up to 180°, that of dogs can go up to 287°. Our dog therefore sees the sides better than us and detects movements very easily. However, his binocular vision (the visual field perceived by both eyes at the same time) is reduced. However, it is this vision that allows us to see in relief. The dog's ability to see objects in relief is therefore limited.

Dogs are generally more sensitive to movement than to the sharpness of images. Although their visual acuity is lower than that of humans, they are able to distinguish people and objects in motion at a distance. Dogs also recognize people through other senses, such as smell and hearing, which are often more important to them than vision.

Finally, his ability to distinguish 2 very close points is 6 times weaker than humans, which means that he can very poorly distinguish details when objects are more than 30 cm away. If you call your dog from a distance and still, your dog will have a hard time recognizing you: he will use his olfactory ability.

Night vision
Dogs have better night vision than humans thanks to several biological adaptations. Their retina contains more rods, cells that are sensitive to light, which allows them to see better in low light conditions. In addition, dogs have a reflective layer called tapetum lucidum, which reflects light through the retina, thus improving their night vision. Thanks to a thin reflective film that covers the bottom of their retina and acts like a mirror, dogs have very good vision in the dark (about 5 times better than humans). This ability makes him a very good hunter at night, if the moon or the stars at least illuminate his path.

Taking care of your dog's eyes

Clean your dog's eyes regularly with a soft, damp cloth, taking care to remove any secretions. Avoid exposing your dog's eyes to chemicals or irritants, such as shampoo or perfume. See a veterinarian regularly for an eye exam and monitor your dog's eye health.

How to detect eye problems in dogs

Look out for the following signs that may indicate a problem with your dog's eyes: redness or inflammation in the eyes: redness or inflammation in the eyes, abnormal discharge, such as excessive pus or tears, sensitivity to light or frequent blinking, scratching or rubbing their eyes, eye scratching or rubbing, or vision problems, vision problems, such as difficulty identifying objects or people.