Dogs and Colour Vision

[Catherine]

I think it is too easy to dismiss dogs as having lesser colour vision. Clearly they do see colours. They may see them differently, but if anything, their vision is probably better.

I don't think all humans see colours identically. I don't just mean colour blind vs. not colour blind. I know people for whom green is green and pink is pink. I distinguish and see as different colours green that has more yellow or instead has more blue. It is different if it has black or white added. To me they are very different colours.

I have violet curtains, with a slightly rosy undertone. My friend calls them pink. They are not pink!

It is the same with dogs. I think they see a lot of colour. Anyone who has lived with a dog would agree with that. I just don't know what they see compared to what we see.

Very clever of the dog to pick up an orange when he couldn't find his orange ball.