Q: What colours can my dog see?

A: Cones are the cells in the eye that allow us to see colour. Humans have three types of cones in their eyes, but dogs only have two types. This means that humans can see a greater variety and more vibrant colours than dogs. However, dogs still see colour, just with less variety and vibrancy. The two types of cones that dogs do have enable them to see shades of yellow, blue and brown alongside black, white and grey. However, these cones don’t allow them to see shades of red or green, so a dog instead sees red and green as shades of brown or grey.

As dogs don’t see red and green colours, opt for toys made in yellow and blue for your dog. These colours are seen brightly, so they are much more appealing to your dog. This is one reason why yellow tennis balls are so popular among dogs!