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

This claim is false.

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

Dogs have limited color-seeing abilities in comparison to humans, but they can still see color, specifically blues and yellows. In the article I linked from the American Kennel Club, there is also a link to study done by a scientist that proves this.

Answer 2

This is False.

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the misconception about dogs solely seeing in black and white can be traced back to Will Judy. She's a prominent figure in the dog community and former publisher of Dog Week magazine. In his 1937 manual, "Training the Dog," Judy speculated, "It’s likely that all the external world appears to them as varying highlights of black and gray." However, dogs do possess a more limited color vision compared to humans.

Dogster, a reputable source, elaborates on this topic. Their article explains that dogs have dichromatic vision, meaning they possess only two types of cones in their eyes, sensitive to blue and yellow light. While dogs can perceive colors, their interpretation is subdued compared to humans. Notably, dogs struggle to process red light, which hinders their ability to differentiate certain colors. This limitation particularly affects shades of red and green, presenting challenges in distinguishing between them.

American Kennel Club (AKC) - https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/can-dogs-see-color/

Dogster - https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/do-dogs-see-black-and-white

Comments

Good work putting together a thorough fact-check with multiple sources. Also, mentioning your source in-text is very helpful. Thanks!

Answer 3

This is not true.

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

According to the American Kennel Club, "new research and conclusions about canine anatomy and behavior have shown that while dogs can’t see the same colors humans do, dogs can still see some colors." This was a big misconception in past years, however research shows that they do have a color spectrum.

Comments

Nice work mentioning your source in-text and providing a hyperlink! Don't forget to add a rating next time (true, false, N/A, etc.). Thanks!

Answer 4

Although many people claimed that dogs could only see black and white that assumption is false. It is said, "Dogs can see certain colors, but not as well as we do." Claimed that dogs do have a level of colorblindness it does not mean they are fully removed from all colors.

Comments

Source? Link to source?

Answer 5

While dogs are colorblind, they can see more than just black and white. Dogs have different cones in their eyes than humans which limits them to seeing blue, yellow, and shades of gray. However, their eyes prevent them from seeing green and red.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-care/what-colors-do-dogs-see/#:~:text=All%20dogs%20are%20born%20technically,their%20eyes%2C%20compared%20to%20humans.

Answer 6

This is false.

After doing further research I found that this statement is a myth that has been going around for centuries. It is true that dogs see a different color pallet then humans but overall, dogs can see colors.

Here is a link for more information:

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

Answer 7

This has been proven false by reliable sources, such as the American Kennel Club and websites for veterinary offices. This has been a longstanding myth, but dogs can see limited colors.

Comments

What sources have proven it false?

Answer 8

It is a common mistake that dogs can just see black and white. The way color is perceived is derived from the number of cones and rods in the eye. "Dogs have more rods than cones in their retina, whereas people have more cones" (Meyers), thus dogs can see more than black and white due to their dichromatic vision. Dogs are can also seeing yellow and blue colors, but they cannot see red or green. Therefore, dogs can see more colors than black and white (greyish tones). 

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

Answer 9

Dogs can in fact see more colors than black and white contrary to popular belief. Dogs only have two cones in their eyes which means they can see blue and yellow. An article that backs up my claim is “ are dogs color blind? How dogs see color” 

https://spca.bc.ca/news/how-dogs-see-colour/#:~:text=Dogs%2C%20on%20the%20other%20hand,are%20red%2Dgreen%20colour%20blind.

Answer 10

This claim is false. According to VCA Animal Hospital, human eyes have three types of cones that can identify combinations of red, blue, and green. Dogs possess only two types of cones and can only discern blue and yellow. This limited color perception is called dichromatic vision. The article also states, "a dog's normal vision is most like a person who has red-green color blindness". In conclusion, yes, dogs can see color, just differently than we do.