What colors do dogs not distinguish? - briefly
Dogs are unable to distinguish between red and green colors. Their color vision is limited compared to humans, with most dogs seeing primarily in shades of blue and yellow.
What colors do dogs not distinguish? - in detail
Dogs are generally considered colorblind, but this term is somewhat misleading as it suggests they see no color at all. In reality, dogs have dichromatic color vision, which means they can perceive two primary colors: blue and yellow. This is in contrast to humans, who possess trichromatic color vision and can distinguish three primary colors: red, green, and blue.
The retina of a dog's eye contains two types of cone cells that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light. One type is sensitive to short wavelengths, allowing dogs to see shades of blue and yellow. The other type is sensitive to medium-to-long wavelengths, enabling them to distinguish various shades within the yellow spectrum. However, dogs lack cone cells that are specifically attuned to detecting red or green light.
This limitation in color perception means that dogs struggle to differentiate between colors in the red and green spectrums. To a dog, these colors appear as varying shades of gray or brown. For example, a red ball might look like a dark gray or black object to a dog, while a green toy could appear as a light gray or beige.
Interestingly, dogs are better at distinguishing different shades of a single color than humans are. This is because their eyes have more rods, which are responsible for low-light vision and detecting subtle changes in brightness. As a result, dogs can perceive nuances in light and shadow that humans might miss.
In summary, while dogs cannot distinguish between reds, greens, oranges, and purples, they are adept at recognizing shades of blue and yellow. Their color perception is more limited than humans', but their ability to discern differences in brightness and contrast allows them to navigate their environment effectively.