What colors do dogs see?

Have you ever thought about your dog’s umwelt? If you’ve never heard of the term, you’re not alone. I only recently encountered the concept for the first time while reading Ed Young’s Immense World.

The word “umwelt” describes an animal’s unique perception of the world, shaped by its senses and experiences. In other words, your dog’s umwelt is the world as they see, smell, and hear it.

Even if you didn’t have the exact vocabulary for it, you’ve probably experienced first hand how your dog’s perception of the world is a bit different from our own. Their extraordinary sense of smell is a prime example – whether your dog is a truffle hunting Lagatto or simply an expert finder of street pizza.

An aspect of a dog’s umwelt that we think about less often is how they perceive color. Unlike humans whose color spectrum includes the entire ROYGBIV rainbow, dogs primarily see in shades of blue, yellow, and gray. That means some of the most popular toys, like bright red Kongs, may not look as exciting to your dog as they do to us!

By understanding how dogs see and sense the world, we can create richer, more engaging environments for them. Next time you play fetch, try using a bright blue ball or a yellow target stick during training — colors your dog can actually see best.

Since we’ve been discussing umwelt – this seems like a good time to spotlight Umwelt Dog Training. Trainer Peter Herrera, CPDT-KA certified by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, offers private, in-home dog training in Manhattan designed to meet your dog where they are — literally and figuratively.