Many owners have noticed their dog staring intently at the television. Whether they're doing this consciously or simply drawn to the strange sounds and images is unclear. But what does a dog actually see when they're staring at the screen?
How dogs see images on TV
People often mistakenly believe that dogs see the world the same way we do. This is not true, as their eyes are structured differently. Their retinas simply can't detect red and orange. They see the world in blue and yellow. They also have more rod cells, which are responsible for perceiving light. Therefore, they navigate fairly well in the dark, but their vision is dimmer than ours.
It's impossible not to note that dogs' visual acuity is much lower than that of humans. Therefore, instead of what humans can see without any problem, dogs will see only blurry spots.
What attracts dogs to TV? Researchers study
Previously, TV screens had a 50Hz refresh rate, which made it difficult for dogs to focus on the image. But now, TVs have a refresh rate of 100Hz or 200Hz, making it easier for pets to see the screen.
Scientists conducted a study. They placed screens with three different programs in front of dogs. In most cases, the four-legged friends preferred not to look at the screen at all. Why dogs are reluctant to watch TV, even though they can, remains a mystery.
Movies and even TV channels are being created for dogs. Apparently, they enjoy watching shows where the action takes place at their eye level, especially if the main characters are birds or other small animals.
Experiments have proven that it's primarily sound that attracts furry creatures to television screens. They respond to words that sound like commands, shouts, barks, and meows.
Even taking all these factors into account, dogs won't look at a screen positioned above them. This is because dogs don't like looking upward for long periods of time, where televisions are typically positioned for human viewing comfort.
TV relieves dogs from loneliness
Often, when their owner leaves on business, a dog feels lonely. Subconsciously, they understand that they need a family, and the owner is the dog's family. When their owner leaves, the animal begins to feel lonely. So can a television save them from this? No. Although a pet hears sounds and sees images, these cannot replace a person or the warmth of their hands.
If you want your pet to be less afraid of being alone, don't even try leaving them with the TV on. It won't add any human presence, and it might actually be frightening if the TV is too loud. To overcome the fear of loneliness, avoid scolding your dog for the mess they make while you're away, and instead spend more time with them, playing with them, and taking them for walks. Over time, the fear of being alone will subside on its own, as the puppy will understand that their owner will return sooner or later.
