Content
- Can dogs watch TV or not?
- What would a dog-friendly television look like
- Myths about the view of dogs
Did you know that in Germany there is a dog tv channel? It's not about dogs, it's about dogs. It's called DogTV and on the day of its release it was estimated that around seven million puppies were likely to be attracted to programming made especially for them.
According to Nicholas Dodman, a professor of veterinary medicine at Tufts University (USA), the channel's objective was to alleviate the annoyance that the pet can feel when he is alone at home.
But before that, it would be good to clarify the question of whether dogs can watch TV, don't worry that in the following PeritoAnimal article we will give you all the answers about this canine curiosity.
Can dogs watch TV or not?
The answer to this question is Yes and no. Dogs and cats have different eyes than ours, they are more accurate. They capture movement better than the human eye. This difference is what motivates us when we talk about television.
Television is images that occur one after the other at a very high speed. This speed is what deceives our vision and makes it look like we see movement. In order for humans to perceive this sensation of movement, the images must go at a speed of 40 hz (images per second). In contrast, animals need the speed in succession is at least 75hz.
A normal modern television reaches about 300 hz (there are those that reach 1000 hz), but older televisions reach 50 hz. Can you imagine how boring it must be for your pet to watch TV and see a slow succession of images? It's normal that they didn't pay attention to them.
Another factor that influences dogs to watch television is the height at which you are. Televisions are always placed so that they are at eye level while we are seated. For your pet it would be quite uncomfortable to have to be looking up all day.
Have you ever been in the front rows of a cinema? If so, then you already know what I'm referring to.
It is normal that they are not interested because the programming is not made for them. Many owners ensure that their pets react when they see a dog on television, on the contrary, when faced with a drawing or a static image of a dog, they don't pay attention. They are able to tell the difference.
What would a dog-friendly television look like
Should have the following features:
- Have more than 75hz.
- Be situated at a height from the dog's eyes.
- Broadcast programs where dogs see other animals, cats, birds, sheep,...
According to those responsible for the DogTv channel, dogs can not only be entertained by watching television, but this also brings them benefits. They have three types of content: relaxing, stimulating and behavior reinforcing.
The channel says that a dog will lessen separation anxiety by seeing the relaxing contents. Stimulants serve to encourage and develop the pet's mind. Lastly, we have reinforcers.
Those responsible for DogTv give the following example: a dog that sees on television other dogs chasing a ball, will be increasing its own learning in playing with the ball.
Myths about the view of dogs
- Dogs come in black and white: Lie. They can see colors, but not as many shades as humans. In fact, they are able to recognize blue, yellow and gray variants. They come in green, red and orange colors as shades of yellow.
- Dogs come in darkness: Truth. The pupil can dilate much more to absorb more light, but it also has a special cell patina to improve your vision at night. This layer is located deep in the retina, it is also the cause of the dog's eyes to glow in the dark when they are lit.
- Finally, another curiosity. The dogs' field of vision is different. Objects less than 30 centimeters from your face are seen blurry. So they need to smell everything. Also, your peripheral vision is much better.
