Is your dog actually watching TV when they sit in front of the screen and stare at it or bark? What exactly attracts your dog to the TV? Can dogs really see TV the way we do? Are they interested in TV shows made for dogs? Have you ever sat down to watch TV only to have a little furry head pop up and completely block your vision? Let’s find out.
Dogs can see television, and many of them appear to enjoy it. There are several aspects of television shows that dogs find appealing. Some of these relate to the TV’s sounds, while others are visual, like motion.
Considering that dog eyes are very different from human eyes, they perceive things on television differently. They prefer to sit closer to the TV than we do because it keeps their vision sharper; their vision isn’t as good, closer to 20/75 than 20/20.
Due to the fact that their retinas only contain two of the three types of color-processing cells that ours contain, they also perceive colors differently. Since they can only see blues, greens, and yellows, a dog running on grass and tossing a yellow frisbee in the air may be very interesting, as opposed to a dog sitting next to a red and white picnic table and playing with a red toy.
Dogs also have more rods in their eyes than people. Rods are the cells that increase night vision. Dogs are extremely sensitive to motion and have excellent night vision.
Additionally, dogs will view themselves differently, especially on older TVs. If the refresh rate of the screen is higher than 55 hertz, people won’t notice any flickering. Dogs, however, have a better sense of motion and can detect flickers up to 75 hertz.
Consequently, if we are watching a typical TV program at 60 hertz, it will appear smooth to us but will flicker to dogs. Thankfully, newer TVs have faster refresh rates, and laptops and desktops also have faster refresh rates, so our dogs also get better pictures!
Your Dog Might Actually Dislike the Noise
We frequently experience a small amount of guilt when leaving our furry friends at home alone, which is perfectly normal. So it might seem like a solution to help keep our furry friends from feeling lonely and to help lessen that guilt to turn on the TV to help calm them. But according to scientific research, we’re not even sure if our dog likes the additional noise.
Cats tend to be the same size, so measuring them is much simpler than measuring dogs, who come in breeds of all different sizes, lengths, and weights. So a conclusive study is much harder to achieve. Studies have shown that cats aren’t particularly interested in our musical tastes, but we’re not so sure about dogs.
Should You Leave the TV on for Your Dog?
It all depends on your dog, as it does with so many other pet-related questions.
Even if they are coming from the TV, some dogs seem to enjoy hearing human voices, but other dogs find the noise to be even more upsetting. Before you can respond to this question with any degree of confidence, you must understand which your dog prefers.
Setting up a camera system, such as a spy camera or a pet camera like a Furbo, and observing their behavior both with and without the TV on are effective ways to accomplish this. Another option is to compare the damage to your home caused by each choice, but this could cost more than just purchasing a camera.
You can decide intelligently whether or not to allow your dog to watch that Fast & the Furious marathon while you’re at work once you observe how they respond to the noise.
Are There Any Positives to Leaving the TV on for a Dog?
There are valid reasons to think about letting your dog watch TV. However, keep in mind that none of these benefits will outweigh the stress you cause if your dog doesn’t like the sound.
One benefit of TV is that it can be used to block out other anxiety-inducing sounds like those from construction, fireworks, thunder, or gunshots. The dog won’t become frightened by the other noises if they can only hear the TV. Though it’s unlikely that a TV will be more effective than a Thundershirt or an anxiety drug
Additionally, when you’re not home, having the TV on may give the impression that you are This might deter robbers, dog thieves, and other bad guys from breaking into your house. Consider your television as your guard dog.
FAQ
Do dogs like the TV left on when alone?
The noise can actually make dogs who are separation anxious feel safe. The idea is to teach your pet to regard the television as a safety cue and as something that doesn’t make them think of you.
Does leaving the TV on for dogs do anything?
Making your dog accustomed to various stimuli can help reduce the likelihood that they will react nervously or startledly. Pet TV programs may help your dog feel less anxious if they have separation anxiety by giving them something to concentrate on.
Do dogs like when the TV is on?
Dogs can see television, and many of them appear to enjoy it. There are several aspects of television shows that dogs find appealing. Some of these relate to the TV’s sounds, while others are visual, like motion.
Does leaving the TV on help dogs with separation anxiety?
If used as a safety cue, radio or TV noise may help some dogs with separation anxiety. According to Jeff Werber, a licensed veterinarian and the owner of Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles, “the whole idea is to get them to like something that doesn’t remind them of you.”