if dogs are color blind why do mine like to chase a red laser pointer?

Answer 1

Dogs are not totally colorblind, but research indicates that they do not see reds and greens as we do. Your dog will still see the light, even though he will not perceive it as red. However, what he is responding to is the motion. Dogs are highly attuned to movement. The link below shows the range of colors that dogs probably perceive and offers a lengthy discussion on how dog vision works. Interesting stuff, I think.

Answer 2

Yes dogs ARE color blind, they see in two colors instead of three exactly the same as some color blind people. The difference between a dogs eyes and ours is that a dog has fewer cones (collect color) and more rods (collect light) so a dog sees colors about like a color blind person, and sees at night about like a person using night vision goggles.

We see "VIBGYOR" (Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red)
dogs see "VIBYYYR" (Violet, Indigo, Blue, Yellow, Yellow, Yellow, and Red). The colors Green, Yellow, and Orange all look alike to dogs

Answer 3

The whole laser thing is really common. My friend's dog does it and my dog does it. If you were a dog, and you saw something moving all over the ground . . wouldn't you want to chase it? I know I would hahah. And I've heard of dogs eating catnip, but it's not healthy. It'll make your dog fat, it has more nutrients or something that your dog doesn't need. What I'd do is put the bowl of catnip on a table that your cat can get up on . . . but then again then your cat will be trained he can get on any table. I guess if you don't mind?

Answer 4

Have you tried it with a Green laser pointer to see if it's really the color that attracts him? I'd be curious to see a double-blind study done. You might even get a federal grant for that type of research.

Answer 5

Dont worry your dog is not the only one that chases a red laser pointer,actually they chase it because i think they get attracted to the red light of the laser.well thats what i think.

Answer 6

Your dog has too much energy to burn and no where to burn it. Take your dog of an hour walk everyday and while walking, you can train your dog not to react to the laser light.

"The Dog Whisperer" TV show had an episode about a dog obsessed with laser light.

Answer 7

It is a light regardless of what color it is and they see the movement.

Just a word of advice playing with a dog in this way can literally cause them to go crazy. My cousin had a dog that they used to play with using a flashlight and he began to bark and flip out at every shadow.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Dogs aren't completely color blind. They see muted colors.

Answer 10

they aren't chasing the after the red they are just chasing the light try it with a flashlight and they will do the same thing. Words of wisdom if you get them started it will be very hard to get them to stop.