How do scientists know that dogs are color blind?

Answer 1

Actually, dogs aren't colorblind. At least, they can see colors (they don't see in black and white) but just have trouble seeing certain colors, much like color blind people do.

"dogs do see color, but in a more limited range than that seen by normal humans, who see the rainbow of colors described by "VIBGYOR": Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red (plus hundreds of variations on these shades). Instead, dogs see "VIBYYYR" (Violet, Indigo, Blue, Yellow, Yellow, Yellow, and Red). The colors Green, Yellow, and Orange all look alike to dogs; but look different from Red and different from the various Blues and Purples. Dogs are very good at telling different shades of VIB apart. Finally, Blue-Green looks White to dogs."

See the linked source.

Answer 2

I can think of two ways. One, an experiment--accustom a dog to getting a reward every time it retrieved a ball, which would be for example red. Then mix the red ball in with balls of different colors. If it could never distinguish the red ball, that would strongly suggest that it was color blind.

Another method would be to examine the eyes of a dog that had died and see if it had whatever the color receptors are in mammal eyes--I think its rods. If rods are lacking, that pretty much cinches it.

Answer 3

They're wrong. I know for a fact that my dog sees color, our vet has even made the same speculation about our dog. They've never proved that ALL dogs in fact are color blind, either.

Answer 4

Experimenting is done by keeping colored objects on black & white checks. The dogs hits while walking to those colored objects. Which proves that dogs are colored blind.

Answer 5

My guess is they ran a series of test with multiple dogs and breeds of dogs using different colors and black and white objects too and took note of the reactions to them.

Answer 6

New research suggest that perhaps dogs are not color blind.


http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_004.html

http://ask.yahoo.com/20020902.html

Answer 7

WHAT! no theyr not.
I also heard cows are color blind too........well then y do they get angry if they see red huh?

Answer 8

By doing tests with colored objects to see which ones they respond to.

Answer 9

I hope someone comes out with a good answer cause I've always wondered this too.

Answer 10

they ask the dogs to identify different colors
; )