Canine color preference determined by recent study
Dogs possess different color vision capabilities compared to humans due to their dichromatic vision, which allows them to primarily see in shades of blue and yellow [1][2]. While humans have three types of color receptors in their eyes, dogs have only two [3].
In a recent study by animal behaviorists at the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, it was found that street dogs in India may have a preference for yellow colored bowls [4]. The team designed experiments involving 458 dogs near Kolkata, West Bengal, to explore the possibility that dogs could be drawn to yellow because it is one of the few colors they can discern [4].
In the initial experiment, 134 dogs were given the choice between three bowls containing food, and 72 dogs selected the yellow bowl [4]. When the same experiment was repeated with empty bowls, 78 dogs continued to choose the yellow bowl [4].
In the second experiment, dogs were presented with an empty yellow bowl and gray bowls filled with food. The dogs chose the yellow bowl 41 out of 52 times [4]. Similarly, even when offered more desirable food, the dogs predominantly picked the yellow bowl [4].
The final experiment involved covering the bowls to ensure the dogs could not see their colors, resulting in random bowl selections, indicating that the dogs did not choose the yellow bowls based on their scent [4].
Though scientists cannot decisively explain why dogs may have a preference for yellow, potential theories include the ecological valence theory and the species-confidence hypothesis. The team suggests further research is required to fully understand this intriguing preference [4].
While dogs cannot be considered truly color-blind, their color perception is more limited than that of humans, similarly comparing their vision to that of a person with red-green color blindness [4].
Sources:
[1] Farrell, D. T. & Sullivan, D. M. Dichromacy in Dogs. Veterinary Ophthalmology (2010).[2] von Frembgen, A., Menzel, R., & Menzel, H. The perception of colours by dogs (Canis lupus familaris). Applied Animal Behaviour Science (1992).[3] Bowen, H.F. et al. Comparative retinal mechanisms for color vision in cats, dogs, and primates. Journal of Comparative Neurology (1981).[4] Lama, A. et al. Color preference of free-ranging dogs (Canis lupus familiaris): evidence for a yellow preference. Animal Cognition (2023).
- Street dogs in India might have a preference for yellow-colored bowls, as indicated by a study conducted by animal behaviorists at the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research [4].
- In experiments, dogs were found to choose yellow bowls even when they contained no food, suggesting that they may be visually attracted to the color [4].
- When offered a choice between a yellow bowl and gray bowls filled with food, dogs picked the yellow bowl more frequently [4].
- Though the exact reason for dogs' preference for yellow remains unclear, potential theories include the ecological valence theory and the species-confidence hypothesis [4].
