Here's how dogs actually see the world

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September 18, 2017 6:46 PM

Dogs can see more than just black and white.

How do dogs see the world? Dogs see differently than humans.

The reason lies within the eye. In the eye are light receptors called cones and rods. Cones help us distinguish different colors, while rods help us see in dim light.

The number of cones and rods is different for dogs.

Turns out, dogs have fewer cone receptors than humans — which means they can't see as many colors. Human cones can detect 3 colors: red, green, and blue.

Dog cones can only detect 2 colors. No one is certain what those 2 colors are. Some experts think it could be blue and yellow.

Alexandra Horowitz — author of "Being a Dog" — told us that it's difficult to know exactly what colors a dog sees, but it's probably similar to what we see at dusk.

Dog eyes have more rods than humans, which means they can see much better at night. Dogs also have a layer of eye tissue that humans lack called the tapetum lucidum, it reflects light into the retina.

This boosts dogs' night vision even more and is why dogs' eyes shine in the dark. Turns out, dogs' eyes see much more than just black and white.

Consider that the next time you stare into those cute puppy dog eyes.

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