do dogs see tv?

[barrowmanandrew]

In that case, Dogs certainly can see TV. It is broadcast in 2d, appears on our screens in 2d.
I'd have thought that because dogs have two eyes and therefore see in stereoscopic vision, they can see in 3d as well. They certainly have depth perception and so must be able to see in 3d too.as cronus says

i may be wrong but
im remember reading dogs can't see tv the way we do.
they see a shadow moving over a lighter place,
also the tv appears to flicker to dogs.
surely there must be a vet on here....

[Cronus]

Right,I've tried to get to the bottom of this so here we go.

A dog can watch tv but it seems they do see it slightly differently. The images they see are in 3d though!

A dog's eyes are specially designed to pick out motion. At the level of a single cell in the eye, a moving target appears as a flicker. The average human doesn't see flickering above a speed of 55 cycles a second (55 Hz). The image on a television is redrawn at a rate of 60 Hz. Humans don't see this flicker, and the image appears continuous. However, because many dogs can resolve images at higher speed, the TV screen probably still appears to them as a rapid flicker, making the images look less real.
Thus, many dogs don't direct much attention to what's happening onscreen. Some dogs ignore the flickering and respond to interesting images on screen. These dogs often follow the images, even looking behind the TV to see where something went after disappearing from view. However, since a dog's dominant sense is its sense of smell and objects onscreen have no scent, most dogs will quickly lose interest and wander off.

[Cronus]

Probably the best way to describe it would be 'like a fast moving 3d flicker book'

[aftermath]

I used to have a Whippet who loved snooker on TV, sometimes he would dive at the TV and try to catch the balls only to smack his face on the glass, dont know how many times he done this but he never learned,

[DNG2010]

True, True, but until the last day of your life you learn something new...

[thered]

Just been researching this on the internet and can't seem to get a definitive answer. Some sites say no a dog can't make out images on television the way we do.
I'm asking because our mutt goes bonkers whenever there are dogs on TV. Adverts, films, programmes. Even if we turn the sound off completely he still goes daft if there's a dog on there.
The present commercial for Pedigree Chum with the collie running about sends him into a barking frenzy, the moment the first chord is played on the guitar.

My dad had a dog years ago and one afternoon I was watching the snooker. Whenever a player hit the cue ball, he'd look at the TV screen and sometimes they'd show the shots from the pocket cam where the ball rolls towards the pocket then drops. The dog would get up and look underneath the TV for the ball.

Our dog was watching the Open golf with me and even he was looking or the golf balls as they dropped into the holes.
So anyone else have experience of their dog watching TV ?

my dog definately can see it but he only pays attention when theres other animals on tv

she jumps up and follows their every movement whether they make noises or not

she even watched the kids film underdog and hotel for dogs shes not fussed on any others

i heard that dogs were not able to see a tv screen but for me its bollox

[Canker_Canison]

My four legged fiend only reacts to dogs & big game cats on tv.

Many a time I've seen him jump off the sofa, up to the tv then as the dog goes off screen mine goes to the window...looking of it.

But he might be a bit 'special', if you know what I mean .

I was already aware that dogs use their sense of smell over sight. Where cats focus mainly on sight & movement. But my little psycho goes nuts over my laser pointers. It has no smell & he knows what produces it. But he's quicker to the dot than a catholic priest to a lost boy. He never gets tired of chasing it.

[Dieselhawk]

I always thought they couldn't see a reflection in mirrors either but my Border Collie sits with her back to us watching us in the mirror.

[bazare]

my ex dog was attracted only by the sound ... not the image

[Canker_Canison]

my ex dog was attracted only by the sound ... not the image

Strange reference "ex dog", were you married? What caused the divorce? Or are we talking about a relationship not frowned upon by law & morality, where she was only refered to as a dog?

[sanek2xlc]

My friend has a dog. It is on TV in general paid no attention.

[karter59]

All of my previous dogs never noticed the TV or reacted to it. My latest dog, watches and reacts to the TV. I believe the difference now is the quality and size of the TV.

[RCpower]

My dog it seems that there is not a tv, notices the sound but not the tv

[rideon]

Nice thread
Must start with some advice first:
- Don't let your dog watch tv more than 2 hours/day and be careful what kind of shows are on! "Violence, sexuality, race and gender stereotypes, drug and alcohol abuse are common themes of television programs"
Indeed ,my golden watch animal planet every now and then,but she'd rather go out and play a little