Do your dogs often bark in the air or just randomly keep staring at walls or mysterious places? Well, then you’re at the right place. We have broken down some mysteries for you so that you know what dogs can see and humans can’t.
As you know, dogs are not only our fierce protectors and loyal companions, but they also have some special senses that are very much different from what we have.
Although a lot of people talk about their unbelievable olfactory abilities, few know that dogs can also do some sort of “seeing” or sensing that goes beyond human understanding.
These special powers make dogs so unique in the animal kingdom and the reason why they are used for search and rescue, medical alert services, emotional support, and more.
So, to know what exactly they can see and sense, keep reading:
The Nose Knows
Let’s begin with something everybody probably knows already: dogs have a very good sense of smell. While humans have about 5 million scent receptors in their noses, dogs might have many more, almost up to 300 million, to be precise (approximately sixty times more than we have).
When a dog sniffs, they sorts the air into two separate paths: one to breathe through and the other just for smelling. That must be the perfect mechanism to catch even the most minute scent in the air.
Going beyond just detecting smells, they also seem to apply this ability in ways unknown to us.
- They can even distinguish between identical twins by scent.
- They can sense a change within a person’s body, such as drop in blood sugar or early stages of a disease.
This is why some dogs get trained to warn a person before a seizure or tell that cancer is in its early stages.
Seeing the World Differently
Now let us talk about what dogs see. Many people think that dogs see only in black and white. Well, that is not true. Dogs can see colors, but it’s not quite the same way as in humans.
While humans have three types of color receptors or cones, dogs only have two. This, therefore, allows them to see blue and yellow, while red and green colors will probably appear to them as grey or brown.
Another way that dogs achieve the conception of colors is by assessing brightness levels. Bright colors such as light yellow, or white look bright to a dog, while colors like red or green look dim.
While dogs seem to be lacking in color vision, they surely gain it through other means. Did you know that dogs can see better in dim light than we do?
This is because, in the lower posterior part of their retinas, there is a layer of cells known as the tapetum lucidum. That layer is reflective, and that is why they have better night vision, and it is also the reason why their eyes sometimes shine in the dim light.
Dogs can pick up any faint movement from afar. Henceforth, this makes them good hunting companions, extremely good guards, and pro players during games like fetch.
Seeing What We Cannot
Dogs often respond to things we cannot see. They may suddenly bark at an empty corner or simply refuse to enter a room.
While science never confirmed that dogs can see ghosts, there are several experts who’ve gone through various instances, making them bound to believe that dogs have an immense sensitivity to environmental changes.
They can detect the slightest movements, alterations in air pressure, or electromagnetic shifts, which some tie to unseen energies or negative vibrations.
Notably, according to various research studies that have been conducted, it has often been concluded that dogs can detect ultraviolet light rays that human eyes cannot see. This in turn, logically, means that they might be able to view some patterns or reflections that are not visible to us, especially with the naked eye.
Combined with their ability for night vision and awareness, it might really be that dogs “see” a different version of the world.
Conclusion
So, next time your dog stops to sniff something or stares into the distance that’s random and weird, know that they are sensing something you never could. But apart from these unbelievable abilities, it’s their emotional connection with humans that makes their existence special.
