Dog eyesight, scientific question.

Dog eyesight, scientific question.

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FiF

Original Poster:

43,960 posts

250 months

Monday 25th April 2016
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Somewhat long post before I get to the question sorry.

Someone recently sent me a link to a thread in Reddit to show me this old photograph.



Like PH the thread here developed into an argument, meh photoshop, etc etc.

Then lead to a thread discussing dogs seeing underwater here with a couple of really good answers.

Anyway was reminded of this today when on his morning walk by the river the dog was clearly watching something in the river. He was standing on the bank, and his actions are typical of when he has seen and is watching something closely, yet I couldn't see anything, even down at his level. Part of the problem was the water was a bit murky, but not especially so, but main issue was reflected light from the surface. Dog doesn't wear Polaroid sunnies, so wondering what he was seeing or had detected. At one point, some time after he'd started watching a small trail of bubbles came to surface, so makes me think something was there.

Any ideas?

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

Monday 25th April 2016
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A friends labrador who I looked after frequently used to love going in the water. He would put his whole head under to get back his ball, not sure he could have done that without seeing where the balls were.

There is video of a dog catching fish in the water aswell.

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

FiF

Original Poster:

43,960 posts

250 months

Monday 25th April 2016
quotequote all
Funnily he does that off a beach higher up the river, sticks his head under the water and fetches one of those toys used to train kids to swim underwater in a pool. So clearly they can see better than perhaps we think.

I know dogs are supposed to have eyesight that isn't so acute, but other owners have commented on how quickly he picks up on stuff at a long distance, which we thought was the case but nice to have it confirmed.

Nimby

4,572 posts

149 months

Tuesday 26th April 2016
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FiF said:
I know dogs are supposed to have eyesight that isn't so acute...
That depends on the breed. Sighthounds are very sensitive to movement at a distance. Our sort-of-saluki can recognise people she likes - ie the ones who give her treats - from a good hundred yards away.

shambolic

2,146 posts

166 months

Tuesday 26th April 2016
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My dog scent points but also sight points deer!