How Well Can Your Dog See in the Dark?

Dog’s have a reputation for having good night vision. After all, the wolves they are descended from do most of their hunting at night, so it would make sense that our pet dogs have some ability to see in the dark as well.

In fact, dogs can probably see 5 times better than we can at night. This is possible due to several biological features, and can provide interesting insight into how your dog sees the world around her.

How Your Dog’s Eyes Work

The differences in your dog’s night vision and yours are due to a few adaptations in the dog’s eye. Both human and dog eyes have a pupil, cornea, lens, and a retina with rods and cones that enable us to interpret light and color into images. But dogs also have:

Bigger Pupils - A larger pupil means that more light can reach the eye to make it easier to process sights.
More Rods - Dogs have very few cones (which interpret colors) but many more rods (which interpret light) than we do.
Wider Set Eyes - For both day and night vision, eyes closer to the sides of their heads give dogs better peripheral vision.
Tapetum Lucidum - The most important part of night vision, the tapetum is a body part humans do not have. It is a group of mirror-like cells that reflects light within the dog’s eye so the dog can see and process light twice. The tapetum is also the reason dog’s eyes seem to glow at night.

Your dog still needs some light to be able to see. If you were to go camping on a cloudy night, everything would be pitch black to her. But if there is moonlight, a street lamp, or ambient lighting, your dog can see most of the details around her.

But if dogs have great night vision, why do some pet owners notice their dog seems to be frightened to go outside in the dark? The good news is that your dog probably isn’t seeing something scary in the dark. Instead, she is on alert. Nighttime has different sounds and smells, making what may be a familiar environment during the day seem threatening. Exposing your dog to darkness in the same way you would introduce any new situation can help make her more comfortable.

Calvin and Colleen Sheehan (Assoc. Producer - The Oprha Winfrey Show)

Marc Goldberg with Cesar Millan, "The Dog Whisperer"

Our Philosophy & Goals

Our philosophy is simple. Improve the life of both dog and family. All too often, unruly dogs do not fully enjoy life because their families constantly become upset and frustrated with them. This is difficult for both family and dog.

Our mission is simple. Make both dog and family happy.

What does is take to make your dog happy? He will thrive when you give him leadership and attention.

Making the family happy is a bit more complex.

Families typically want their dog to:

Come when called, every time, on or off leash
Walk nicely on a loose leash without pulling
Sit until released
Down until released

Families also want their dogs:

Not to jump on people
Not to charge through doors
Not to dig in the garden
Not to bark and chew inappropriately
Not to climb on furniture you prefer they avoid
Not to sniff and eat off the table and counters.
Not to be wild and uncontrollable
Not to ignore you when you want their attention