Can dogs see Christmas lights?
Can dogs see Christmas lights? Yes, but not the way you do. To a dog, the red, green and orange bulbs blend into the tree; blue, yellow, purple and white stand out. Switch between your dog and your cat to see your tree through their eyes, and find out why a fly sees some lights flicker.
Your tree, two ways
To a dog, the red, green and orange bulbs blend into the tree; blue, yellow, purple and white stand out.
| Bulb | Dog sees | Cat sees |
|---|---|---|
| Red | khaki (blends into the tree) | khaki (blends into the tree) |
| Green | khaki (blends into the tree) | khaki (blends into the tree) |
| Blue | blue | blue |
| Yellow | yellow | yellow |
| Orange | khaki (blends into the tree) | khaki (blends into the tree) |
| Purple | blue | blue |
| White | white | white |
Flat colours stand in for real bulbs. Nothing on this page blinks or flashes.
A simulation made from published eye studies. Not what the animal feels.
Why does a fly see some lights flicker?
Some lights flicker too fast for you to notice. Faster eyes catch it:
- Blowfly (Calliphora collini): A light flickering 150 times a second looks steady to you, but a blowfly sees it flicker.
- Housefly: A light flickering 75 times a second looks steady to you, but a housefly sees it flicker.
- Dog: A light flickering 75 times a second looks steady to you, but a dog sees it flicker.
- Cat: A light flickering 70 times a second looks steady to you, but a cat sees it flicker.
Can dogs see Christmas lights?
Yes. Dogs see light and movement well, but fewer colours than you. To a dog, the red, green and orange bulbs blend into the tree; blue, yellow, purple and white stand out.
Which Christmas light colours stand out best for pets?
For a dog: blue, yellow, purple and white. For a cat: blue, yellow, purple and white.
Do pets see lights flicker?
A light flickering 75 times a second looks steady to you, but a dog sees it flicker. A light flickering 70 times a second looks steady to you, but a cat sees it flicker.