Like most pup parents, I take my dog out to go to the bathroom at night. I don’t love doing so because she is always barking at something in the bushes. Is it a possum? A raccoon? A person? I have no idea. But it’s always alarming, I’ll tell you that much. 

Anyway, I know that dogs have excellent hearing and a good sense of smell, but I also had a sneaking suspicion that our canine companions can also see in the dark. 

According to the AKC, I have been right all along. Like their distant relatives, wolves, dogs also have pretty darn good eyesight “in the dark, and other low-light situations,” especially compared to humans. 

So why do pups have this ability? Well, their canine eyes have a layer of tissue known as the tapetum lucidum, which our eyes do not. According to the article, “Comparative morphology of the tapetum lucidum (among selected species),” this tissue “normally functions to provide the light-sensitive retinal cells with a second opportunity for photon-photoreceptor stimulation, thereby enhancing visual sensitivity at low light levels.” While speaking to Southern Living in November 2021, Dr. Georgina Ushi Phillips, DVM, explained that your dog’s tapetum lucidum is likely noticeable in pictures taken with a flash. 

“What's really interesting is that the color of this glow can change from various shades and combinations—green, orange, yellow, and blue based on the breed of your dog." explained the vet.

Dr. Phillips went on to say that “most dogs have 20/75 vision which means that they have to be at 20 feet to see what humans can see at 75 feet.” 

“It can be difficult to pin down an exact number, but research suggests that dogs can see in light five times dimmer than we can," explained the vet. 

 AKC chief veterinary officer, Dr. Jerry Klein also explained that “dogs have a higher flicker fusion threshold than humans,” meaning they perceive light at a different rate. 

“A television screen that appears to show continuous motion to humans might appear to flicker to a dog, while this sharpened ability to see flickering light allows the dog to detect slighter movements in the dark,” explained Dr. Klein. 

Thumbnail Photo Credit: Simon Hesthaven