Can dogs see movement on TV?

You’ve decided to watch the latest nature docuseries and as soon as you turn it on, your dog begins barking at the elephants walking across the screen. Can your pet really make out the images of animals? 

While not all pets are attracted to the TV, some are drawn to it due to the visual and auditory stimuli that comes out of the screen. 

Can they really see the animals?
Dogs see in shades of blue, yellow and gray. They can see familiar images, like people, animals or objects but they don’t understand what’s going on in the same way we do. Dogs also have great peripheral vision and have more rod cells which makes them skilled at detecting small movements on the screen—especially for breeds such as herding dogs. 

Dogs also have incredible hearing and may be more be stimulated by the sounds on the TV than the movements. They can’t tell the difference between noises on the TV and noises in real life, for example, a doorbell or a dog barking. Keeping the volume up high can make these sounds more noticeable—you may not even notice some of the subtle noises that your dog picks up on.  

Why the barking though? 
Dogs can be confused by what they see or hear on the TV. They detect sights and sounds but there’s no corresponding smell of people, dogs or other animals. This can be the cause of the barking or jumping at the TV in hopes that they’ll receive a response to get more information. They may even try to find the people or animals that they see or hear by looking for them behind the TV.

They may be calling out a warning to let you know that something is approaching. If your pet usually barks at everything that moves in real life, they may tend to bark at all the movements on the TV too.

Some dogs, such as those bred to hunt or work (e.g., retrievers, collies, terriers and sighthounds) may be frustrated when they see movement but can’t actually chase their “prey.” This frustration may lead to barking. 

Put an end to the barking!
So how can you explain to your pet that what they’re seeing and hearing is not real, that it’s just a show and that they don’t need to bark? You can train your dog not to bark at the TV with these tips:

• Condition your pet. As soon as triggering sights and sounds come up, give your pet a treat and keep treating as long as they remain quiet. Pause to let them look back at the screen, then give them a few more treats—as long as they keep quiet. Continue to treat your dog until the trigger has left the screen. Instead of barking, your dog will eventually look at you for a treat. You can gradually wean them off of treats, using an occasional biscuit or even affection and attention to reward their positive behavior. The end goal is to condition them to relax and focus on spending time with you, rather than paying attention to the images and sounds.
  
  
• Occupy them. A chew toy, stuffer toy (such as a KONG) or a puzzle toy can keep them occupied and their mouth full which can prevent them from barking. 
  
  
• Exercise before TV time. A tired dog is a chill dog, and a chill dog is less likely to be triggered by the TV. Before you settle in to watch your favorite show, take your dog for a walk or play a game of fetch. 
  
  
• Distraction! Keep your pet distracted and occupied by playing a game of fetch or tug of war when you turn on the TV. Toys and games can also be used instead of treats to train your dog. Simply follow the above suggestions for how to condition your dog using playtime instead of treats as the reward.
  
   

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