If you've ever wondered what grabs your dog's attention when they're glued to the TV, a recent study has the answers. The study, published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science, not only spills the beans on what entertains our four-legged friends but also highlights the need for better ways to understand how dogs see the world.
Lead researcher Freya Mowat, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine, pointed out the lack of good tools to check a dog's vision. "The way we currently check a dog's eyesight is like asking a person if they're blind or not. We need better ways to understand how dogs see things, like a kind of eye test for dogs," Mowat explained in a press release.
To find out what dogs like to watch on TV, Mowat created a survey for dog owners worldwide. The survey covered the types of screens at home, how dogs interacted with them, and what content kept them hooked. Owners also shared what their dogs did while watching videos.
Unlike people, who usually chill out while watching TV, dogs got active – running, jumping, barking, and keeping a close eye on the screen. The survey even included four short videos featuring a panther, a dog, a bird, and road traffic for dogs to watch.
Here's what the study, with over 1,200 responses, found:
- Animal Videos are a Hit: Dogs love videos with other animals the most.
- Doggy Drama: Videos featuring other dogs were the most interesting for our furry friends.
- Humans Take a Backseat: Videos with people ranked ninth out of 17 categories, showing dogs aren't too keen on watching us.
- Age and Vision Matter: Younger dogs and those with better eyesight were more into watching screens.
- Breed Vibes: Sporting and herding dogs were more likely to enjoy any type of TV content.
- Keep it Moving: Dogs really like videos with action and movement.
These findings are paving the way for better tools to track changes in how dogs see things as they get older. Mowat aims to create a kind of "eye chart" for dogs to help vets understand their vision better.
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As this study sparks new ways to understand our canine pals, you might want to consider queuing up their favorite kind of TV show for the next cozy night in. It seems our furry friends have their own preferences when it comes to entertainment!
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