What your dog sees that you don’t

Updated April 16, 2025, 8:16 a.m. | By East Coast Breakfast / Skyye Ndlovu

Ever wondered why your dog barks at what seems like thin air? Step into their paws and discover the hidden world they sense – one that’s invisible to us, but crystal clear to them.

Dogs have long been considered man’s best friend, but how well do you know your best friend?

Have you ever wondered what they see, or more intriguingly, what they can see that we can’t?

While we go about our days relying on our five senses, our canine companions navigate the world with heightened abilities that often leave us in awe – or scratching our heads.

Dogs can pick up on things that we can’t even begin to comprehend with their extraordinary vision and their keen sense of hearing and smell.

Here’s a fun look at five things that your dog can see, but you definitely can’t!

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1. A world of hidden UV light

You know how some things look totally different under blacklight? Well, dogs see the world in a similar way, thanks to their ability to detect ultraviolet (UV) light.

While we are stuck in the visible light spectrum, dogs can pick up on those hidden UV clues that are invisible to us.

This means they can see things like glowing pet markings, fluorescent materials, and even traces of urine left by other animals.

For us, these are invisible markers, but for dogs, it’s like they’re living in a neon world.

2. The blue and yellow world of dogs

Imagine a world where red and green just don’t exist as you know them. For dogs, that’s the reality!

While we see the full spectrum of colours (thanks to our three colour receptors), dogs have only two – blue and yellow.

This means that your bright red ball might look more like a dull brownish-yellow to your dog.

That beautiful green grass you’re walking on? It probably looks like a shade of yellow to them.

Their world might seem a bit simpler, but it’s still filled with plenty of colour.

3. Motion detection like a superhero

Have you ever felt like your dog is staring at something you just can’t see? It’s not your imagination.

Dogs have an incredibly sharp ability to detect motion. Their eyes are specially designed to pick up even the smallest movement, far better than ours can.

So, while we might miss that tiny flicker of movement in the corner of the room, your dog will notice it immediately.

This superpower is part of what makes dogs such excellent hunters and protectors.

4. Night vision for days

Ever found yourself stumbling around in the dark, wishing for a flashlight? Well, your dog doesn’t need one.

Thanks to a higher concentration of rod cells in their retinas, dogs have remarkable night vision.

This means they can see in near-total darkness, easily navigating in the middle of the night or in dimly lit rooms.

We might need some ambient light to see anything, but your dog can move around like it’s daylight.

This makes them naturally equipped to handle nighttime adventures or those late-night bathroom breaks!

5. Ghosts and spirits, or just super senses?

This one’s a little more on the mystical side.

Many dog owners report strange behaviours, like their dog barking at an empty space, staring at a corner for no reason, or growling at something unseen.

Some people swear their dog is reacting to ghosts or spirits, but there’s no scientific proof of that.

However, a dog’s heightened senses (like their ability to hear ultra-low frequencies or pick up on subtle atmospheric changes) might make them more attuned to things we can’t perceive.

Whether it’s a strange draft, a distant sound, or something we just can’t sense, dogs seem to be aware of the unseen world around them.

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Our dogs live in a world that’s much more complex than we can imagine.

They experience a reality filled with hidden UV light, a simplified colour palette, and a heightened sensitivity to movement and sound.

So, the next time your dog starts barking at nothing or seems hyper-aware of something you can’t see, just remember that they experience a world we can only dream of.