Why is your dog glued to the TV and what is it really interested in?

      "Dogs see television differently than humans," explains Vladimir Golubev, president of the Russian Cynological Federation. Their dichromatic vision distinguishes only blue and yellow, and old screens appear to animals as mere flicker. Modern televisions with high frame rates allow pets to discern objects and even emotions on the screen.

      Not all dogs are equally interested in TV. Active and excitable animals more often follow moving objects, while anxious ones react to sounds like a doorbell or a car horn.

      Why do they do it? Essentially, dogs react to the screen the same way they do to events in real life. Their primary sensory channel is smell, but vision helps them focus on what truly interests them.

      Marketers already use this knowledge to create advertisements and special programs for dogs. At home or in shelters, the TV can help a pet feel calmer when the owner is not around. But Golubev reminds us: the screen does not replace walks, play, and training.

      What do dogs prefer to watch? Programs about animals, sporting events, and nature — sky, sea, grass. Cartoons with fictional characters are uninteresting to most pets. If a dog is frightened by what’s happening on the screen, it's better to change the channel or turn the TV off for a while.