Have you ever bought your dog a colorful toy and wondered if he or she can really distinguish blue from red – let alone hot pink from pastel?

It’s commonly thought that dogs can only see in black and white or that dogs are colorblind – seeing the world only in sad shades of gray. But is this really true? Can your precious Sparky really not see that his yellow ball is in fact yellow? Leith Acura of Cary has the answer:

Sort of. Turns out the issue isn’t black and white – no pun intended.

According to Veterinary Vision Inc., there is growing evidence that suggests dogs can see some colors. This evidence suggests dogs have “some degree of useful color vision.” How did researchers determine this?

Veterinary Vision Inc. says the perception of color is “determined by the presence of cone photoreceptors within the retina.” Cone cells are responsible for the function of vision in conditions of bright light. These cells also make up about 20 percent of the photoreceptors in the retina of a dog. To put this into perspective, the cone cell function in humans’ retinas is 100 percent.

So what colors can your dog see? It’s thought that dogs can see yellow and blue but have a harder time with green and red, which appear similar to dogs. Ironically, the most popular color for dog toys tends to be red and orange. So if your dog can’t ever find that red ball you threw, you now know why – he can’t see it.

The next time you head out to the store to buy your pooch a furry friend, if you want the dog to be able to distinguish the color, you might want to buy something yellow or blue. Now when you’re out at the park, your dog will be able to find the ball. Then you won’t feel as bad that your dog isn’t as smart as all of the rest.

But if you still want to purchase a pink collar for Fifi, it’s okay. It’s more for you than it is for her anyway.