My five year old daughter wants to know if her dog can watch TV. (Sinna Sordillo - California)
Many people claim that their dogs watch TV. A lot of these dogs will actually follow the movement of objects moving around the screen and may also bark. However, the dog does not interpret the television the same way we do. The dog cannot determine what any object on the screen actually is. For example, if we can see a video of a dog running around a field, your dog will see a dark object moving around the screen and this may grab his attention and make him "watch".
The sounds of the television are also likely to gain the attention of the dog, and because they can pinpoint the directional origin of any sound they hear, they will naturally look at the TV. Most dogs, however, will differentiate between the sounds of, for example, a dog barking on TV and a real dog barking. Although unapparent to us, there will be a distinct difference which will render the TV version unimportant to your dog. Remember also, that the dog's most important sense, that of smell, is not present in television and may affect his reaction to stimuli such as the TV that is lacking scents.
Disclaimer: This service is meant to provide advice only and is not meant to replace an appointment with a registered veterinarian. Users should always seek a second opinion. Unfortunately we are only able to answer several questions per week so not everyone gets a published answer. And, unfortunately we can't answer by email.
Added on Nov 1st, 2008 My Papillon can tell the difference between dogs & people on tv with the sound off. When she sees dogs she starts to bark, whine & chase her tail. It's the funniest thing.
Added on Aug 29th, 2008 My Westie watches tv and can distinguish between people and animals even when there is no sound! If he sees any animal on the screen, moving or sitting still, he will go nuts and bark at the tv. He can definately tell the animals from people!
Added on Aug 11th, 2008 One of my dogs, a Chihuahua/Feist/Beagle spayed 4 year old female mix, is the funniest, all legs little thing you've ever met! She is babysitter to the younger dogs who have come into our home and can understand complex comands like instead of having to break up telling her to get a toy, take it to her crate and then come back to me, I can just tell her the whole thing and she will do it. Our other dogs have trouble with that. Anyway, my point with this is, she reacts to certain things on TV. Namely, puppies or dogs in trouble. Mostly to the sound, yes. But there have been times when she has just reacted to a certain picture of a dog being up on the screen and it is only puppies and hurt dogs, when I watch the animal rescue shows. She doesn't react much when it is in a movie or TV drama if she reacts at all. She has been known to get up and put her paws and nose on the TV and to try to look around the other side for those puppies, but she's stopped looking for them after a few times. But just goes to show you never know what your dog will notice and what they won't! I still can't get her to sit!! She's too stubborn.
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My five year old daughter wants to know if her dog can watch TV. (Sinna Sordillo - California)
