Dog expert further investigates whether dogs do in fact watch TV like humans do (Image: Getty)
Humans have been engrossed with television ever since they first came on the market.
On average, Brits watch 28 hours and 18 minutes of TV and streaming content each week, which is just over four hours a day.
Technology has greatly improved over the years, which has allowed dogs to focus more on TV screens.
There’s even TV, a new genre that focuses on images of happy pooches running on a beach with gentle piano music in the background.
Despite all the new improvements and genres, the age-old question of whether dogs do, in fact, watch TV has finally been solved.
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The research revealed that dogs most prefer watching other dogs on TV screens. (Image: Getty)
A veterinary ophthalmologist and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr Freya Mowat, delved further into this matter.
By using an improved eye test for dogs, Mowat and her team were able to investigate canine eyesight to discover what dogs focused on when looking at TV screens.
Dr Mowat said: “We needed to design content that was interesting to dogs because we can’t have them read an eye chart.
“When we see a patient in the clinic for ophthalmology, we wave our hands at the dog’s face.
“If they react, that’s the test – which is kind of embarrassing. And on the research side, we have these very elaborate mazes that take up a whole bunch of space and multiple hours to complete – very scientific but completely impractical.”
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The survey also revealed that herding dogs were most likely to watch TV compared to other breeds. (Image: Getty)
The study’s results found, unsurprisingly, that most dogs enjoy watching other dogs on TV screens.
Canines have more cells in the retina, which increases their night vision. Therefore, they’re more sensitive to images with lots of movement.
It also found that an impressive 78% of dogs did approach the TV screens when something piques their interest, with 76% of dogs looking behind the TV screens or out a window to ensure what was happening on the screens wasn’t happening in real life.
“I think dogs watch TV because they’re checking if it is real,” Mowat added: “They’re looking for the realism and wondering whether it’s worth paying attention to.”
Watching TV for dogs stresses some of them more and could be detrimental if left alone in front of one.
Mowat explains: “If your dog has reactive tendencies and you leave it alone with dogs on the TV, I would question whether that is truly a good thing for your dog.”
Mowat added that most dogs only watch TV in short segments, including commercials.
She adds: “I think there are some dogs that know it isn’t real and don’t mind, but there are many dogs who think TV is just boring.
The survey also revealed that two dog types that were more likely to watch TV were sporting and herding dog breeds.
Mowat added: “I don’t know that you can teach a dog to be a consistent watcher of two-hour movies versus one to five minutes.”