April 28, 2023 by Gauri Thoyakkat

Before discussing the question, ‘do dogs appreciate art?’, we must first understand how our beloved four-legged friends view the world. Many people fail to realize that how dogs or animals see the world is not the same way we humans see it.

The once-popular myth of how dogs can only see in black and white is untrue. They have color vision, but not in the same way as their human buddies. Scientific research has proven that dogs are not color blind but can only process two colors, blue and yellow, along with varying shades of gray.

Dogs cannot see the same range of colors as humans because they only possess two cones in their eyes compared to the three cones we have. But that doesn’t mean they are disadvantaged.

The Dog People

Unlike humans, dogs can see movement at a pretty far distance that sometimes even we won’t comprehend. Dogs are also capable of taking in visual information 25 percent faster than us human beings. This phenomenon also makes time a little slower for them; dogs see us moving in slow motion.

If dogs only see yellow, blue, and shades of grey and see everything in slow motion, do they notice art, let alone appreciate it? Let us look into if they appreciate art or not next.

Do Dogs Appreciate Scenery?

Similar to how we can't say if dogs appreciate art or not, it is impossible to tell if they appreciate the scenery. But, in this case, it is highly likely that pups enjoy and appreciate certain types of scenery.

Science

Most dogs love going for a drive. When traveling with your dog in a car, you may have noticed how keenly your dog observes the outside. Similarly, dogs love walking and hiking to explore natural surroundings where they can sniff, run, and play.

However, it's important to note that dogs experience the world differently from humans, and what we find aesthetically pleasing may be different for dogs. Pups have keen senses and can perceive a wide range of sights, smells, and sounds we may not even notice.

Labradoodle

So, the scenery loved by dogs may differ from those we like. The reasons they appreciate good scenery are often different from why we do. Different breeds and individual dogs may have different preferences for scenery. Some dogs may be interested in exploring their surroundings, while others may be content lounging in a comfortable spot.

Are Dogs Even Aware of Art?

Dogs rarely respond to 2D images, unlike how they react to real people. If you are a dog owner, you may already have noticed how your dog is indifferent to a picture of yours or another human but, on the contrary, jumps with joy on seeing any human that it is crazy for.

However, some studies say otherwise. Some researchers found that dogs can recognize their owners from pictures, images, or screens. Some of these researches even suggest that dogs have good facial recognition skills similar to humans.

The study revealed that dogs stare at pictures that have other dogs on them longer than images of people. So, dogs may at least notice artwork or photographs with other dogs in them.

Are There Any Art Shows For Dogs?

We are glad you asked, why yes, yes there is! Art FOR Dogs is an art gallery show for you and your dog. Hosted by Kimberly Buccheri and Bud Thorpe owners of The Dog Art Gallery and Kimberly Sarah Photography in Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA. The show will include art your dog will recognize, interactive activities, sensory activities and more! The show runs on the Weekends 12-5 starting on June 15 until July 14. The show is free to the public, we kindly ask for a donation to the charitable foundations that will be in attendance at the show. Including Morris Animal Foundation, Mary's Dogs, Pope Memorial Humane Society Cocheco Valley, and Granit State Dog Recovery.

https://www.kimberlysarahphotography.com/artfordogs

100% of your donations will go directly to the charity you choose! Kim and Bud have been having fundraisers for years, most include creating art specifically for a gallery show fundraiser. It can take up to one year for Kimberly and Bud to produce the art they envision. They feel strongly about these organization and the work that they do and are always finding new ways to support them.