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How does your dog act around the TV? Do they love watching it with you? Do they react to the sights and sounds? Is it an essential companion when you leave them home alone? For a lot of dogs, they completely ignore it.
But others seem utterly fascinated by the big screen. What is it about the television that entertains some pups but leaves others completely uninterested?
Well, let's find out. Can dogs watch TV? Do they like watching TV? Is it an individual preference, or are certain dogs more likely to watch it?
Get all the answers, alongside a list of the best things for dogs to watch on TV, below.
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Can dogs watch TV?
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Yes. A study from Applied Animal Behaviour Science in January 2024 found that 72% of dogs liked to watch TV. But it's important to remember that dogs "see" things differently than us since they rely so much on their hearing and smell; they're not watching it the same way as us.
For example, while dogs can see the TV much better if the screen shows movement, they have much shorter attention spans than us. They won't sit there and watch TV for a long time; they usually only focus or notice it for one to five minutes.
Modern TVs are more likely to get attention from dogs due to their improved refresh rates. A refresh rate is how many times per second a screen updates its image. Modern TVs have higher refresh rates, making images appear "smoother". Dogs need a high refresh rate to see the screen.
Older TVs, meanwhile, have such a low refresh rate that they often appear as flickering light to dogs instead of solid imagery.
Do dogs enjoy watching TV?
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It depends. All dogs are different. How dogs engage with the TV varies a lot.
One key thing to note is that dogs don't "enjoy" TV the same way as us - they are just interested in the sights and sounds.
Signs that your dog is enjoying television include:
Focused gaze
Lying down and watching the TV closely
Moving closer to the screen
Turning their head to watch TV
Barking, growling and loud, consistent vocalisation can mean your dog isn't enjoying the TV and is feeling overstimulated. Thankfully, there are numerous ways to keep a dog mentally stimulated without the TV.
Don't force your dog to engage with the TV if they look anxious and stressed, and remember that some dogs just aren't fussed with watching it.
What do dogs like to watch on TV?
Again, it depends on the dog. Content featuring animals tends to do best, while humans on screen get less of a reaction.
A study from the Animal Cognition journalin 2013 discovered that dogs could visually identify other dog's faces on a screen, meaning there is some evidence that dogs react more to dogs on television over anything else.
The study also found that cartoons were engaging for more than 10% of the dogs studied and that there was a correlation between movement and attention.
Other things that get a reaction are nature documentaries and anything with high-contrast visuals.
But this is still an emerging field of research, and we're not entirely certain what dogs like to watch, why they like to watch it and how they interpret it.
Why do some dogs watch TV while others don’t?
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A dog's attitude to television depends on a few factors, like their breed, temperament and past experiences.
Factors that influence whether a dog will like TV include:
Attention spans
Dogs with longer attention spans, such as those who have been trained to do tricks and sports, tend to engage more with television content.
Breed
There is evidence that there are genetic predispositions to how a dog processes information, and this can extend to televisions. Breeds from herding or sporting backgrounds tend to react to it more.
Dog breeds more likely to watch TV include:
Past experiences
A dog's past experiences with TVs - positive or negative - can influence their reactions in future.
Sensory processing
Differences in a dog's auditory and visual processing can influence their ability to interpret and become interested in images on the TV.
Can dogs learn from watching TV?
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Probably not. Dogs mostly see it as a form of entertainment and visual stimulation; there isn't much evidence yet that they can understand narratives and learn from them.
There are some videos out there of dogs reacting to and mimicking behaviours seen on screen, but this is difficult to replicate across all dogs. When compared to proven methods like positive reinforcement training, it's ineffective.
Researchers, though, are looking into how video content can help teach dogs, as well as using video to assess a dog's vision. It's emerging technology, so watch this space!
Do dogs like watching TV when alone?
Again, it depends. If your dog has expressed that they like it and find it relaxing, it may be a good idea.
Some owners like to leave the TV on when they leave their dogs alone. But make sure you observe and check if your dog likes it first; you don't want to leave it on and then risk your dog becoming anxious and overstimulated when you're not there.
Putting on the TV isn't a replacement for proper treatment if your dog is dealing with separation anxiety. You need to get it treated. We have a dedicated guide on how to prevent separation anxiety, as well as why it's important to get the right help.
Potential downsides
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We've discussed the positives of TV watching for dogs, but it's not all upsides. Some dogs can become irritated and don't like the television being on, especially if it's aggressive, fast-paced or loud.
Potential negatives include:
Becoming overstimulated, impacting a dog's ability to relax. This is a big risk if you watch loud, fast-paced content.
Distraction, leading the dog away from other activities like exercise, relaxing and social interaction.
Misinterpreting the visuals, leading to agitation and fear.
Do dogs enjoy watching TV with humans?
Yes, they do, but this has more to do with spending time with us than what's on the screen.
For example, owners may think their dog is enjoying the television, but in reality, they're spending time with their owner. They can learn to associate the TV with relaxation time with their favourite people.
Even if your dog just likes to chill inside and watch the latest series with you, it could be worth getting dog insurance.
We offer up to £20,000 vet fee cover on our Complete Care plan, plus your you and your dog can chat with a vet on-screen with our 24/7 video vet access.
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