Does Your Dog Watch ‘Bluey’ Too? There’s a Reason For That

Bluey has quickly become one of the most popular series in the history of children’s programming, and part of its success is due to its appeal to children as well as to adults. But its appeal isn’t limited to humans, as many fans report their pets enjoy watching the show as much as they do.

If you’ve noticed that your canine companion loves Bluey like you do, experts say there’s a reason for it.

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Dogs Watching ‘Bluey’

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Dogs Love the Colors in ‘Bluey’?

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@jaclynbyrne #bluey #dogsoftiktok #dogvision ♬ original sound – cj

But is there more to dogs watching Bluey than simply “colors they can see?”

‘Bluey’ in High-Def

The viral social media theory that originated on TikTok suggests that Bluey‘s animators actually use colors that are easily seen by dogs, possibly explaining why canines are seemingly drawn to the show. But is there any science behind some dogs’ affinity for the show?

Kate Mornement is an applied animal behaviorist in Victoria and says that despite what many people think, dogs are “not necessarily colorblind.”

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“But they are restricted to only seeing shades of grey, brown, yellow, and blue,” she said during an interview on ABC Victorian Mornings. “It’s because they have less [color-sensing] cones in their eyes compared to humans, so they see [fewer] colors.”

And while it’s true that the color palette seen in Bluey includes blues, yellows, and browns that dogs are able to see,  Dr. Mornement shared another theory behind some dogs’ apparent enjoyment of the children’s series, describing it as a “phenomenon.”

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“It’s a phenomenon–dogs watching TV–that’s increased in recent years, and the reason is high-definition TV,” she explained. “[Its] invention has made it much easier for dogs to see the images on the screens, and so that’s why they tend to be more interested these days than years gone past.”

So, dogs enjoy high-definition television like their human counterparts? It begs the question: Are dogs capable of actually following what’s taking place on the screen in front of them, or are they simply watching shapes and figures?

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“I’ve seen some really interesting videos on social media of dogs watching TV in different contexts, and they tend to be a lot more interested when it’s animals that they’re watching,” Dr, Mornement said. “Some dogs are intrigued, and you might see them cock their heads and stare at the TV, and other dogs might be really scared or anxious, and they’ll start barking.”

She continued, saying, “I’ve even helped clients with dogs that might jump up at the TV really aggressively because they were scared of what they were seeing.”

Credit: Ludo Studio

Credit: Ludo Studio/Disney+

“Look, everything in moderation, just like with children, is fine,” Dr. Mornement said as she laughed. “A little TV every now and then for the dog–as long as it’s not causing anxiety–is totally fine.”

In other words, a little Bluey never hurt anyone–even fellow canines!