The Siberian Husky is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. The animal has descended from wolves of Siberia and is famous for its wolf-like appearance. Many huskies also have piercing blue eyes, and are able to navigate in frigid cold environments. The Siberian Husky has risen in popularity to become one of the most commonly found dog breeds in the world.

However, you need to understand that the Siberian Husky is not color blind. It’s a common misconception that many people have, especially when they compare the dog’s eyesight with other animals. Compared to human beings, the Siberian Husky actually has inferior vision. These dogs are unable to differentiate between multiple colors, and they often have difficulty in judging the difference in brightness levels.

What’s Color Blindness?

Before we proceed further, it is important to understand that color blindness does not mean that the dogs can’t see any color at all. Basically, what this means is that the dog is unable to perceive colors in a normal fashion like most other animals, and humans. When we talk about normal, we primarily refer to the way humans perceive colors.

Typically, being color blind means being unable to distinguish between the greens and the reds, both of which combine to form various other colors. So, even though most people might think that being color blind actually means not being able to see several other colors and only viewing things in black and white, that is simply not how it is.

What About Colors the Husky Can’t View?

Now, you should know that like most other dog breeds, the Husky is unable to distinguish between the greens and the reds. To clarify things, it’s important to note that while the Husky can see objects of either red and green, the real problem occurs when the dog tries to distinguish between the two colors and identify things that are either red or green. So, are Siberian Huskies color blind? Not really.

If you were to put two rubber balls before the Siberian Husky, one green and the other red, the dog will have a bit of a problem being able to distinguish between the two. The Husky’s spectrum primarily includes many shades of blue and yellow. So, you might be able to figure out just how the problem arises and makes it difficult for the animal.

When the dog looks at the two rubber balls, they are only going to see two distinct balls looking like different shades of yellow. But, you should know that this doesn’t cause any kind of impediment for the animal because they are able to see things pretty well around them.

Is Their Eyesight Better Than Humans?

One important thing that you need to consider is the Husky’s eyesight. You might have noticed that Huskies don’t really have incredibly sharp eyesight, and this often becomes a problem. The simple fact of the matter is that their eyes are constructed in a slightly different manner when compared with humans.

For starters, they are not able to see things as clearly as humans. They are generally short-sighted animals, and they will have difficulty in distinguishing between brightness levels as well as distinguishing between different colors. However, there’s no reason for you to feel sorry about the animal because this is all they know.

Can Huskies See in the Dark?

A common question that many people ask is whether Huskies can see in the dark. Thankfully, you should know that these animals are able to see things in a better way than most humans in low light conditions. First of all, the main reason for this is because the animal has larger pupils, which allows more light to filter in.

If you know a thing or two about telescopes and optics, you might already know the difference with having a larger lens. This just allows more light in, and that is a good thing for the animal. On top of that, the Husky’s retina also has more rods than humans, which allows them to work in a much better fashion in low-light conditions.

According to an estimate, these dogs are able to see in lights that are five times dimmer than the light humans are able to see in. While this might be impressive in itself, you should know that cats have a much better eyesight, allowing them to see in near-dark conditions and making it easier for them to move around.

Their Eyesight Compared with Humans

There is actually quite a bit of difference in the eyesight of a Siberian Husky and a human being. There are essentially two receptors in both the dog’s eyes and ours, which are capable of detecting colors. These are the rods and the cones. The cones are designed to allow daylight and can also process information related to color.

You should know that light travels at various wavelengths, and each cone is capable of detecting a different wavelength. The rods are able to manage the light, and also allow the animal to distinguish between various shades of grey, usually the ones that tend to appear as the evening turns into night.

The major difference between our eyes and that of a Husky is that we have three different receptors in our eyes, which allow us to see all shades of the visible spectrum. Apart from that, we have already talked about the difference in the animal’s perception of brightness as well as their inability to see major foundation colors.

What Does the Dog Do About Its Eyesight?

How does the dog compensate for its near-sightedness? First and foremost, you should know that the Siberian Husky has a very acute sense of smell. In fact, their nose is almost 10,000 better than humans, allowing it to easily identify all kinds of scents and things around it. That is one of the main reasons why the animal is able to easily identify things around it without having to look.

Think of it this way: if you could smell something that is a quarter of a mile away, your Husky will be able to smell something that is almost 2,500 miles away. This analogy can be used to give you a better idea about just how powerful their sense of smell is. That is also one of the main reasons why this dog is able to survive so efficiently in open spaces.

However, you should know that this acute sense of smell may prove to be a bit problematic for you. It is important for you to take care of the energy levels of the dog, because these animals tend to get really active. You are going to have to take the dog out for a run, and it’s also important that you learn how to manage its energy levels appropriately.

These are just a few things that you should know about taking care of your dog and making sure that it remains healthy and active. As you can see, these animals are not color blind!