Dr. Freya Mowat, a renowned veterinary ophthalmologist, embarked on an intriguing exploration into the television habits of dogs. Conducting a survey with over 1,200 dog owners, Dr. Mowat sought to uncover the types of content that capture canine attention. Her findings reveal that dogs are particularly drawn to watching other dogs on screen, with this content ranking at the top of their preferences. While dogs express an interest in watching various animals, they show little enthusiasm for human-centric programming.
Sporting and herding breeds stand out for their broader viewing habits, engaging with all types of content more than other breeds. Approximately 10% of dog owners reported that their pets enjoy cartoons and animated films, particularly those featuring animals. This phenomenon may be partly attributed to the high-resolution screens of modern televisions, which flicker less than their predecessors, allowing dogs to focus more clearly on the moving images.
Dr. Mowat's research highlights that 78% of dogs approach the TV when intrigued by what they see. Furthermore, 76% of these dogs respond vocally to the content, often reacting to quadrupedal movement such as animals moving on four legs. Action and sci-fi genres, known for their dynamic onscreen motion, also capture the attention of dogs when watched alongside their owners.
"Most dogs most like watching dogs – just like people like watching people, I guess," – Dr. Freya Mowat
The survey provided insights into how different types of content affect canine viewers. While many owners noted their dogs' preference for watching other dogs, leaving canines alone with the TV might lead to overstimulation or stress for some pets. Dr. Mowat advises caution, suggesting that pet owners should observe their dogs' reactions to ensure they are not overwhelmed by what they watch.
"If you’re watching your dog watch TV and they seem to be happy or excited, rather than overwhelmed, then sure. But 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," – Dr. Freya Mowat
Interestingly, certain animated films have gained popularity among canine viewers, although Dr. Mowat questions whether this trend can be attributed to viral social media influence rather than genuine interest from the dogs themselves.
"A lot of people mentioned movies like The Lion King, The Secret Life of Pets, Lady and the Tramp. But this could be down to the viral TikTok-iness of it – everybody’s seen a video of a dog watching The Lion King so they show it to their own dog," – Dr. Freya Mowat
Dr. Mowat's research delves into the reasons why dogs might engage with television. She theorizes that dogs watch TV to determine its realism, often moving closer to inspect whether the onscreen images are worthy of attention.
"We watch TV for enjoyment, for emotional realism, for whatever personal preferences we have. I think dogs watch TV because they’re checking if it is real," – Dr. Freya Mowat
"There’s a reason why dogs go over and sniff the butts of the animals on the screen – they’re looking for the realism and wondering whether it’s worth paying attention to, in case it’s real," – Dr. Freya Mowat
Dr. Mowat's approach involved designing content specifically tailored to canine viewers, acknowledging that traditional methods such as reading an eye chart are not feasible for dogs.
"We needed to design content that was interesting to dogs, because we can’t have them read an eye chart," – Dr. Freya Mowat
"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," – Dr. Freya Mowat
She also notes the potential influence of dog owners' perceptions on their pets' viewing habits. For instance, hunting dogs may appear interested in bird-related content due to their natural instincts or because their owners project these preferences onto them.
"Conceptually, it makes sense if you have a hunting dog it would like birds. But it could be that you are choosing to show them birds because you are projecting, or that you pay more attention when your dog engages with birds. We just don’t know yet," – Dr. Freya Mowat
Despite the popularity of animated films featuring animals, Dr. Mowat contends that cartoon animals hold little significance for dogs since they don't exist in reality.
"Cartoon animals don’t mean anything to them, because they don’t exist in the real world," – Dr. Freya Mowat