Dogs Watch TV Differently — And They Might Have Their Own Preferences
Believe it or not, your dog might not just be staring at the TV — they could actually be watching it intentionally , and even showing preferences for certain types of content. New research from Auburn University in Alabama suggests that a dog’s personality may influence how they react to what’s on the screen.
This could have real-world implications for pet care, training, and enrichment , especially for dogs left alone at home for long periods.
🔹 How the Study Was Conducted
The research team surveyed 453 dog owners whose pets had shown interest in television . Through detailed questionnaires, the researchers collected data on how dogs reacted to different types of on-screen content — including animals, vehicles, and sounds like doorbells or engines.
The study found that dogs with more excitable personalities were more likely to follow moving objects on screen. In contrast, dogs that were more fearful or anxious responded more to non-animal stimuli, such as cars or doorbells ringing.
As the researchers put it:
“These results suggest that television viewing habits may be predicted by aspects of a dog’s personality.”
🔹 What Do Dogs Actually Watch on TV?
While dogs may not be watching sitcoms or dramas, they do seem to respond differently to various types of visual and auditory stimuli .
The study found that:
- Dogs were more likely to react to animals on screen than to objects like cars.
- The average TV-watching session lasted just over 14 minutes .
- Dogs didn’t seem to distinguish much between visual and auditory cues — what was shown or heard mattered less than what was shown or heard.
Interestingly, factors like age, sex, and breed had little impact on how dogs interacted with TV. Even the length of exposure didn’t change their responses significantly.
🔹 Why This Matters for Dog Owners
This research opens up a new way to think about how dogs experience the world — even through a screen.
The team introduced the Dog Television Viewing Scale (DTVS) , a tool that helps assess what dogs pay attention to when watching TV. This could be useful in several ways:
- Shelters could tailor TV content based on a dog’s temperament.
- Pet owners can use TV as a form of mental enrichment .
- Content creators might design better programming for dogs — yes, dog TV channels already exist!
The researchers concluded:
“Engagement with television could provide dogs with an enriching, meaningful experience.”
🔹 Limitations and the Road Ahead
It’s important to note that this study focused on dogs that already showed interest in TV , and the data was based on owner reports , which may not reflect all dogs.
Still, this study adds valuable insight into how our pets perceive the world — and how we can use that knowledge to improve their well-being.
🔹 Final Thoughts
So, do dogs really watch TV — and do they have favorites? The answer seems to be: maybe .
While they’re not binge-watching nature documentaries for the storytelling, their personalities and instincts do shape how they interact with what’s on the screen. And that’s something pet owners and animal behaviorists alike can use to make life better for our four-legged friends.
The full study has been published in Scientific Reports .
