Recent research from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Calcutta reveals that street dogs exhibit a strong preference for yellow over other colors, even when food is present. This groundbreaking study sheds light on how dogs perceive their environment and may challenge previous assumptions about their decision-making.
Key findings from the study include:
In tests with 76 dogs, 42 chose yellow bowls containing biscuits over grey or blue bowls.
When no food was present, 30 out of 58 dogs still preferred empty yellow bowls.
Even when offered chicken in grey bowls, 47 out of 61 dogs opted for empty yellow bowls.
Professor Anindita Bhadra, who supervised the study, noted that the dogs' preference for yellow suggests they may rely more on visual cues than their well-known sense of smell. This insight is particularly intriguing considering that earlier research indicated dogs have dichromatic vision, primarily distinguishing blue and yellow.
The researchers speculate that this preference could stem from long-term exposure to common colors in their environment, such as turmeric or red chili, often found in food scraps. This study, which has been accepted for publication in the journal Animal Cognition, opens the door for further investigation into canine color perception.