A recent study by the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) delved into an intriguing question: What would dogs watch on TV if they had control over the remote? While this question might seem whimsical, the study, led by Dr. Freya Mowat, a veterinary ophthalmologist at the SVM's Department of Surgical Sciences, had a more profound purpose. It aimed to address a critical gap in veterinary medicine – the need for more sensitive methods to assess vision in dogs.

Dr. Mowat explains the limitations of current vision assessment techniques for dogs, likening them to a rudimentary check for blindness in humans. She believes that videos could hold the key to maintaining a dog's attention long enough to evaluate visual function effectively. The research, therefore, sought to understand what types of video content are most appealing to our canine companions.

The study, published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, uncovered that dogs are predominantly interested in videos featuring other animals, particularly those of their own species. This discovery opens up potential for more nuanced and engaging ways to assess canine vision.

To gather data, Dr. Mowat designed a comprehensive web-based survey for dog owners worldwide, focusing on their pets' interactions with screen-based content. The survey covered various aspects, from the types of screens in homes to the specific content that garnered the most interest from dogs. Owners reported a range of behaviors exhibited by their pets while watching screens, categorizing them as either 'active' (like running and jumping) or 'passive' (such as lying or sitting). Vocal responses were also noted.

A fascinating part of the study involved showing dogs four short videos featuring different subjects – a panther, a dog, a bird, and moving traffic. Owners then rated their dogs' interest levels and how attentively they followed the on-screen action.

With over 1,600 participants globally, the study yielded some compelling findings. Age and vision appeared to influence how much a dog interacted with a screen. Sporting and herding breeds seemed more inclined to watch any content, and videos featuring animals, especially other dogs, were overwhelmingly popular. Interestingly, humans ranked low on the list of engaging subjects for dogs, and cartoons captivated over 10% of the canine audience.

Dr. Mowat plans to leverage these findings to develop video-based methods for assessing changes in visual attention in dogs as they age. She also aims to explore how canine vision aging compares with that of their human companions. This research could provide insights into environmental or lifestyle factors affecting visual aging, potentially making dogs early indicators of such changes.

This groundbreaking study was supported by various grants, including an NIH career development grant to Dr. Mowat, a Companion Animal Fund Grant from the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, a grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., and a core grant for Vision Research from the NIH to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.