I recently asked friends with a dog whether their pet watched TV and if so,  which programmes their dog preferred. They (the friends) were rather dismissive, but the question was prompted by reading research undertaken by the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, to develop better, more sensitive clinical eye tests for pets.

The research revealed that the content viewed, breed and age of the dogs involved in the research had the greatest impact on their viewing habits.  Sporting and herding breeds showed greater interaction and watched TV more.

Video content featuring other animals was most frequently watched, with footage of other dogs by far the most engaging. Humans involved in the content ranked relatively low in appeal.

Younger dogs displayed greater engagement with TV than older dogs, an important difference linked to age-related changes in vision.

It is hoped the research will lead to better visual testing for dogs, using engaging video triggers to build functional canine eye charts.

It is also hoped that because dogs share our environment and age much faster than humans, tracking visual decline in dogs may provide early warning signs for the environmental and lifestyle factors that impact on human eyesight.

Watch this space!