Can Dogs Watch TV? Bobo Explains
Bobo & Mommy ·
There's a dog on the screen, and suddenly your dog is locked in, head tilting, maybe a hopeful little bark. Are they really watching? We asked the one expert who never misses an episode.
Bobo's review
Hey Bobo, what are you doing? I'm watching the dogs but...
But what? They're playing without me. And when I bark, they never bark back. Woof.
They look like they're having fun. A lot of fun. Bobo wants to play too.
But Bobo, the dogs are on TV. I know. They live inside the magic window. They run a lot, but they never come out.
Does that bother you? A little bit. I want to sniff them.
Did you try? Yes. I sniffed the magic window lots of times. Very close. It smelled very different. No grass smell. No dog smell. No story.
What are you gonna do? I'll keep watching them. In case they come out. I want to say hi first.
The magic window. We'll never call it a TV again.
So can dogs actually watch TV?
Bobo's right to be suspicious of that window. Here's the real science:
- Yes, dogs can see the screen. Modern TVs refresh fast enough that dogs perceive smooth motion, where older sets just looked like a flicker to them.
- They're drawn to other animals. Dogs are most likely to react to moving animals and especially other dogs, which is exactly what hooks Bobo every time.
- But it's missing the best part: smell. A dog's world runs on scent. The "magic window" has none, which is why it never quite satisfies. No grass smell, no dog smell, no story.
So your dog really is watching, in their own way. They just wish they could sniff the cast.
Watch Bobo's full interview
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Love, Bobo & Mommy 💛