Yes! Dogs can watch TV, and what they actually see and react to depends a lot on their personality. We have a close friend that has a golden doodle. This breed is widely known for its energy, friendliness, and just fun. They are also known to love water. However, this golden doodle? Can’t stand the sight of water. She goes absolutely nuts when she or anyone else goes near a body of water. This phobia also includes what she sees on TV. There was this show called Wipeout. You might remember that it involved obstacles. When you failed, you fell into a huge body of water. It is impossible to watch this show with this golden doodle because she loses her mind anytime she watches somebody fall into the water. She will bark, get super close to the TV and act genuinely concerned for what she sees. This led us to question: are all dogs different in how they react to TV? Is it driven by a specific dog breed? Or is it just related to the dog’s unique personality? Keep reading and we will find out together.
How Do Excitable Dogs React?
Our little Golden Doodle friend fits this category. And since we know she is very receptive to what is played on the TV, it only makes sense to explore other dogs like her. If your dog is always moving around and is very playful, this one is for you.
These pups are incredibly responsive to movement on the screen. If they see people running, they might want to run too. If they see, for example, someone falling into a huge body of water, they might get concerned.
These types of dogs also respond to what they hear as well. If they hear animal sounds, they might get curious. A lot of energetic dogs love to chase squirrels. So, if you want a fun experiment, play a YouTube video on a reasonable volume and see how your dog responds. They may even look behind your TV. If your dog goes super crazy when they see a squirrel, we recommend not trying this in your home, as some dogs could run into the TV. If you're curious how your dog might respond, think about how they react to squirrels on a walk. Now picture that response in your living room.
What about Chill Dogs?
These dogs will watch TV. However, how they respond to it is completely different when compared to the energetic dogs. If your dog is normally very calm and relaxed, there are three ways they will respond to the TV.
The Passive Watcher
The first way is what we call the passive watcher. They act like a distinguished gentleman and sit there and will just follow what is on the screen. If a ball is moving back and forth, they won’t try to chase it like the energetic dog but they might follow it with their head or eye movement.
If they hear sounds that are common to them, they might perk their head up or react to it. These sounds could include things like a whistle, someone saying their favorite snack, or any other word they have selective hearing for.
The Social Viewer
These dogs just want to spend time with you. If you watch TV regularly in a comfortable space, your dog might view this as a social cue to get comfortable. They might try to cuddle up with you or they might just lie down somewhere else and get comfortable.
They will most likely treat the TV like white noise and doze off. If whatever is playing on the TV is chill human voices or calming sounds, they might even fall into deeper sleep.
The IDC Dog
The last type of chill dog is the I don’t care dog. This mostly applies to dogs that rely heavily on their scent. We will discuss this more later for how this affects how a dog responds to the TV but once this dog realizes they can’t smell what is on the TV, they will not care at all. They might just look for a second then go back to whatever they were doing before.
Another version of the IDC dog is if they grew up or have lived around TV for a while. If this is the case, they might be less responsive to whatever is on a screen.
Sorry, Nose First Dogs, TV Ain’t For You!
We discussed this earlier but dogs that rely heavily on their scent are more likely to be less responsive to what is on the TV. This may apply for dog breeds like Bloodhounds, basset hounds, and beagles. It is hard for them to get invested into the rom-com you are watching when they can’t smell the people involved. If there is love in the air, these pups can smell it and TV doesn’t let them do that. Unfortunately, TV may not be in the cards but maybe one of those scratch-and-sniff books would work better for these dogs.
Be Careful, TV Can Overstimulate!
The last thing we want to talk about is how TV can overstimulate anxious pups. If your dog is very responsive to non-animal sounds, like doorbells, crying, or car alarms, your dog might react poorly to this when it is played on the TV. If this is your dog, the best way to handle it is to guide them to their comfortable spot, whether it is a room or maybe their bed, and be gentle. If the safe spot is in the same room as the TV, keep the location a safe distance away from the TV so the sounds do not trigger a reaction.
Can Dogs Watch TV, and What Actually Matters?
The question of can dogs watch TV is simply yes! Dogs can in fact watch TV. The question to now ask is what types of dogs watch TV and how do they respond. A dog's personality affects how they watch TV. Breed can play a small role, like with Bloodhounds. But personality is what really drives it. It is important to note that every dog is different and has their own unique personality. That’s exactly why we created Odd Pet Out, to celebrate each individual pet and what makes them them. So the next time Wipeout comes on and our golden doodle friend loses it, now you’ll know exactly why. If you want to explore how you can show off your pet, click the button below.
FAQ
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No single breed watches the most TV, personality matters far more than breed does. Herding dogs show a little more interest than others, probably because they’re wired to track movement, but researchers call that a weak pattern, not a rule. So if your dog’s glued to the screen, that’s about who they are, not what breed they are.
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Dogs are drawn most to other animals on screen, especially ones that move, bark, or howl. Around 45% of dogs react every time an animal shows up on TV, making it the single most reliable way to grab their attention. Chasing scenes, high-motion sports, and anything with an animal sound effect tend to be the biggest hits.
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Yes, it’s completely normal for a dog to watch TV, and there’s nothing to worry about either way. Some dogs get hooked on movement and sound, others barely glance up, and that range is just personality, not a problem. Whether your dog’s locked onto the screen or couldn’t care less, both are perfectly normal reactions.
