We used to set a timer on our lights to come on when it started getting dark, so Mindy wouldn’t be left in the dar. If you’ve wondered “can Pugs see in the dark?” you’re not alone. Today, we’re going to take a look at whether dogs can see at night and what if you should leave the light on for them.
Can Pugs See In The Dark?
The short answer is that dogs have better night vision than humans, but not as good as our feline friends. If your Pug is left alone at night, you should consider leaving a light on for them.
Canines were bred to see well in both bright and dim light.
According to a Clinical Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a dog’s vision is five times better in dimmer settings than humans. Of course, this depends on the age of your Pug and whether or not they are suffering from eye problems such as blindness or etc.
Do Dogs See In The Dark?
A canines ability to see in the darkness stems from their eye structure. They have large pupils, which allows more light to enter. The eye retina of a dog contains a lot of light-and-motion sensitive cells called rods.
Rods in a dog’s eyes will help distinguish light from shadows. Canine’s eyes contain a mirror-like membrane called a tapetum lucidum near the rear of the eye, which is common on nocturnal predator animals such as cats, fish, and birds.
The tapetum lucidum is the structure in your Pug’s eyes that causes them to reflect and appear yellow or green when caught in a beam of light at night.
This phenomenon is known as eyeshine and can look eerie when you see glow-in-the-dark eyes when you’re outside with your pet.
Can Dogs See In The Dark Better Than Cats?
When it comes to night vision, cats rule over dogs. Felines have an amazing nocturnal vision and only require seven times less light than people to make their way around in the dark.
This is why your cats play at night while you’re sleeping because they can see extremely well.
Do Dogs Like to Sleep With The Light On or Off?
Pugs love sleeping, in fact, you can read this article to find out about a Pug’s sleeping habits. Since Pugs sleep so much, they are generally sleeping during the daylight as well as at night.
If you have a Pug, you know that there isn’t much that can disturb their sleep. Mindy would sleep in the same room as we did, just on her own canine bed, I highly recommend investing in a good quality canine bed for your Pug.
We never kept a night light on for her. In fact, we always slept in the dark and she would just stay in her bed throughout the night until we got up in the morning.
If we left the house and she was home alone during the evening, we would set a timer on the lights, so she wouldn’t be in the house while it was pitch dark when no one was home.
Should I Leave The TV On For My Dog When I’m Not Home?
If your Pug hates being home alone or gets bored easily, then leaving the TV or radio on can be a great idea. However, if your Pug suffers from separation anxiety, the extra noise won’t help them overcome their problems.
The human voices can help deter your dog from being bored. We used to turn the TV on the National Geographic channel or dog shows when we left Mindy during the day.
It’s also a good idea to leave some of their favorite toys where they can easily reach them. I’ve put together some of Mindy’s favorite toys, you can check them out here.
Do Dogs Sleep Better In The Dark?
Most Pugs will be fine sleeping in the dark, especially, if you let them sleep in the same room as you. If you sleep in the dark, they will be fine sleeping in the dark. As I mentioned, we never had any issues when Mindy slept in the dark.
Of course, some dogs will fear the dark, especially, if they’ve had a traumatic past.
As a pet owner, you need to find out whether your Pug is afraid of the dark.
Signs Your Pug Is Scared of Sleeping In The Dark
If your Pug is scared of the dark, you should be able to spot some signs and they are:
Destructive Behavior: You might notice them excessively chewing, digging or tearing things up when it gets close to bedtime at night.
Excessive Noises: Some canines will bark, whine, or make excessive noises at night before bedtime.
Hiding: If you notice your Pug hiding in the closet or bathroom when you start getting ready for bed.
Startled by Outside Noises: You’ll notice that your Pug becomes easily frightened whenever they hear noises outside at night.
Most of these behavioral issues will usually happen during the night when you start getting ready for bed. If they bark excessively when you leave during the day, it could be because your dog hates being alone.
Should You Leave A Light On For Your Dog At NIght?
If you’re the type of person who needs to sleep with a night light or your kids do and your Pug sleeps in their room, then leave the night light on.
Your Pug should be able to sleep in both the light and dark. If they’ve been sleeping in the dark, then don’t change up the routine.
Like humans, they get used to a routine and changing up their sleeping habits can cause them to lose sleep and become uncomfortable during the night.
Should I Leave A Light On For My Puppy At Night?
It’s not unusual to leave a light on for a Pug puppy, especially, if they tend to cry at night. It’s extremely common for puppies to suffer from separation anxiety when they are small.
Most new pet owners will turn the light on at night to help make their pup feel more comfortable. Unfortunately, the light may or may not help your new Pug puppy feel more comfortable at night.
The truth is that with time, your pup will become more comfortable sleeping at night. I know that it’s hard to watch your new family member whine at night while you’re sleeping.
There’s nothing wrong with using a night light to try to help your pup sleep better at night. However, a night light doesn’t always mean that your pup will sleep better.
Sometimes you just have to wait out those uncomfortable nights until your pup gets used to sleeping alone at night in the dark or the light.
Related Articles To A Pugs Sleeping Habits
References and Further Reading
Animal Planet – Can Dogs See In The Dark
Science Daily – How Well Do Dogs See At Night
The University of Wisconsin – Curiosities: How Well Do Dogs See At Night?