Researchers Asked 1,200 Owners What Their Dogs Watch. Other Dogs Won.

What do dogs most like watching on TV?

Dogs appear especially interested in videos of other dogs. Researchers led by Freya Mowat at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine explored this in a study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science. Their international owner questionnaire received 1,600 responses, of which 1,246 were complete.

Animal footage was the strongest category overall, with other dogs the clear favorite. Human figures came ninth out of 17 categories. This is not a vote your dog cast directly. It is a report of what owners noticed, which is useful but not the same as watching every dog under controlled conditions.

Do dogs prefer moving images to still pictures?

Movement is a major part of what holds a dog’s attention. A dog running across a field may be more interesting than a close-up of a person talking. Fast movement can grab attention, though it does not always create a pleasant experience.

You can test this without turning viewing into a task. Play a short clip with animals moving naturally. See whether your dog notices it, stays comfortably nearby or simply gets up and walks away. A dog who ignores the screen is not missing an essential activity.

Do dogs watch cartoons or only real animals?

Some dogs do watch cartoons. In the owner questionnaire, cartoons engaged more than 10% of dogs. So animated characters can work, even if real dogs and other animals tend to attract stronger interest overall.

That does not tell us which animation style is best for every dog. Clear silhouettes and readable motion are reasonable things to try. Highly frantic edits and loud effects may be less suitable for a dog who is easily excited.

Are some dog breeds more interested in TV?

Herding and hunting breeds tended to watch more than other breeds in the questionnaire. That is a pattern, not a prediction about your particular dog. Age, experience and personality may affect what happens in your living room.

Siesta creates dog-focused cartoons and live streams, using blue-and-yellow colors and movement as creative starting points. They are an option to try, not a requirement for a dog’s wellbeing.