Most of us want to get out in the yard or park and play with our dogs, but have you noticed that your dog isn’t interested in the dog toys you’re bringing home? There are breed differences, as some dogs, like Afghan Hounds, are just not Retrievers and will almost never fetch a toy, no matter the color.
Most dogs, however, do love to fetch. And if your pup isn’t playing with the toys you buy, it might not be about the shape or smell; it could be because they can’t see the toy’s color. Understanding what colors dogs can see (and the toy colors dogs can’t see) can make a big difference in how much they enjoy playtime.
Here, we’ll explore the worst color of toy to buy for dogs, the best toy colors for dogs and share some expert tips from veterinarians on choosing the right dog toys for fetch, tug and play to keep your pup happy and engaged.
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The Toy Color You Should Never Buy for Dogs and Why
So, what’s the one color of toy you should never buy for your dog? Many pet companies sell dog toys in bright shades like red, orange, or green, colors that stand out to humans but not to dogs. While these toys may look vibrant to us, they’re far less exciting to your pup. Because dogs are red-green colorblind, those colors all appear as dull shades of gray or brown in their eyes.
If you’re playing fetch in the park or backyard, green is the worst color for dog toys. When you toss a green ball or rope toy into the grass, your dog can barely tell it apart from the background. Even natural retrievers may lose interest or seem confused simply because they can’t see the toy clearly.
Green is among the worst toy colors for dogs, especially on the grass.
The Best Toy Colors for Dogs
If you want a toy that your dogs can see, it should be blue or yellow. Dogs can see these colors okay, even better if they’re next to each other.
The designers of agility courses for dogs use this knowledge to paint jump bars. They’re often solid blue or black with a yellow stripe.
When it comes to picking out a color for the food bowls, a blue or yellow dish may also become a favorite. Red bowls are just another shade of gray.
Why Do Dogs See These Colors the Best?
We humans see everything in three colors, but dogs only see two. Some animals, like parrots, actually see more colors than we do. Dogs are dichromats, humans are trichromats and parrots are tetrachromats since they can see what we can, plus ultraviolet light.
Dichromats can only see a few colors, so only blue and yellow toys can be spotted easily, and all others are just a shade of gray.
Toys with blues and yellows are more easily seen by dogs.
Tips for Choosing the Best Toys for Dogs
Besides choosing a toy in a color your dog can see, you should also choose a toy for its texture, its smell and for those dogs with a high prey drive, its similarity to prey.
I think dogs prefer to play with soft, fuzzy stuffed animals more than rubber toys, and small, fake prey animals seem to be favorites. Not everyone likes to see it, but some dog breeds will have a lot more fun with a blue toy that smells like it’s been chewed on and flops around like a little hamster or baby bunny.
My dogs are especially destructive, so I usually make up toys for them at home. They destroy the “indestructible” toys sold in pet shops in less than an hour, and even the stuffed toys that are sold for dogs like Belgian Malinois and Jack Russell Terriers usually last less than 10 minutes.
Stuffed toys made for Golden Retrievers and Labradors don’t even last that long.
Related: 8 Sweet Words That Make Your Dog Feel Loved, According to a Trainer
How to Make Your Own Dog Toy
To make a toy, I buy about 3 feet of blue rope, cut it in half and then knot it together so that there are four equal ends, sort of like a cross. On the knots in the middle, I tie on a few sections of a yellow cotton hand towel (I just buy a few and make long strips about 4 inches wide) so that it looks kind of like an octopus.
Over the knots, I like to loop a thin rope and tie it off several times so that the knots of the towel are covered in this thin rope. If I leave the knots uncovered by the thin rope, the dogs tear it up too fast, so this is an important step if you have a destructive dog.
This homemade contraption is not the prettiest toy in the world, but even my dogs can’t tear it up right away. There’s no stuffing and no limbs to pull off like with a regular stuffed animal, so maybe it’s just that they get bored before they destroy it!
Here’s a short video of a rope toy that lasts a while, even with a destructive dog. Since it’s yellow and blue, dogs can see it, and since the thicker rope is striped, the contrast makes it even more visible.
This story was originally reported by Parade Pets on Oct 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the Dogs section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.