Ever notice your dog freeze during a car chase scene? A 2025 study published in Scientific Reports suggests it might not be a coincidence. Using the newly developed Dog Television Viewing Scale – a set of 16 questions designed to track canine responses to screen content – researchers surveyed 453 dog owners across the U.S.
The results showed that 45% of dogs reacted to images or sounds of other dogs on TV. While breed, age, and sex didn’t appear to influence their reactions, personality played a significant role. Excitable dogs were more likely to follow moving objects on screen and even peek behind the TV in search of off-screen animals. Study coauthor Lane Montgomery, a cognitive and behavioral scientist, observed this behavior in her dog, Jax, who especially enjoys watching dog shows. In contrast, more anxious dogs tended to respond negatively to sounds like doorbells or doors opening.
Coauthor Jeffrey Katz explained that dogs haven’t always seen TV the way humans do. Older cathode-ray tube TVs had slower flicker rates, causing dogs to see flashing still images rather than smooth video. Modern LED screens, however, display video at a high enough resolution and speed for dogs to perceive continuous motion, making TV more watchable for them.
Experts also believe dogs may respond to TV partly due to their owners’ emotions. For instance, a Labrador might appear excited during a football game simply because its owner is cheering.
So next time you turn on the TV, watch your pup’s reaction. If their ears perk up and eyes lock on the screen, you might have found a new binge-watching companion. Just keep in mind that while TV can be engaging for some dogs, it may be overstimulating for more sensitive ones.