Dogs see the world very differently from human beings - here's how it works

As humans, how we perceive the world is how we define our own reality. And for the vast majority of humans, perception is handled through sight. 

Ben Gilbert / Business Insider

Without sight, this would be a lively intersection and not a breathtaking view.

Your hearing, and your senses of smell, taste, and touch also play roles - no doubt - but sight is the most immediate way we experience the world around us. 

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This isn't the case for dogs.

Getty / Matt Cardy

The adorable snout on your pup isn't just for petting - dogs "see" the world with their nose first. "We assume that non-human animals' perception would be kind of like ours, but simpler," dog cognition researcher Dr. Alexandra Horowitz told me in an interview earlier this year.

But that isn't the case. Instead, dogs "see" the world through smells. Here's how it works.