Do I need to leave the light on? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Esme's Mommy · 04-14-2005, 01:39 PM

Esme is now sleeping in her own bed, rather than her locked crate at night. For the past week, we have left the kitchen light on so she can find her way to the pee pad in the living room. Don't think this is a far walk, we have an extremely tiny house. We're newleyweds, so it's just me, my husband and Esme in our tiny two bedroom and the living room is a few short steps away.

I like to sleep in complete darkness and although I would sacrafice that for the happiness and well being of my puppy, is it necessary for me to leave the light on? My husband insists that she can see perfectly well without it because dogs have excellent vision, but is this true?? Do you leave a light on for your yorkie???
Mari

Breeze · 04-14-2005, 01:43 PM

If you think she needs the light on pehaps you could get a small night light. It would still be light enough for her to see but not too bright for you. Sometimes you can find pink or blue light bulbs for them that give a gentle glow.

Anjlka · 04-14-2005, 01:48 PM

Dogs have excellent night vision, a trait crucial to their predatory ancestors. The minimum threshold of light dogs require for vision is about five or six times lower than that of humans. So your pooch won't be stumbling around in the dark if you don't leave a light on for him.

Unlike our eyes, a dog's eyes are designed to function well in low-light conditions. Both canines and humans (and many other animals) have two types of light-sensitive cells in the retina called rods and cones. These cells respond to light and process visual information, which is transferred to the brain for interpretation. Rods work best in dim light and can detect motion. Cones are used in bright light to detect color and details.

The retinas of dogs are dominated by rods, allowing them to see very well with very little light. They can also sense small motions, which helps make them good hunters. However, dogs have about one-tenth of the cones that humans do, so they don't see color in the same way we do.

DomLee · 04-14-2005, 01:48 PM

I agree w/ the night light idea. We have at least one placed in every room of the house...so that our yorkie can see. That, and we can see if we get up at night...

Victri · 04-14-2005, 01:55 PM

Wow Anjika that is some knowledge thank you, I didn't know all that.

As far as the night light I haven't a clue, Sydnee if I don't turn the light off when we go to bed, and say I just want to read, crawls under the covers so the light doesn't bother her. She was happy just to snuggle on my chest and sleep now she has found that she can think independently of Mom and do things she wants, and if she doesn't want to snuggle or be bothered then she crawls under her blanket or mine.

Anjlka · 04-14-2005, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victri

Wow Anjika that is some knowledge thank you, I didn't know all that.

As far as the night light I haven't a clue, Sydnee if I don't turn the light off when we go to bed, and say I just want to read, crawls under the covers so the light doesn't bother her. She was happy just to snuggle on my chest and sleep now she has found that she can think independently of Mom and do things she wants, and if she doesn't want to snuggle or be bothered then she crawls under her blanket or mine.

I can't really take the credit I just did a search on "can dogs see in the dark".. But thanks anyway

whispersmom2 · 04-14-2005, 04:19 PM

I like the night light idea. Of course, I like it for myself too. I don't know if the critters actually like it or not. I never thought to ask..LOL

Missy's Mommy · 04-14-2005, 04:50 PM

I've wondered the same question, my little Max sure can find his way around the dark! But I leave a night light out for him just incase..

Laura · 04-14-2005, 08:44 PM

When I put a night light on for the babies, it made them bark and want to get up. They have always slept in a cage together, it is a 4 x 4' and they run for it when I say bedtime. Their puppy pad is gone now, they are both one and stopped using it-no night accidents-hurray!

Esme's Mommy · 04-15-2005, 02:35 AM

Just wanted to let you guys know that we didn't leave any lights on last night, and Esme actually slept better! For the first few nights, she seemed kind of restless, scratching her bed, chewing on a stuffed animal. Last night, I didn't hear a thing... Maybe the light was bothering her too??

Either that or the complete darkness helped me to sleep better! Either way, it worked well! Thanks for all the info.

Harbinger · 04-15-2005, 03:15 AM

I don't have the night light in the bedroom on for Sheila, it's for me so I don't step on her!

04-14-2005, 01:39 PM	#1
Esme's Mommy Esme's My Princess Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Miami Posts: 754	Do I need to leave the light on? Esme is now sleeping in her own bed, rather than her locked crate at night. For the past week, we have left the kitchen light on so she can find her way to the pee pad in the living room. Don't think this is a far walk, we have an extremely tiny house. We're newleyweds, so it's just me, my husband and Esme in our tiny two bedroom and the living room is a few short steps away. I like to sleep in complete darkness and although I would sacrafice that for the happiness and well being of my puppy, is it necessary for me to leave the light on? My husband insists that she can see perfectly well without it because dogs have excellent vision, but is this true?? Do you leave a light on for your yorkie??? Mari __________________ Esme & Mari

04-14-2005, 01:43 PM	#2
Breeze Puppy Luv Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,678	If you think she needs the light on pehaps you could get a small night light. It would still be light enough for her to see but not too bright for you. Sometimes you can find pink or blue light bulbs for them that give a gentle glow. Last edited by Breeze; 04-14-2005 at 01:50 PM.

04-14-2005, 01:55 PM	#5
Victri Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 197	Wow Anjika that is some knowledge thank you, I didn't know all that. As far as the night light I haven't a clue, Sydnee if I don't turn the light off when we go to bed, and say I just want to read, crawls under the covers so the light doesn't bother her. She was happy just to snuggle on my chest and sleep now she has found that she can think independently of Mom and do things she wants, and if she doesn't want to snuggle or be bothered then she crawls under her blanket or mine. __________________ ~~Sydnee's Mommie-Viki~~

04-15-2005, 02:35 AM	#10
Esme's Mommy Esme's My Princess Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Miami Posts: 754	Just wanted to let you guys know that we didn't leave any lights on last night, and Esme actually slept better! For the first few nights, she seemed kind of restless, scratching her bed, chewing on a stuffed animal. Last night, I didn't hear a thing... Maybe the light was bothering her too?? Either that or the complete darkness helped me to sleep better! Either way, it worked well! Thanks for all the info. __________________ Esme & Mari

04-14-2005, 01:48 PM	#3
Anjlka Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 55	Dogs have excellent night vision, a trait crucial to their predatory ancestors. The minimum threshold of light dogs require for vision is about five or six times lower than that of humans. So your pooch won't be stumbling around in the dark if you don't leave a light on for him. Unlike our eyes, a dog's eyes are designed to function well in low-light conditions. Both canines and humans (and many other animals) have two types of light-sensitive cells in the retina called rods and cones. These cells respond to light and process visual information, which is transferred to the brain for interpretation. Rods work best in dim light and can detect motion. Cones are used in bright light to detect color and details. The retinas of dogs are dominated by rods, allowing them to see very well with very little light. They can also sense small motions, which helps make them good hunters. However, dogs have about one-tenth of the cones that humans do, so they don't see color in the same way we do.

04-14-2005, 01:48 PM	#4
DomLee YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 300	I agree w/ the night light idea. We have at least one placed in every room of the house...so that our yorkie can see. That, and we can see if we get up at night...

04-14-2005, 04:19 PM	#7
whispersmom2 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MD Posts: 2,985	I like the night light idea. Of course, I like it for myself too. I don't know if the critters actually like it or not. I never thought to ask..LOL

04-14-2005, 04:50 PM	#8
Missy's Mommy Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 1,042	I've wondered the same question, my little Max sure can find his way around the dark! But I leave a night light out for him just incase..

04-14-2005, 08:44 PM	#9
Laura Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wylie TX Posts: 1,577	When I put a night light on for the babies, it made them bark and want to get up. They have always slept in a cage together, it is a 4 x 4' and they run for it when I say bedtime. Their puppy pad is gone now, they are both one and stopped using it-no night accidents-hurray!

04-15-2005, 03:15 AM	#11
Harbinger Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 371	I don't have the night light in the bedroom on for Sheila, it's for me so I don't step on her!