Gifted Dogs Can Learn Hundreds of Toy Names Through Eavesdropping
Some clever dogs have the remarkable ability to learn the names of hundreds of toys just by overhearing their owners’ conversations. A team of researchers led by cognitive scientist Shany Dror from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary discovered that Gifted Word Learner dogs can pick up on object names purely through passive listening, even when the toy is out of sight.
Similar to how young children learn language by overhearing adult conversations, these Gifted Word Learner dogs demonstrate an impressive capacity for word learning. One famous example is Chaser, a border collie who could accurately retrieve 1,022 toys by name, earning her the title of the “smartest dog in the world.”
Insights into Canine Psychology
While dogs like Chaser are rare, their abilities provide a fascinating glimpse into canine psychology. In a study conducted by Dror and her team, ten gifted dogs were tested on their ability to learn new toy names through passive observation.
After watching their owners discuss new toys for four days, the dogs were able to accurately retrieve the toys based on the names they had overheard. This experiment showcased the dogs’ impressive capacity for word learning through eavesdropping.
Learning Names of Hidden Toys
In another test, the researchers investigated whether dogs could learn the names of toys that were hidden from view. By placing a new toy in a bucket while the dog watched, the owners then asked the dog if they wanted the toy by referring to it with a name, even though the toy was concealed.
Five out of the eight participating dogs successfully identified the hidden toy by name, demonstrating their ability to learn object names even when the object was out of sight. This finding suggests that dogs possess cognitive processes similar to those of young children when it comes to word learning.
Implications of the Study
While not all dogs exhibit these exceptional word-learning abilities, the study highlights the cognitive flexibility of some canine companions. Breed is not a determining factor in whether a dog is a Gifted Word Learner, emphasizing the unique capabilities of individual dogs.
Dror notes, “Our findings show that the socio-cognitive processes enabling word learning from overheard speech are not uniquely human. Under the right conditions, some dogs display behaviors that closely resemble those of young children.”
This groundbreaking research was published in the journal Science, shedding light on the remarkable language skills of some gifted dogs.
