Certain dogs possess the remarkable ability to learn the names of objects simply by overhearing conversations, according to new research. Scientists at the University for Veterinary Medicine in Vienna have found that 'gifted word learner' dogs can pick up labels for toys by listening to their owners talk about them, without direct interaction.
The study, published in the journal Science, involved ten dogs known for their exceptional word-learning skills, including border collies, a border collie-mix rescue, and a labrador. In one experiment, each dog was introduced to two new toys directly, with the name repeated multiple times. In another, family members passed the toys between each other using their names while ensuring the dog was not directly involved.
When later asked to retrieve the new toys from a selection of familiar ones, the dogs chose the correct toy around 90% of the time if they had been told its name directly, and around 80% of the time if they had only overheard it—both significantly better than chance. Dr Shany Dror, lead author, noted that the findings reveal a complex social cognitive skill previously thought unique to humans and certain primates.
The team also found that these dogs could learn a toy's name even if it was mentioned after the object was out of sight, a skill seen in children. However, typical family dogs did not demonstrate this ability, suggesting it is limited to a select few. The researchers argue that this 'eavesdropping' skill predates language evolution, indicating that the social abilities necessary for language emerged earlier than speech itself.
