Your dogs are intelligent in a way that they can be trained to perform tricks and follow directions, but would you believe if we say that new research has shown that a group of dogs can learn the names of objects by picking up on human conversations without directly being taught, just in a way our young toddlers do.

Learning like toddlers

Just like our young ones pick up on our vocabulary by being a part of our everyday conversations, similarly researchers noted that the dogs’ learning pattern very closely resembles of how a young child acquires language by listening to adults passively. When these dogs were tested, they were able to correctly identify the objects by their names and performed just as well as the dogs who were trained by giving direct instructions.

A rare ability

Since most dogs still rely on direct instructions, training and repetition to be able to learn new words, this skill of picking up human vocabulary by eavesdropping is not common and limited to only a small number of dogs worldwide. Those dogs who already know the names of dozens or hundreds of toys and objects are more likely to show this incredible ability.

Why is it significant?

This research has added to the growing evidence that dogs posses more complex cognitive and social abilities than were understood previously. Some dogs posses the ability to form a visualization of words and objects just by observation. The study also highlights a close evolutionary and social bond between humans and dogs that may have shaped the dogs’ sensitivity to human communication, forming a stronger connection between us and our pets.

However, verbal understanding is just one part of how dogs interact with the world. Their ability to interpret human language works alongside their own communication system expressed through posture, facial expressions, tail movement, and behavioral cues. To explore this equally important aspect, read our guide on How Dogs Communicate Through Body Language.