Regardless of whether you have experienced parenting a dog, you must have noticed that whenever a pet dog is asked to sit, stay, or treat, they will respond like an obedient student. It makes us curious if dogs can actually understand human words, or if they are simply reacting to human gestures. Scientific studies confirm that dogs, irrespective of their breeds, are way smarter than we think.
Thus, dogs not only hear sounds, but they also tend to process them, build vocabulary, and even succeed in learning their meaning. To make it further interesting, some dogs are capable of recognizing hundreds of words. So, let us try to explore further into the world of canine communication and how they learn our language.
Dogs understand us more than we can imagine
Everyone would agree that dogs are classic observers. Then again, they have had the opportunity to live beside humans for ages. Gradually, they have evolved and are efficient in tracking human emotions, voice tone, facial expressions, body language, and words that humans speak.
Thus, when their human parents ask them to walk, you will see them running to the door. Indeed, this cannot be guesswork; instead, they actually recognize that specific word and connect it to an event they love the most.
Do dogs understand the words, or is it just the sound?
Several studies have concluded that dogs use parts of their brain in the same way as human toddlers do. Thus, they have a knack for learning languages. A dog can therefore recognize the sound pattern of a word, connect various sounds to specific objects, actions, and outcomes, and overall remember these words in the long run. Of course, they are not grammatical geniuses, but they certainly understand meanings.
Classic examples that prove the level of understanding of words of dogs
Over the years, some dogs have managed to surprise the scientists. A dog named Chaser from the Border collie breed learned more than a thousand toy names. For example, if it were asked to pick up a blue ball, it would do exactly so, from heaps of balls. Another dog of the same breed, named Rico, was exceptional in learning new words. When a new toy is introduced, it can be identified from the old one.
These findings prove dogs can learn meanings similarly to the way children use their brains to do so, i.e., through association and connection.
How do dogs learn words step by step?
By now, you realize, a dog is smart enough to pick and learn new words every time you speak to them. Experts believe they do it in the following steps:
- Repetition: Just like human toddlers who require constant attention and exposure, dogs are no different. So, when a person says “sit” every time in the same way, they tend to memorize it.
- Identifying the tone: Dogs are masters at catching human expressions. Thus, how a specific word is uttered can make a lot of difference. Human tone helps them understand and differentiate between positive and negative, or praise and warning. So, a strict no, and cheerful yes, is well understood by the dogs.
- Event-based learning: When humans say “walk” while holding the leash, opening the door, and wearing shoes, dogs realize it is now time for them to go outside and have a good time. They are excellent at picking up situation-based commands.
- Visual signals: Again, dogs are very good at reading human movements or gestures. Thus, pointing towards an item and asking them to “fetch” makes them understand what the human is trying to say.
- Reward-based learning: Pet owners often reward their faithful four-legged companions with treats, cuddles, and other goodies. Positive reinforcement makes them great learners and helps them understand words even better and faster.
What words do dogs understand most conveniently?
Precisely speaking, dogs do not understand every word identically. While some terms can catch their attention immediately, others can appeal differently to them. Moreover, action-based words like sit, stay, or come are the easiest for them to learn. Likewise, they also learn words associated with physical behavior faster.
Similarly, any words that are associated with location, like bed, outside, or car, the ones that signal places of travel, adventure and relaxation for the dog, they will learn quickly. As we all know, dogs can become excellent traveling companions. Sometimes, when we think, they understand our praise like good girl or good boy, or warnings like no, they are actually responding to our tone and emotion and not the vocabulary. So, if you ever say to them, “You are a silly dog” in a happy mood, they will interpret it as praise.
Do dogs understand sentences?
Again, this is another question that comes to our mind. The answer is, yes to some extent, but they tend to focus on keywords more than the full sentence. For instance, when you call out their name and ask them not to chew the shoe or clothes, they hear their name, chew, and the shoe. However, if trained accurately, dogs can understand the order of words.
Can dogs learn multiple languages?
Well, there isn’t any doubt about it, as many pups have grown up in different environments and have efficiently learned what their owners are trying to say. As mentioned before, they tend to pick up the tone and emotion along with the associated actions; they can pick up commands in different languages quite efficiently, too. In this aspect brain games can also help it to become agile.
Based on the breed and the type of training on offer, a family dog can learn 50-200 words. A highly trained working dog can do better and learn more than 300 words. Lastly, the ones regarded as geniuses break the barrier by learning more than a thousand words.
Some tips to help dogs learn even faster
- Use the names of toys and objects.
- Use short and clear commands at first.
- Give them a treat or praise them wholeheartedly when they learn it correctly.
- Ensure that the training is carried out at the same time without fail.
- Do not hasten in making it understand new words.
- Use the same words every time. Keeping things short and simple helps them to learn better.
Dogs understand human feelings associated with words
This is an area where dogs excel exceptionally. Even when they do not grasp full sentences, they can feel our emotions associated with the sentence. Thus, the stress in our voice, our facial expressions, energy vibes, and comforting words make them understand the meaning of sentences easily.
Dogs learn every day
Indeed, dogs do not speak our language, but they work exceptionally well to understand it. A pet dog will listen, study, practice, and remember the words spoken to it, the way you utter them, and the consequence of the sentence. They learn this every day and try to better themselves.
Dogs are observant and exceptional learners. Their long-term association with humans since prehistoric ages has helped them to establish a great bond. Regular training, communication, and positive reinforcement can help dogs learn new words quickly.