Summary
A recent study published in Science found that some dogs, called Gifted Word Learners (GWLs), can learn new words by just overhearing their owners talking. These dogs showed the ability to understand new object names without direct interaction, similar to how a toddler might learn.
Key Facts
- The study focused on a group of dogs known as Gifted Word Learners (GWLs).
- These dogs can learn new words by overhearing conversations, not just through direct training.
- The study tested ten GWL dogs in two situations: direct interaction and overhearing conversations.
- The dogs overheard names of new toys for only eight minutes in brief sessions.
- Seven out of ten dogs successfully learned the new toy names in both scenarios.
- In the overhearing test, dogs had a 100% accuracy rate in identifying new toys.
- The findings suggest dogs might use different methods to learn words, similar to toddlers.
- Such remarkable abilities in GWL dogs may result from both natural traits and life experiences.
