These clever dogs rival toddlers when it comes to learning words [View all]

[douglas9]

In many households, it’s a forbidden four-letter word. It can’t be uttered aloud, only spelled, so those within earshot don’t get too worked up.

“Can you take the dog for a W-A-L-K?”

Many dog owners know their pets excel at learning words such as “walk,” “sit,” “stay” and even their own names. But researchers have discovered the word-acquisition ability of certain canines can rival that of toddlers.

A study published in the journal Science on Thursday found that some dogs can learn words simply by overhearing conversations, even when the pets are not directly addressed, an ability humans begin to acquire at about 18 months old.

“This can really give us more appreciation to how exceptional dogs can be,” said lead author Shany Dror, a comparative cognition researcher at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna and Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/01/08/dogs-learn-words-study/