Dog owners have long suspected that their pets understand far more than they let on. Now, groundbreaking new research suggests they may be right. A recent scientific study reveals that some exceptionally intelligent dogs—known as Gifted Word Learner (GWL) dogs—can learn the names of objects simply by listening to human conversations, even when they are not being directly addressed.
The findings, published on January 8 in the prestigious journal Science, offer compelling evidence that certain dogs possess advanced cognitive abilities once believed to be exclusive to humans, particularly toddlers.
What the Study Found
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Vetmeduni) and ELTE University in Budapest, Hungary, two globally respected institutions in animal cognition research.
Researchers worked with 10 Gifted Word Learner dogs, with an average age of 4.3 years. These dogs were already known for their extraordinary ability to learn and remember the names of hundreds of toys—a rare skill among canines.
Two Learning Tests
The experiment involved two main phases:
1. Direct Teaching
In the first phase, dog owners introduced new toys by directly showing them to their dogs and repeatedly saying the toys’ names.
2. Eavesdropping Test
In the second phase, owners discussed the toys and their names with another human without speaking directly to the dog. The dogs were present but appeared to be passive listeners.
Later, the toys were placed in a separate room, and the dogs were asked to fetch a specific toy by name.
Surprising Results
The results astonished researchers.
7 out of 10 dogs correctly fetched the toy they had only heard named during overheard conversations.
The dogs performed just as well with overheard words as with words they were explicitly taught.
This behavior mirrors how human toddlers learn language—by listening to conversations around them.
“Our results show that the socio-cognitive processes that enable learning words from overheard speech are not exclusive to humans,” said Shany Dror, lead author of the study and researcher at the Clever Dog Lab at Vetmeduni.
Dogs Can Learn Even Without Seeing the Object
In a follow-up experiment, researchers tested whether dogs could remember object names even when the object wasn’t visible.
Owners showed a toy to their dog, placed it inside a bucket, and later spoke the toy’s name when the dog could not see it. When asked to retrieve the toy later, most dogs succeeded.
“This suggests that GWL dogs can flexibly use multiple learning mechanisms to acquire new object labels,” said Claudia Fugazza, co-author of the study and researcher at ELTE University’s Department of Ethology.
What Are Gifted Word Learner (GWL) Dogs?
Not all dogs possess this remarkable ability.
Gifted Word Learner dogs are a rare group capable of:
Learning hundreds of object names
Remembering words over long periods
Understanding human speech beyond simple commands like “sit” or “stay”
According to researchers, only a small percentage of dogs show this level of cognitive skill.
“These dogs provide an exceptional model for exploring the cognitive abilities that enabled humans to develop language,” Dror explained. “But we do not suggest that all dogs learn in this way—far from it.”
Why This Research Matters
This study reshapes how scientists understand animal intelligence and communication. Key implications include:
Dogs share more cognitive similarities with humans than previously believed
Language learning through passive listening is not uniquely human
Dogs may understand more everyday conversation than owners realize
The findings could also influence:
Future dog training methods
Research into animal cognition
The evolution of language and social learning
Is Your Dog a Genius Dog?
If your dog knows the names of multiple toys or objects, it might qualify as a Gifted Word Learner.
Researchers behind the study invite dog owners to participate in the Genius Dog Challenge, an ongoing project exploring canine intelligence worldwide.
Interested owners can reach out via:
Social Media: Facebook & Instagram (Genius Dog Challenge)
