A recent study has shown that dogs, especially Border Collies, can easily learn the names of their toys. Out of a group of 40 dogs, seven were able to master toy names like Turtle, Squirrel, and Mickey Mouse after three months of training. The standout in the group was a Border Collie who could identify a whopping 37 different toys by name.
However, the researchers noted that this ability is rare in dogs and only seen in a select few “gifted” individuals. Only one out of the remaining 34 dogs, approximately 3 percent, was able to learn toy names without prior training during the study.
Interestingly, the study found that both puppies and mature dogs had the capacity to learn toy names, contradicting the common belief that puppies have greater neuroplasticity. This discovery was surprising to the researchers.
In conclusion, while some dogs may possess the talent for learning toy names, it is not a common skill among them. This research sheds light on the cognitive abilities of our furry friends.
In the study, a Border Collie named Gaia, belonging to Isabella Imiguel in Brazil, was featured. The researchers discovered that Border Collies displayed superior learning abilities compared to other breeds.
Researchers from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary, conducted a study as part of the ‘Family Dog Project’. The university is known for the Genius Dog Challenge, an online contest where dogs from all over the world compete to showcase their intelligence. According to study author Shany Dror, previous research has shown that dogs can learn words related to actions, but very few studies have looked into their ability to learn toy names, which prompted this study. The top performer was Gaia, a three-year-old Border Collie from Brazil, who learned 37 toy names. While impressive, Gaia’s achievement pales in comparison to Chaser, known as the world’s smartest dog, who knew over 1,000 nouns before passing away in 2019. Border Collies are often regarded as the most intelligent dog breed by experts due to their exceptional learning abilities and love for working. In the study, researchers designed a rigorous three-month training program to teach 40 dogs the names of at least two toys.
Oliva, a lovable Border Collie belonging to Mariana Cordivola in Brazil, unfortunately passed away before the conclusion of the research. This was because having two dogs was essential to determine if they could differentiate items based on their names.
The training routine involved daily fun interactions between the dog and the owner, where the owner repeated the toy names multiple times, along with weekly sessions with a professional dog trainer. During the tests, the owners sat in one room while the toys were placed in another, prompting the dogs to choose a toy on command.
Dr. Claudia Fugazza, the author of the study, initially thought that puppies would learn object names faster due to developmental factors. Therefore, both puppies and adult dogs were recruited for the study, which included Border Terriers, King Poodles, Australian Shepherds, and Schnauzers.
To their surprise, most dogs, regardless of age, did not show significant learning progress even with rigorous training. However, seven exceptional adult Border Collies, namely Gaia, Max, Whisky, Nalani, Squall, and Rico, demonstrated outstanding learning abilities by mastering not only the two toy names but also learning between 11 and 37 additional toy names within the study period. Six of these dogs already had a toy vocabulary before the study began.
Meet Squall, a Border Collie residing with Bobbie Kurivial in sunny Florida. According to the American Kennel Club, Border Collies are known for being highly intelligent and hardworking dogs, a sentiment echoed by many canine enthusiasts.
Whisky, a pet Border Collie owned by Helge O. Svela in Norway, was part of a study on dogs and their ability to learn toy names. The other dogs in the study had names like Turtle, Squirrel, and Mickey Mouse. Surprisingly, the seventh dog, Oliva, quickly learned 21 toy names in just two months, even though she hadn’t known any before. Unfortunately, Oliva passed away before the study was completed.
According to Dror, all seven dogs that excelled in learning toy names were Border Collies, a breed known for its cooperative nature in herding. However, not all Border Collies are guaranteed to have the same talent for learning words.
The study, recently published in Scientific Reports, was conducted by researchers from Eötvös Loránd University who are interested in studying communication and learning abilities in dogs. It’s worth noting that not all dogs, including 18 Border Collies, showed the same level of skill in learning toy names.
Max, a Border Collie belonging to Ildiko Gyenes in Hungary, is at the center of ongoing research at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, focusing on canine communication and learning abilities. Recent findings by the research team revealed that highly intelligent dogs can pick up new words after just four exposures, keeping pace with toddlers aged two to three. However, a separate study by the same group found that dogs struggle with words that sound alike, like ‘dog’ and ‘dig’. The experts emphasized that dogs may not grasp the significance of every sound in a word, not just the beginning and end. This limited understanding could hinder their vocabulary development despite intense training efforts.