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Certain dogs with exceptional talent can memorize the names of numerous toys, and researchers are making progress in understanding the reason behind this.
These exceptional dogs are recognized as gifted word learners (GWL), with certain individuals demonstrating a natural aptitude for learning the names of as many as 125 distinct items.
This is the first instance of non-human species demonstrating object label learning, according to the researchers.
When the owner of a dog informed us that they believed their dog could recognize toy names, we provided them with guidelines on how to conduct a self-assessment of their dog and requested that they share the video of the test with us.
According to Professor Adam Miklosi, who leads the ethology department at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary, there has been limited information about the origins of GWL dogs due to their scarcity.
He stated, “The study’s sizeable sample of dogs allows us to uncover shared traits among them and brings us closer to understanding their exceptional ability.”
In a prior study, the team initially came across this uncommon skill in certain dogs. They observed that these canines were able to rapidly learn the names of objects, predominantly dog toys.
The scientists aimed to gain a better understanding of this distinct characteristic, therefore initiating a global effort to enlist a larger pool of canines.
The team spent five years searching and eventually located 41 dogs from nine countries, including the UK.
According to the researchers, more than half (56%) of the dogs in the study were Border collies. There were also a few dogs from non-working breeds, including Pomeranians, Pekingese, Shih Tzus, Corgis, Poodles, and some mixed breeds.
Most owners were surprised to find that their dogs knew the names of toys without being intentionally taught. The dogs seemed to learn the names during casual playtime, rather than through formal training.
According to Dr. Claudia Fugazza, a researcher from Eotvos Lorand University, this was a project that involved the participation of citizens in scientific research.
“After a dog owner informed us of their belief that their dog could recognize toy names, we provided them with instructions on how to conduct a self-test and requested that they send us a video of the test.”
The owners were queried about their dog’s life journey, their personal experience with raising and teaching dogs, and the methods used to teach the dog the names of its toys.
The majority of participants were reported to have no professional experience in dog training, according to the researchers.
According to them, the owners’ skill in managing and teaching dogs did not affect the dogs’ capability to choose the right toys based on their names.
According to Shany Dror, a PhD student at Eotvos Lorand University, many owners claimed that they did not actively teach their dogs the names of their toys. Instead, the dogs appeared to learn the names on their own during casual playtime.
She stated, “Our previous research has demonstrated that GWL dogs have a quick ability to learn new object names.”
During our test with the dogs, we found that they were familiar with an average of 29 toys. However, when we shared our findings, more than half of the owners stated that their dogs knew over 100 toy names.
The study, which was published in the journal Scientific Reports, is a part of the Genius Dog Challenge project. The researchers are encouraging dog owners who believe their pets can recognize multiple toy names to reach out to them through the project’s website, geniusdogchallenge.com.
Source: independent.co.uk
