In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers found that certain dogs have the ability to learn the names of more than 100 different toys, with most dogs doing so spontaneously without human training. The study, led by Shany Dror, a doctoral candidate in ethology, aims to shed light on the evolutionary origins of language. Dror discovered 41 “gifted word learner dogs” from around the world who excelled in learning toy names. These findings have excited experts like Heidi Lyn, who see potential for understanding canine companions better. Dror’s team plans to further investigate the factors that contribute to dogs’ linguistic talents and how they compare to human learning.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dog-language-geniuses-are-rare-but-apparently-real/