Natures wonders: dogs know and use words (Introduction)

by David Turell , Thursday, August 29, 2024, 01:21 (85 days ago) @ David Turell

Latest studies:

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-dogs-words-soundboard-buttons-reveals.html

"If you've seen those viral social media videos of dogs using soundboard buttons to "talk," you're not alone. These buttons have taken the pet world by storm, leading to impressive and sometimes seemingly miraculous feats shared across platforms like TikTok and Instagram. But are these dogs truly communicating, or are they just responding to cues from their owners?

"Now, a study published in PLOS ONE—by researchers from the University of California San Diego and other institutions—reveals that dogs trained with soundboard buttons can indeed comprehend specific words, producing contextually appropriate responses.

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"The study shows that dogs trained to use soundboards responded appropriately to words like "play" and "outside," regardless of whether the words were spoken by their owners or triggered by pressing a button, as well as whether the buttons were pressed by the owner or an unrelated person. This suggests that dogs are not merely "reading" their owners' body language or presence but are indeed processing the words.

"'This study addresses public skepticism about whether dogs truly understand what the buttons mean," said Rossano. "Our findings are important because they show that words matter to dogs, and that they respond to the words themselves, not just to associated cues."

"The study shows that dogs trained to use soundboards responded appropriately to words like "play" and "outside," regardless of whether the words were spoken by their owners or triggered by pressing a button, as well as whether the buttons were pressed by the owner or an unrelated person. This suggests that dogs are not merely "reading" their owners' body language or presence but are indeed processing the words.

"'This study addresses public skepticism about whether dogs truly understand what the buttons mean," said Rossano. "Our findings are important because they show that words matter to dogs, and that they respond to the words themselves, not just to associated cues.'"

Comment; that dogs learn words is obvious. That they can use them with meaning is not surprising. We generally talk at dogs. Now we know they can talk back.