How Do Dogs Understand What We Say To Them?
Anyone who owns a dog knows that these animals have a way of communicating that people don’t understand. Two of the phrases most spoken by the owners are: “it is as if he understood me”, or “he just misses the word”. Yes, dogs are able to understand what is being said to them.
Dogs resemble their owners
Dogs are said to resemble their owners. But in addition to the physical or behavioral similarity , the similarity is found in the brain. Even in the way messages are processed.
To prove this hypothesis, scholars from the Loránd Eötvös University of Budapest examined the brains of seven dogs specially trained to listen to a series of words.
The results of the following study made all dog lovers smile. Their speech process works just like that of humans.
They are not only able to understand what is being said to them, but they also identify the intentions that are hidden within a message.
In addition to spoken language, dogs understand our messages
The dogs are able to process many messages issued through gestures, signs, grimaces, and even involuntary responses.
Scientifically, it has been shown that they can understand feelings. I can tell when a person is sad in order to be able to offer comfort. They also identify cheerfulness. When they observe their happy masters, they automatically become infected with this feeling of well-being.
In addition, researchers have shown that when a dog owner points to his pet at something with his finger, the dog’s attention automatically focuses on the object that was pointed out to him.
They are even able to associate a voice with a face (they are never wrong with that of their master). Furthermore, they can distinguish whether the person speaking is male or female.
A vocabulary of 160 words or phrases
In the US, UK and Canada, they have determined that dogs understand and can identify around 160 words or groups of words. A vocabulary that can expand up to 200 with training and practice.
The first they manage to learn are those of the type: “let’s go out” or “look for the leash”. There are numerous cases of animals that as soon as they hear phrases from their owners such as “it’s bath time”, they run to hide.
It will be enough for them to listen to the word associated with both a negative and a positive experience only once to memorize it.
For this reason, some veterinarians advise owners not to call their pet by name when they have to scold it. He may associate it with a negative experience and he will stop reaching you when you call him.
The dogs do not understand irony or contradictory messages. If you scold them by using keywords such as “no”, “stop”, “leave”, but say them with a smile on the lips or with an unsuitable tone of voice, the animal could get confused.
Dogs think as if they were two-and-a-half-year-olds. For this, the message you want to convey must be clear and precise.
Inborn or learned ability?
No study has been able to categorically state whether the learning ability of dogs is due to a genetic condition present in certain mammals, or whether it is a skill learned over the centuries thanks to domestication.
Dog lovers know that these animals, although they cannot speak, have a fairly assertive communication system, which does not require any particular training. In addition to giving them your love and earning their trust, you just have to observe them. They are always telling you something.
