Scientists have found evidence to support what many dog owners have long believed: man’s best friend really does understand some of what we’re saying.
Researchers in Hungary scanned the brains of dogs as they were listening to their trainer speaking to determine which parts of the brain they were using.
They found that dogs processed words with the left hemisphere, while intonation was processed with the right hemisphere — just like humans.
What’s more, the dogs only registered that they were being praised if the words and intonation were positive; meaningless words spoken in an encouraging voice, or meaningful words in a neutral tone, didn’t have the same effect.
“Dog brains care about both what we say and how we say it,” said lead researcher Attila Andics, a neuroscientist at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest. “Praise can work as a reward only if both word meaning and intonation match.”
Andics said the findings suggest that the mental ability to process language evolved earlier than previously believed and that what sets humans apart from other species is the invention of words.
“The neural capacities to process words that were thought by many to be uniquely human are actually shared with other species,” he said. “This suggests that the big change that made humans able to start using words was not a big change in neural capacity.”
While other species probably also have the mental ability to understand language like dogs do, their lack of interest in human speech makes it difficult to test, said Andics.
Dogs, on the other hand, have socialized with humans for thousands of years, meaning they are more attentive to what people say to them and how.
The study was published in the journal Science.
Andics also noted that all of the dogs were awake, unrestrained and happy during the tests. “They participated voluntarily,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
I have always explained each separate sound to my Shih Tzus regarding noises from puppies- so storms- fireworks-planes- loud vehicles etc won’t frighten them. The are never bothered, if they look up at a particular one i say, its ok its just a car door or whatever and they relax! Dogs are brilliant
my dog’s internal clock is absolutely amazing! She knows when it is time to eat she tells me, when it is time for her medication,
every twelve hours on the dot, she comes to me gets my attention and runs to the cabinet where her mediation is kept and will sit there until I come and give her the medication. five minutes before I come home from work my husband says she wakes up from a sound sleep and goes and sits by the front door. Her vocabulary of the words I use is absolutely incredible she knows what my husband and I are talking about, she will sit and listen to our conversations as if she knows exactly what we are talking about! She is 16 years old daschund.
I have a German Shepard, who loved to play in water when he was much younger. He would complain when we turned off the water hose of his swimming pool was empty. He would talk back to us when we confined him to the front yard because he want to be with us. Now that he is older, he just wants to lay done on the floor at my feet whenever he can. He wants to spend time with me, that’s more than I can say for my own children.
Finally! Meaningful science that even I can relate to. No more sarcasm when talking to my best friend. But then maybe after all this time she’s learned about that too.
Many people laugh at me when I say my cat understands what I say. He does recognizer many words. What makes it different is he can react to the words but cannot speak my language. I do understand his different sounds like when he tries to talk, he has small short polite sounds. If he hurts it is different. Also when I have been gone and return, he is again showing me a “you left me alone” in his eyes. There is more but all should realize that both dogs and cats, (can’t speak for other animals) have SOULS. Some people say no and that is why animals cannot go to heaven. My cat knows when I am sick or sad. He reacts and simply stays by my side. This has happened with other cats and dogs in my life. Animals are more caring and compassionate jthan some people. They are not stupid.
My boxer listened carefully as I spoke to him. He was very quick to learn what my words meant . He was loved greatly and he gave love back.
If white people did not spend so much time torturing & killing animals they would know that animals have the capacity to understand whatever language they are born into.
Are you racist? Why are you blaming white people?
Because he is an IDIOT.
Kojo, that is a very cruel thing to say and is not true of many white people. I am a vegetarian and have been for many years. I love animals and there has never been a time when I havent had a dog as my friend. I have had hamsters and Rabbits and tortoises and I had two pet geese for 19 years and was heart broken when the fox killed them. When my dogs die it is like losing a human relative and I love them and they return my love. I know lots of people who love their pets as I do and I don’t. Know anyone who is cruel to them. Yes I would be very happy if no-one ate meat and there were no slaughter houses but maybe one day…..
Kojo, can you say something intelligent instead of racist?
I had a German Shepherd we named Blitz. We found him at 6 weeks and I put him down when he was 14 years. We started his training when he was 3 months by walking him around the perimeter of our front yard. He would go from one neighbor’s driveway to the other neighbor’s driveway only and NEVER go into the street or beyond those driveways unless he was told. He learned his 5 toys and would bring you the one he was told (his ball, frisbee, rubber bone, heavy rope with a knot at each end and football shaped squeeze toy. He was very tolerant and helped raise 3 of my grandchildren. If he was being abused by any of them, he would just get up and walk away. He never bit, ever! My family and neighbors still talk about him with much praise although he has been gone for over 15 years. I will never forget him.
German Shepherds are one of my favorite breed of dogs. He sounds like he was very special to you, as I am sure he was. It is always so sad to have to put any pet down, no matter how long they are with us. Rest in peace, Blitz.
Not only does my dog understand,so does my cat.
I HAD TWO POODLES WERE VERY SMART. ONE A MINIATURE AND ONE A TOY POODLE. THE FIRST ONE WENT THROW HER TRAING AND GOT HER “THREE LEGS” WHICH ATE REALLY RIBBONS AND WAS MENTIONED IN THE DOG WORLD MAGAZINE. THE TOY WENT TRUCKING WITH ME EVERYWHERE. SHE LEARNED HOW TO LOOK IN THE MIRROWS TO WATCH US LOAD THE FLATBED TRAILER, SHE PUT HER DOG FOOD ON TOP OF MY DUFFLE WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE THE HOUSE TO GET BACK OUT ON THE ROAD AS THOUGH TO SAY..”DON’T FORGET ME,MOM.” AND SO MANY THINGS. IN MY P/U TRUCK SHE LEARNED HOW TO BLOW THE HORN WHEN I WAS IN THE P.O GETTING OUR MAIL. WHEN I LOOKED OUT THE DOOR SHE QUIT. WHEN SHE DIDN’T SEE ME SHE LEW THE HORN AGAIN. LITTLE NUT. LOL SO I LOVED MY SMART POODLES.
My dog is smsrter than you kojo
My dog talks to me all the time. We’ve had incredibly intelligent conversations. I should put it on my youtube channel to share with everyone. Its truly an awesome spectacle. The movie “The Secret Life of Pets” was made for a reason because its true.