Dogs with a Large Vocabulary of Object Labels Learn New Labels by Overhearing Like 1.5-Year-Old Infants [View all]

Study proves that some dogs can learn new labels by "eavesdropping". IOW without being directly trained, eg by inferring. The study looked into how human infants acquire language hence the title.

NPR is calling these dogs "genius" but I think that ignores the wide range of how well dogs can hear. Most dogs just don't hear very well or acutely, especially floppy-eared breeds. You say "talk" and your dog runs to the door to go for a "walk." I was extra curious about this topic because I have had three deaf dogs including 2 Lab x Dane mix and a Boxer.

A human baby can hear in the womb -- language, music, heartbeats. At birth a human infant relies most heavily on its ears until the eyes open and function well. Lastly its sense of smell.

Dogs go in the exact opposite order. They rely on smell to find the mother and nurse. Hearing comes last, and for some, such as many Dalmatians, not at all.

So we meet dogs in the middle with vision. Dogs are extremely good at reading body language including sign language and hand signals. One of my Lab x Dane's hearing was very good until about age 13 but early in life I would experiment by telling or asking him for things only in sign language and then test how well he understood me.

I read the whole study but did not see them identifying what kind of dogs were used. NPR shows a border collie but the study does not mention any types at all. They say only that dogs were screened for the ability to learn and remember "labels" eg the names of toys.



https://www.npr.org/2026/01/08/nx-s1-5667604/genius-dogs-learn-new-words-eavesdropping

I disagree with the use of the word "eavesdropping" because clearly the study was designed to make sure they hear certain words within a very controlled context. It doesn't matter if you are facing the dog or not. Interesting as heck regardless.