# Scientists Explained Why Not All Dogs Understand Words

Some dogs are capable of quickly memorizing the names of toys - such animals are called "gifted word learners" (GWL). This is a rare ability: most dogs cannot learn the names of objects even with regular training. A new study has shown that it may not only be about cognitive abilities, but also about the level of social initiative of the animal. The work was published in the journal Animal Cognition.

The experiment involved 31 border collies - a breed known for high intelligence. Of these, 10 dogs belonged to the GWL group, and 21 were ordinary. Over two weeks, the animals played at home with four toys. Two of them were constantly called by name by their owners during play, while two others remained "nameless".

After that, the dogs were tested: first they were offered to choose between familiar and new toys, and then asked to bring an object by name. As expected, only gifted dogs were able to learn the names.

However, the main difference manifested not in the choice of toys, but in behavior toward owners. Gifted dogs brought toys to people on their own initiative significantly more often, clearly initiating interaction.

"We did not find differences in interest in toys as such - all dogs preferred new objects. However, dogs capable of learning words noticeably more often initiated social contact with owners," noted the study authors.

According to scientists, it is precisely this striving for joint activity that may play a key role in learning. The mechanism resembles how young children master speech: they connect words with objects through shared attention and play with adults.

"The more pronounced inclination of gifted dogs toward social interaction with their owner creates a foundation for further research on the connection between social motivation, communicative intentions, and word learning in non-human species," emphasized the researchers.

The authors concluded that the results do not explain all aspects of the "canine vocabulary," but offer an important new perspective. The ability to learn words may not be so much a matter of intelligence as a desire to engage in contact and share attention - a quality that is more strongly expressed in some dogs than in others.