Finally...proof. Dogs eavesdrop on our conversations!

Human toddlers are renowned for it. And it turns out the furry family ALSO eavesdrop conversations to learn new words. Even the sweary ones!

It's a big finding that's just been released...

And it backs up what we’ve always suspected. They’re always listening. Especially if they hear talk of a W-A-L-K or a trip to the P-A-R-K. 

But the study from Eotvos University, Budapest and the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, proved that smart dogs were able to learn the names of two new toys and the retrieve them, purely from listening to their parent’s talk about the toys.  And they did this 83% of the time.

 

To be honest, I’d take my dog returning to me in the park 83% of the time!

It matches up with previous theories that dogs and cats have the equivalent vocabulary and problem solving of 18 month to 2 year old human children.

So be careful what you say, they know a lot more than most of us give them credit for. And also have VERY selective hearing…

Written and researched by veterinarian, Dr Chris Brown BVSc (Hons)