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Did you know that dogs can get to learn 200 words?
A HANNIKO friend told us an anecdote one day, that had to do of course with her dogs life. Turns out that one day they were both looking at each other steadily. Then she said to her dog:
– Sometimes I get the impression that you can speak, but that you simply don’t try because you’re afraid of me telling everyone so that I become rich. Isn’t that right? Come on, there’s no one here now. Say something, I promise you that I won’t sell you to any circus. It will be our secret.
Then her dog, after a pause, opened his mouth as if he was ready to say something… but he thought about it again. He shook his head and got away from there giving little jumps.
We are pretty sure that many pet owners have experienced this situation. “My dog only needs to talk” is very offen heared. Well, we can’t assure that they’ll be talking one of this days, but they do understand words and that’s a scientific proof, thanks to Profesor Stanley Coren, from the Canadian British Columbia University.
In his study, this canine psychologist determined that dogs can develop the intellectual capacity of a two-year-old child, which allows them to solve complex problems … arithmetic included. For example, some dogs are able to detect the error in the sum 1 + 1 = 3.
Our dogs obey us when we tell them to come, to sit down or when we give them many other similar commands. This study, however, ensures that trained dogs can learn about 160 words, and that the smartest ones are close to 200.
According to Coren there are three types of canine intelligence: the instinctive, the adaptive and the one for work and obedience. The most gifted breeds for learning are, in this order, Border Collie, Poodle, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Doberman and Labrador. But, in general, all dogs have the ability to learn.
