# It Has Become Known Why Only Some 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 is published in the journal Animal Cognition.

31 Border Collies participated in the experiment - 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 the other two remained "nameless".

After this, the dogs were tested: first they were asked 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 was manifested not in the choice of toys, but in behavior towards their owners. Gifted dogs brought toys to people on their own initiative significantly more often, clearly initiating interaction.

"We found no 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 their owners," the study authors noted.

According to the 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 link words with objects through shared attention and play with adults.

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

The authors concluded that the results do not explain all aspects of "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 make contact and share attention - a quality that is more strongly expressed in some dogs than in others.