Dogs May Learn New Toy Names Just by Listening In (Full Transcript)

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Dogs can learn new words just by listening to humans having a conversation. Watch this.

[00:00:06] Speaker 2: This is your armadillo.

[00:00:07] Speaker 1: And here's Baskett listening. Then, Baskett's owner tested it.

[00:00:11] Speaker 2: No armadillo. Yes, good girl.

[00:00:21] Speaker 1: Until now, scientists didn't know whether dogs could learn object names when they weren't being spoken to directly. Next, they took it even further. This time, the dogs heard the name of the toys when the toys weren't even in sight. That's your card. Yes. Yes.

[00:00:43] Speaker 2: Good dog.

[00:00:43] Speaker 1: Scientists are saying the dog's ability to learn is similar to that of an 18-month-old toddler. But this is rare. Only a small group of dogs known as gifted word learners can do it. Could yours be one of them?