Super-smart, eavesdropping dogs pick up new words like human toddlers

Photo: Bryn, an 11-year-old male Border Collie from the UK, that knows the names of about 100 toys. Photo credit: Helen Morgan. Article by Michael Franco. New Atlas – January 9, 2026. Research article: Science. Source: Eötvös Loránd University.

Spelling F-O-O-D or O-U-T might only get you so far around your dog if he or she is considered a Gifted Word Learner (GWL). Researchers have just figured out that even when you’re not talking to them directly, they’re still acquiring new terms. The researchers at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest seem to have one of the best jobs in the world. They get to more or less play with dogs every day to learn about their use of language. […]

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Video: Some dogs eavesdrop on their owners! – Genius Dog Challenge