We have all been talking to our pet animals. Just the way we talk to our fellow humans. But, have you ever given a thought to that eternal question – the one that many of my readers keep asking me? Do dogs understand languages? More so, do dogs understand human language?
My answer to that question has always been – Yes and No. Confused? I will explain why.
Do Dogs really Understand Human Languages?
Are you expecting your dog to understand the human language and learn words as we humans do? Well, that is something that isn’t possible. An average dog in general cannot differentiate between the different details of our language.
For example, tell your dog to “sit”, “sick” or even “sid”, you are likely to get the same response. Your dog will not be able to differentiate between the minute phonetics of the human language.
A few studies have indicated that dogs can learn only a handful of words in their lifetime. Researchers used a simple method to understand how dogs understand the human language. They used three kinds of words – the instructive words that they understand, a nonsense word that resembles the instructive word, and a nonsense word that is entirely different.
In the case of nonsense words that are entirely different, the dogs were found to process it quickly, on the same lines as the humans. However, when it comes to the nonsense words similar to instructive word, the dogs were found to be unable to differentiate between the instructive word and the nonsense word similar to it.
That means your dog can understand a few speeches. If you believe that dogs typically follow body language and it does not matter what you say, well, you are on the wrong path in understanding your dog. Your dog actually listens to you, and does not only follow the sign language.
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Some dogs are gifted to listen better It has been observed that some dogs are gifted to such an extent that they are capable of learning of over hundreds of vocabulary words. A recent study has shown that some dogs were able to learn as many as 10 to 12 words over a week. |
Do Dogs Think Like Humans?
Well, the mind of a canine is entirely different from the way a human mind works. However, it may be noticed that the dogs do think just the way we human do. They can capably retain several memories and process certain information effectively and efficiently.
You might have found yourself how dogs remember and recall the people that they have met before. They also remember how they felt for them. Of course, the long-term memory is not as robust as human memory, but there has been evidence of the episodic memories in the case of dogs.
The brain of the dog is observed to be similar to that of a human. The left hemisphere in the brain off both dogs and humans processes the language. That would mean dogs and humans show the same brain activity in certain situations.
Do Dogs Understand Multiple Languages?
If you live in a multilingual household, you might have observed that dogs communicate in multiple languages. It can efficiently different languages at the same time.
This ability of the dogs should show that dogs have a high degree of adaptability and keen learning skills. However, it should be understood that the dog’s understanding of a language is more focussed on the association rather than the fluency in the language.
Tips for making your dog understand the language better
Well, here are a few tips that can be very helpful in letting you understand and train your dog better. This will help in ensuring that your dogs can understand human language better.
- Dogs don’t understand English – Or for that matter, any human language. They can understand the words in any language.
- Dogs don’t understand sentences – For instance, when you say we will play a game, the dog may not understand the whole sentence. Rather it may associate any of the words in the sentence with the particular action. In this case, it may be the word game.
- Focus on tones – The tone of the voice would matter when you communicate with your dog. For example, if you are not happy with something that your dog is doing, use a serious tone. But, yes, do not yell. It is also recommended not to use the word NO when doing so.
Before we leave …
While dogs may not understand human language in the way we do, their ability to interpret words, tone, and body language is nothing short of extraordinary. This unique form of understanding has solidified their role as beloved companions and invaluable working animals.
There is no limit to what dogs can understand. The key is to train it appropriately. Dogs are known to understand the human body language in a better way. That is why training them is way easier than training a cat.
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