Can dogs really learn the names of objects like humans do? A 2021 study reveals insights into rapid word-learning in certain dogs under social conditions.
In a study published in Scientific Reports, researchers led by Claudia Fugazza explored how dogs learn object names and whether they can do so rapidly.
The team tested a small group of dogs over several trials and discovered that some individuals could learn names of new toys after only a few exposures—suggesting a rapid learning mechanism similar to humans.
However, this ability was found to be rare. Most dogs did not show consistent learning unless reinforced repeatedly and socially. The few exceptional dogs showed learning in social play situations, highlighting the importance of interaction in acquiring word-object associations.
The researchers concluded that social context and repeated exposure are critical for memory consolidation in dogs, and while not universal, the ability to rapidly map words to objects demonstrates complex cognitive capacities in some individuals.
