Overview

• Researchers found that Gifted Word Learner dogs extended category words such as 'pull' and 'fetch' to novel toys based on how they were used rather than how they looked.
• Owners taught the functional labels during ordinary play at home, introduced new toys without naming them, then asked for a 'pull' or a 'fetch' from a mixed pile.
• On average the dogs selected the correct novel toy in 31 out of 48 trials, a performance the study reports as significantly above chance.
• The study recruited 11 dogs, with seven completing the protocol, and the tested cohort consisted mostly of border collies in their home environments.
• Authors and independent experts note parallels to toddler-like label extension and caution that findings pertain to this gifted subset, underscoring the need for broader follow-up research.