Study Shows Dogs Use Soundboards to Communicate Intentional Word Combinations

Research reveals dogs can purposefully press buttons to express needs and combine words, suggesting advanced communication abilities.

A UC San Diego study analyzed over 260,000 button presses by 152 dogs trained to use soundboards over 21 months.
Dogs frequently used buttons representing essential needs, such as 'outside,' 'treat,' 'play,' and 'potty,' and combined them intentionally, like 'outside' + 'potty.'
Statistical analysis confirmed that these combinations were not random or imitative but deliberate and meaningful requests.
Dogs' button use patterns differed significantly from their owners', indicating they were not simply copying human behavior.
Researchers aim to explore whether dogs can use soundboards to express abstract concepts, past experiences, or future intentions.