The Most Common Words Your Dog Understands
Some dogs know more than others.
A new study by Canada’s Dalhousie University reveals that dogs understand an average of 89 words. Researchers studied 165 dog owners and their breeds. They found dogs most commonly understand ‘sit’, ‘come’, ‘down’, ‘stay’, ‘wait’, ‘no’, ‘OK’ and ‘leave it’. One dog knew 215 terms.
Researchers say, ”Due to their evolutionary history and close association with humans, domestic dogs have learned to respond to human verbal and nonverbal cues at a level unmatched by other species. Their ability to respond to communicative cues is critical for the numerous professional and family roles they play in our lives.
Based on owner reports, dogs seem to vary greatly not only in the number but also in the kinds of words to which they purportedly respond. The current study is consistent with existing research suggesting that dogs may be particularly adept at responding to commands rather than object words.”
