Dogs are widely known for learning action-based commands such as sitting or staying, but remembering the names of objects is usually difficult for the species. New scientific research has shown that a small group of unusually talented dogs can overcome this limitation. The study was conducted in Europe in the early 2020s by researchers from Eötvös Loránd University (pronounced URT-vush LOH-raand) and the University of Veterinary Medicine in Austria. About ten adult dogs with strong word-learning skills were observed. During the experiment, owners talked about a new toy with another person while the dogs listened nearby. The dogs were later asked to find the correct toy from a large group. Seven dogs successfully completed the task, showing an ability to learn object names without direct instruction. The research was published in the journal Science.

The findings show that learning can occur through passive listening, a process often connected to human language development. This ability is rare among animals, with only a few species known to show similar skills. Researchers reported that the dogs succeeded even when the toy was hidden, meaning visual contact was not required. These results offer new insight into how animals process language-related information. The study also suggests that indirect exposure may support learning in certain cases. However, this skill appears limited to a small and distinctive group of dogs worldwide.