German dog has a way with words
Researchers say he knows the meaning of more than 200
By Silla Brush
Staff Writer
Dogs may be able to learn more than just tricks.
German researchers studying one border collie have found that he has 200-word
vocabulary and can quickly learn words.
Researchers concluded in an article published in Science magazine this week that
Rico, the 9-year-old dog, was able to understand the meaning of words the first
time he heard them and then retain their meanings. The researchers, affiliated
with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, say the dog’s
knowledge rivals that of language-trained apes, dolphins, and even that of a
young child.
But some experts and trainers were unimpressed…
David Reinecker, a dog trainer and
animal behaviorist in California, said future studies should focus on
several dogs of different types at the same time.
“My own personal opinion is it needs a lot more study and research,” he said.
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