They can understand commands in two, four, six, ten different languages, if you really want to expand their repertoire.
44% of dog owners have pups that understand commands in more than one language.
As for language, the average dog can learn 165 words, including signals, and the “super dogs” (those in the top 20 percent of dog intelligence) can learn 250 words, Coren says.
Stanley Coren analyzed a dog's ability to learn human language in his book The Intelligence of Dogs, concluding that the average canine can learn around 165 human words.
When naming your puppy, they will only respond to the first syllable of their name. If you want to name your dog Benedict, your pup will respond to Ben and, when older, your dog will respond to Benny. Dog trainers have established that dogs will respond best to two-syllable names like Bonny, Buddy, or ToTo.
It's no surprise that 'walkies' scooped the top spot, with a dog's heart rate increasing by a whopping 36% every time they hear the phrase. Other words that make our four-legged friends the happiest include 'treat', 'get it', 'fetch' and 'get your toy'.
Names with two syllables are ideal as well. Dogs' hearing is about four times more sensitive than ours, according to Psychology Today. Therefore, because two-syllable names create a change in pitch frequency when said, they capture a pup's attention.
According to Animal Behaviorists, 'dogs don't understand human kisses the same way that humans do. ' When kissing a young puppy, you may not notice any signs of recognition at all because they have yet to associate kisses with affection.
Especially if you tell them often, they will come to recognize your words and tone and will understand the love you have for them. As long as you're showing your dog love and affection, they will understand it. However, if you want to throw in an extra belly rub or treat once in a while, they will love you for it!
Licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour to dogs. For them it's a way of grooming, bonding, and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get your attention, to help soothe themselves if they're stressed, to show empathy or because you taste good to them!
Smell. Smell is a dog's most prominent sense and the one that is the most different from ours. It has been estimated that a dog's sense of smell is 100,000 times more powerful than a human's.
Even though many scientists agree that dogs understand specific words, some believe they don't comprehend full sentences. They feel that saying “trees, birds, grass, walk” invokes the same meaning as, “let's go for a walk”. While the dog may not understand every word in the sentence, he gets “walk”.
The study finds that common commands are among the most likely words a dog will know. These include “sit,” “come,” “down,” “stay,” “wait,” “no,” “OK,” and “leave it.” However, researchers note that dogs most frequently respond to their own names.
Dogs spend much of their day snoozing, but in the hours they're awake, they probably spend time thinking about some of the same things that a 2- or 3-year-old child would: “Solving problems, what's for dinner, what's that over there?” Hare says.
From the perspective of a psychologist, though, dogs don't quite have the level of self-awareness necessary to consider themselves a dog. When they look in a mirror, they don't actually recognise themselves.
Cuddles & Sleepy Snuggles ?
Dogs choose to sleep where they feel most comfortable and at ease, so if your dog enjoys sleeping in your bed, or likes to snuggle up to you for a nap, they feel trust in you that they will be safe to do so.
Experts in dog behavior believe that, in general, dogs do not like being embraced. However, every dog has a unique personality. Some may dislike hugs more strongly than others, and some may actually adore them. The closest thing our furry family members do to a hug is something referred to as 'standing over'.
Turning in circles before lying down is an act of self-preservation in that the dog may innately know that he needs to position himself in a certain way to ward off an attack in the wild.
Dogs notoriously love their blankets. Whether it's at home or on the road, it gives them a place to snuggle up and be comfortable. No matter your lifestyle, this is an easy investment that every pet owner can make to improve the quality of life for their animal.
People talk to their adult dogs as if they were puppies. We often say the same sweet, nonsensical things to our dogs that we say to our babies—and in almost the same slow, high-pitched voice. Now, scientists have shown that puppies find our pooch-directed speech exciting, whereas older dogs are somewhat indifferent.
One research study conducted by University of Lincoln's School of Psychology found that dogs truly recognize emotions in humans and other dogs as a result of combining what they hear and see when a human is crying.
When you first bring home a new puppy, they have no idea what their name is. They won't respond to their name when you call them and likely won't even acknowledge the sound of their name. However, as time goes on, they begin to learn and eventually start responding to their name all the time.
Avoid Command Words
You will also want to avoid any names that sound similar or rhyme with the most common dog commands. Names that sound like “sit,” “stay,” “heel,” “no,” and “come” could be easily confused by your pup.
Tip 1 - two syllables & “hard” letters
Dogs do not hear words, but tend to recognise sounds. They hear names with two syllables and initial letters such as “CH, S, SCH, SH or K” better than long dog names. Dog names ending with a vowel (A, E, I, O, U) are also recommended.