Do dogs really know what we’re saying?

#Middlebury #Dogs

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Settle a bet for me. Can dogs really understand human speech? Or are they reacting to other signals when we give them commands (like a hand signal that’s repeated at the same time as the sound we make)? – Jerry in Seattle

DEAR JERRY: You may have lost that bet. A study in 2016 found that dogs do indeed understand human speech, and that their brains process language in very much the same way that human brains do. The left side of a dog’s brain processes the meaning of the words being spoken, while the right side of the brain processes the emotional intent.

Of course, this understanding worked mainly when words were used that the dogs were familiar with, like “good boy” and “well done.” And dogs responded most strongly when a familiar word was matched with equal intent: for example, saying “good boy” in a way that clearly praises the dog. They also responded much better to praise than to criticism (and honestly, who wouldn’t)? If they didn’t understand the word being used, but the intent was clear, they responded – though not as enthusiastically.

So yes, as any dog owner who has ever had to spell out the word W-A-L-K to keep their pet from dashing toward the leash will tell you, dogs do understand us.

How can pet owners use this information to better relate to their dogs? It certainly can help when training a pet. Using positive praise, consistent words and keeping that training fun and happy will ensure that dogs learn faster and respond positively to commands. Try it out.

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© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.