Basket, 5 -year-old, female Border Collie from Texas, the US, knows over 50 toy names. Credit: Elle Baumgartel
Every dog owner believes that their furry companions are unique. However, some dogs truly stand out due to their exceptional abilities. Some incredibly talented dogs are gifted with the ability to learn hundreds of names of dog toys, a rare phenomenon that has captured the interest of scientists around the world.
A fascinating study published in the journal Scientific Reports by researchers from the Family Dog Project (ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest) delves into understanding the characteristics of these extraordinary dogs.
These incredible canines, known as Gifted Word Learners (GWL) dogs, are extremely rare. Finding these special dogs was quite a challenge for researchers, prompting them to launch a social media campaign. In 2020, they live-streamed their experiments with GWL dogs, to extend their search for more remarkable dogs with such talent.
“This was a citizen science project,” explains Dr. Claudia Fugazza, team leader. “When a dog owner told us they thought their dog knew toy names, we gave them instructions on how to self-test their dog and asked them to send us the video of the test.”
The researchers spent five years seeking and testing dogs with this talent. A total of 41 dogs were found in nine different countries. Interestingly, one of the most common breeds consisting of GWL dogs was the border collie. While object label learning is rare even in this specific breed, other non-working breeds such as Pomeranians, Pekingese, and Shih Tzus showcased similar abilities. With Shira, a 6-year-old female Border Collie mix from New Jersey knowing 125 toy names, and Gani, a 5-year-old female Border Collie from Colorado knowing over 100 toy names, these dogs have proven themselves to be truly gifted.
