Dogs Trained with sound button panels for ‘talking’ they are capable of making two-word button combinations beyond random behavior or imitation of their owners.
Published in the journal Scientific Reports, a new study from the Comparative Cognition Laboratory at the University of California, San Diego analyzed data from 152 dogs over 21 months, capturing more than 260,000 button presses, 195,000 of which were made by the dogs themselves. .
“This is the first scientific study to look at how dogs actually use panels with sound buttons,” lead researcher Federico Rossano, an associate professor of cognitive science at the University of California, San Diego and director of the Research Laboratory, said in a statement. Comparative Cognition. “The findings reveal that dogs press buttons on purpose to express their wants and needs, not just to imitate their owners. “When dogs match two buttons, these sequences are not random but appear to reflect specific requests.”
The study observed that the most used buttons were related to essential needs, with words such as “out”, “treat”, “play” and “potty”. It should be noted that combinations such as “outside” + “urinal” or “food” + “water” were used significantly, and occurred more frequently than would be expected by chance.
For dog owners, this research offers a New way to better understand your pets’ needs. “Although dogs already communicate some of these needs”I say Rossano, “Sound boards could allow for more precise communication. Instead of barking or scratching at the door, a dog may be able to tell you exactly what it wants.even combining concepts like ‘outside’ and ‘park’ or ‘beach’. “This could improve companionship and strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners.”.
The data was collected through the FluentPet mobile app, where owners recorded their dogs’ button presses in real time. The research team selected 152 dogs with more than 200 recorded button presses each to analyze usage patterns. Advanced statistical methods, including computer simulations, were used to determine whether the button combinations were random, imitative, or truly intentional. The results showed that various button presses occurred in patterns significantly different from chance, supporting the idea of deliberate communication.
IT IS NOT A SIMPLE IMITATION OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR
The researchers also compared the dogs’ button presses with those of their owners and They discovered that dogs were not simply imitating human behavior. For example, dogs pressed buttons like “I love you” much less frequently than their owners.
Although the study provides evidence of intentional two-button combinations, the researchers aim to go further. Future research will explore whether dogs can use buttons to refer to the past or future (such as a lost toy) or combine buttons creatively to communicate concepts for which they lack specific words.
“We want to know if dogs can use these sound button panels to express ideas beyond their immediate needs, such as absent objects, past experiences or future events,” Rossano said. “If they can, it would dramatically change the way we think about animal intelligence and communication.”