Dogs are able to understand what humans are saying to an extent.
A study has shown that dogs do attempt to comprehend human words when being talked to, according to Discovery News. The study was published on Wednesday in Current Biology.
Specifically, CBS News reported that dogs can process in their brains many parts that make human speech. Despite not fully comprehending everything a person says, dogs can understand what words mean in contrast to the emotion displayed in the words. Depending on the way the word was said, the dog would turn its head in a specific direction.
CBS News also reported that it was discovered during the study when an audio recording of a command was played in one of two speakers either neutrally or without emotional cues to dogs. When the audio command was played with a neutral tone, so that the command’s meaning was prominent, the dogs turned their heads to the right. When there was emotion put into the audio command, the dogs’ heads turned left. Each turn represented the opposing side of the brain that was processing the information.
DNews said that both dogs and humans show physical displays when their brains process sounds.