This is not comparable to word learning in children. By around age two, typical English-speaking children learn approximately ...

Premieres Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream with KPBS+. Can dogs understand what we say—and talk back?

Some dogs are seemingly more talented than others. So-called gifted word learners (GWL) are rare canines that can rapidly learn the names of toys, a skill that most dogs don't possess. To understand ...

Source: Grzegorz Eliasiewicz, used with permission. Humans use words to refer to objects in the environment. We understand that certain words “stand for” certain objects, and this understanding is ...

Dogs are able to recognize words and the certain objects they "stand for," a new study has found. It is widely known that dogs can recognize certain words and perform an action accordingly. For ...

A study conducted in Hungary explored dogs' ability to understand human language. The study involved 18 dogs and utilized non-invasive procedures to measure brain activity. Results indicate that dogs ...

Grab the tissues, these will make you tear up!

Could dogs ever learn something like speech? A new review explores the science behind enhancing canine communication.

When Your Dog Tilts Its Head, Is It Really Listening? Every dog parent has experienced it. You say “walk,” and your dog jumps up with excitement. You whisper “bath,” and suddenly they disappear. You ...

The hour-long sessions focus on dog expressions and body language.