Dogs demonstrate intentional communication using sounding boards, research shows
A study conducted by the Comparative Cognition Lab at the University of California, San Diego, has shed light on the potential of dogs to communicate through soundboards. The study, published in Scientific Reports, evaluated data from 152 dogs over a 21-month period. It turned out that dogs trained to use these devices were able to form purposeful two-word combinations that went beyond random behavior or simple imitation of human actions. During the study, more than 260,000 button presses were made, 195,000 of which were attributed to the dogs themselves.
Intentional button use observed
As reported, the survey indicated that the most frequently used buttons were those related to basic needs. Words such as ‘outside’, ‘treat’, ‘play’ and ‘potty’ were prominent, with combinations such as ‘outside’ + ‘potty’ used in meaningful contexts. According to a statement from Dr. Federico Rossano, associate professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego, who led the study, dogs appeared to use these sequences to make specific requests, emphasizing intentional rather than random behavior.
Improved communication between humans and dogs
The findings suggest that sounding boards can give pet owners a better understanding of their dogs’ wishes. Speaking to sources, Dr. Rossano explains that this technology could provide dogs with the means to communicate their needs more accurately. Instead of traditional signals like barking, dogs could combine buttons to convey concepts like “outside” and “park.” It was noted that this development has the potential to strengthen relationships between dogs and their owners.
Data analysis and future research
The data for the study was reportedly collected using the FluentPet mobile app, which allowed real-time recording of button presses. Advanced statistical methods were used to determine whether the combinations were intentional. The multiple button pressing patterns were found to be significantly different from random chance. The study also highlighted that dogs pressed buttons like “I love you” far less often than their owners, reinforcing the claim that dogs were not simply imitating human behavior.
Further research is planned to investigate whether dogs can use sounding boards to express complex ideas, including references to past or future events, reports show. This could redefine perspectives on animal intelligence and communication.
