Dogs actually understand what you're saying, study shows

People will tell you it's not what you say to a dog that counts, it's how you say it. But now researchers say dogs respond to much more than your tone of voice. They say brain scans confirm that canines can understand exactly what you're saying. Michelle Miller reports.

[fidorover]

My dog agrees: that dude's v-neck was way too low cut.

[BryonLetterman]

Anyone who has a dog and is close to their dog already knows this on a personal level

[lisettes.]

I always knew this. My dog and I have had entire conversation in which she responds with huffs and understands abstract concepts such as waiting for her food to cook.

[frostedfelony]

When I talk to my dog like he's a person he sits there calmly and I notice he starts to listen attentively, almost like someone who nods at things you say, as if they're really listening to you

[plaguex]

What every dog owner knows. They absolutely understand a lot lot more than we were told to believe. For thought, we've been living with dogs for thousands of years. If you don't believe they have adapted to understand our intent then you're naive

[dazzlingdeb]

I knew the answer was both. I've rescued and trained dogs; my hypothesis was based on observation. But it's important that the study was done. Dogs respond to words and intonation. For instance, if you murmured lovingly to your dog, "Bad dog, why are you such a bad dog?" The dog would know you weren't mad at him. They have the capacity to understand and evaluate your intent. It was interesting to learn that they process words in one hemisphere of the brain and intonation in the other hemisphere, just like we do.

BTW, cats understand words, intonation and hand commands too. I took umbrage with that one recent study that was done (don't recall by whom) that claimed dogs loved us more than cats do. That study was invalid. They played with dogs and cats and then took MRIs of their brains afterwards. But we don't bond with cats with play—not to the extent that dogs do. Cats bond to us when we speak softly and affectionately to them and interact with them, while taking our cues from the cat. Whoever did that study didn't know that much about cats. Cats love us just as much as dogs do. My cats were much more outwardly affectionate with me than my dogs were—they'd follow me from room to room, demand to be cuddled, and they'd come when I called their name. I had one intelligent cat that was amazingly bonded to me. He responded to verbal and hand commands. I hadn't set out to teach him commands, but since I invariably used the same commands with him, he learned what I wanted. He obeyed easily too.

[Versace]

i talk to my dog like hes my homie.. i use slang and everything.. i also speak to him in both spanish and english.. is he confused or does he actually get me?

[octave]

OHHHH so this is how my dogs understands me when I say "wanna go for a walk?" and they get all excited

[TommyAndGracie]

Dogs are very smart and the unconditional love they give is amazing! I have a chihuahua named Tommy who is an extremely lovable an intelligent little guy. : )

[brendonmckenna]

My dog understands a lot we always get into arguments lmao 🤣

[NegativeAccelerate]

They understand more than what humans explain in words. They can read our emotions on a much deeper level than humans. They constantly know what we mean by our body language alone.

[Fx_Explains]

all animals understand a lot more than we think.

[daniellclary]

Dogs also have a language, and you can learn it. But I found people have given their dogs buttons so they can have an English voice. Now that's cool! I want to do that if I get a dog.

[beckyrussell]

My dog has always understood what I'm telling him and I can always understand what he's telling me by reading his body and eye expressions along with his body movements he also knows what I'm getting ready to do also without saying a word to him dogs 🐕 are more INTELLIGENT SMARTER ABS AND ALSO HAVE EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS LIKE WE DO

[popsodayea]

I agree
Mostly cause my dog barks at me when I talk and raise my tone it’s almost as if he’s talking back

[konmari_]

This is true. Before we got a dog I never understood. Our dog was adopted at 7 years old and we are a Japanese family. She understands both English and Japanese but she pretends to not understand the commands. I know she understands what we're saying but she won't do it unless we give her a treat! (For example, my mom tells here in Japanese "No treats unless you finish dinner" and she starts eating the rest of her dinner.😆

[yourlifeisagreatstory]

*My dog knows ALL the words, she has the best words! She’s more smarter then some of the most smartest dogs out there. You can ask anyone, people tell her all the time, you might not know that.*

[LetsPlayArcanium]

They definitely do understand like when i tell my dogs if they wanna go for a walk they go nuts, or if they’re hungry, and when i say Mami is here they absolutely lose it and wait for her by the door just cry barking

[coryt]

Before giving my dog a treat, I used to say “sit”, “paw” and then “no” in which she looked away, followed by “ok!” In which she took the treat. However, sometimes I would test her by saying the “no” in the happy tone I’d say “ok” with, and she wouldn’t take it because she understood the difference! RIP Ruby ❤

[billkillernic]

the dog on 3:07 is saying "please put me out of my misery"