The surprising skill of dogs: they can classify new objects by their function

The surprising skill of dogs: they can classify new objects by their function

September 28, 2025 – 19:00

A scientific study revealed a capacity of dogs that was previously thought to be exclusive to humans.

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A recent study revealed that some dogs with the ability to learn words They manage to group objects according to their usefulness. This ability, which was previously attributed to humans, demonstrates a more complex understanding of language and categorization in these animals.

Human babies naturally develop the ability to associate words with specific functions. For example, they relate spoons and bowls because both serve to eat. Now, science confirmed that certain dogs also possess this Aptitude to classify objects according to its usewithout requiring previous training.

Dogs 2 … Webp

How the ability of dogs to classify objects was discovered

An investigation published in Current Biology analyzed the behavior of talented dogs to learn words. The animals achieved distinguish between toys designed to “throw” and toys to “bring”although these did not share similar physical features. In addition, they maintained this classification in their memory for prolonged periods.

The team of experts, led by Claudia flee Dogs extended verbal labels to objects with equivalent functions. Fugazza explained: “It is as if a person identified a hammer and a stone with the same name, because both fulfill a similar function. These dogs do the same with the toys.”

The tests were carried out in the daily environment of the dogs, along with their owners. First, The animals familiarized the words “throw” and “bring” associated with specific toys groups. Then, they were evaluated with new objects within the same categories, but without the owners mentioning verbal labels.

The results showed that Dogs properly applied labels to new toysselecting adequate for each game. Fugazza stressed that this learning occurred natural waywithout rigorous training. The owners only interacted with the toys for a week, which demonstrates the ability of dogs to form mental representations based on the function of objects.

Researchers suggest that these findings provide valuable information about the evolution of basic linguistic skills and their link with other cognitive abilities, such as memory. However, they warn that more studies are required to completely understand the scope of this skill in dogs.

Source: Ambito

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