You likely speak to your pet in one language, but does your pet understand other languages, too? Research has shown that pets can recognize foreign languages. Studies of dogs have shown that certain areas of dogs’ brains light up differently depending on whether the dog was hearing words from a familiar or foreign language.
Dogs are incredible learners when it comes to human interaction. They pick up on familiar words, phrases and commands, typically in the language spoken by their owners. They generally understand the language they are most exposed to, typically their owner’s native tongue. They can learn the meaning of words and commands through repetition and association, and their ability to understand human language is akin to that of a young child.
While dogs can understand multiple languages, research shows that they understand best the language in which they are most frequently spoken to. For example, if a dog is primarily raised in a Spanish-speaking household, they will respond better to commands in Spanish. However, the best language for dogs to understand isn’t about the language itself but rather the tone and body language associated with the words. Dogs are more likely to pick up on the emotional tone of speech and physical cues than the actual language used.
Yes, dogs can understand other languages, but it requires time and training. They aren’t born knowing any particular human language. Instead, dogs learn through repeated exposure and positive reinforcement. If a dog is exposed to English commands, they’ll learn those words. If that same dog later moves to a new environment where French is spoken, with proper training, they can understand French commands as well. Dogs’ adaptability allows them to pick up new languages relatively quickly.
Cats, like dogs, also learn to understand the language they are most exposed to. Cats recognize specific sounds, tones and phrases in the language spoken by their owners, particularly those related to feeding, affection and routine. Their understanding is less about the words themselves and more about the sounds and the rewards associated with them, such as treats or attention.
The language that cats understand best is the one they hear consistently in their daily lives. Similar to dogs, they learn through association. A cat raised in an English-speaking home will recognize specific words and tones in English. However, much like with dogs, the intonation and the context in which the words are spoken play a significant role in their understanding.
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