How do soundboard-trained dogs respond to human button presses? An investigation into word comprehension.

ABSTRACT: Past research on interspecies communication has shown that animals can be trained to use Augmentative Interspecies Communication (AIC) devices, such as soundboards, to make simple requests of their caretakers. The recent uptake in AIC devices by hundreds of pet owners around the world offers a novel opportunity to investigate whether AIC is possible with owner-trained family dogs. To answer this question, we carried out two studies to test pet dogs' ability to recognise and respond appropriately to food-related, play-related, and outside-related words on their soundboards. One study was conducted by researchers, and the other by citizen scientists who followed the same procedure. Further, we investigated whether these behaviours depended on the identity of the person presenting the word (u

SUBMITTER: Bastos APM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11355551 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature