A study from UC San Diego’s Comparative Cognition Lab reveals that dogs trained to use soundboards can create two-word combinations that demonstrate purposeful communication, rather than mere imitation. Published in the journal Scientific Reports, the research analyzed data from 152 dogs over 21 months, resulting in over 260,000 button presses, of which 195,000 were initiated by the dogs themselves.
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Lead researcher Federico Rossano, an associate professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego, stated, “This is the first scientific study to analyze how dogs actually use soundboards.” The findings indicate that dogs press buttons intentionally to express specific needs, as evidenced by combinations like “outside” + “potty” or “food” + “water,