How Many Words Does a Dog Know?

Have you ever found yourself spelling out “w-a-l-k” or “t-r-e-a-t” to avoid sending your dog into a frenzy? If so, you know that dogs can understand at least some of what we say. But how many words do dogs know?

Every dog is an individual. Some seem to hang on our every word, while others only respond to a few of their favorite phrases. Scientists have investigated what dogs understand, and you might find the evidence surprising.

How Many Words Can a Dog Learn?

A 2022 study of 165 adult dogs found that, according to their pet parents, dogs know an average of 89 words. But the range varied from as few as 15 words to as many as 215.

However, this study doesn’t tell the whole story—some dogs can learn many more words! A Border Collie named Chaser was especially impressive. After three years of intense training, Chaser learned the names of 1,022 objects, could respond appropriately to combinations of commands and the object names, and even understood words that represented categories of objects.

Popular Words Dogs Can Learn

The list of words and phrases that the dogs enrolled in the 2022 study knew included:

• Cues such as “off,” “fetch,” “shake,” and “go get your…”

• Items such as “collar,” “ball,” “crate,” and “vacuum”

• People, including the vet, neighbors, friends, and family members

• “Peanut butter,” “carrot,” “dinner,” “treat,” and other foods

• A variety of phrases classified as games, including “I love you,” “thank you,” and “what a sweetie”

Several studies have shown that dogs have an ability to understand words at a level similar to that of human infants.

How To Teach Your Dog New Words

Teaching your dog a lot of words isn’t just about bragging rights; it can also improve your dog’s manners and safety, bring you and your dog closer together, and just be a lot of fun. Here are some tips for pet parents who want to expand their dog’s vocabulary:

Start With Simple Words

Start with simple words that refer to things your dog enjoys. “Dinner,” “treat,” “walk,” or “outside” will naturally grab their attention. Use the word in question and then immediately show your dog what it means. For example, say “carrot” and then give your dog a piece of carrot to munch on.

Also, pick words that don’t sound like other words. Research has shown that dogs can distinguish between familiar words and those that sound different, but they struggle to differentiate between familiar words and similar nonsense words. So it’s probably unreasonable to expect your dog to understand the difference between the words “treat” and “meat,” but they could very well learn that “treat” and “chewie” refer to separate things.

Speak Clearly and Slowly

Dogs communicate using sound at a slower rate than we do. Deliberately slowing down our speech patterns when we talk to dogs may help improve their understanding.

Add Commands When They're Ready

When your dog is ready for higher-level learning, try teaching them to differentiate between items in a category and adding in some commands.

For example, let’s say your dog’s favorite toys are a stuffed hedgehog and a ball. Teach them simple names for each toy—“hedgie” and “ball” would be good choices—by saying the word and then handing the toy to them.

When you feel your dog knows the difference between the two toys, add in a simple command, such as “paw on.” Say “paw on hedgie” and put your dog’s paw on the stuffed hedgehog. Do the same with the ball.

With enough repetition and positive reinforcement (rewarding your pet immediately after they follow your suggestion), your dog will soon amaze you with all the words they can learn.

And if you want to try something truly extraordinary, teach your dog to talk back to you using a soundboard or buttons like those included with the Hunger for Words™ Talking Pet Essential Words Dog Toy. A global citizen science project is underway to determine just how effective these devices might be in enhancing communication between people and dogs.