gifted dogs learn toy names eavesdropping.

A new study finds that some gifted dogs can learn the names of new toys by eavesdropping. It’s a skill that has only been observed in a few animals, like parrots and apes. Ten gifted dogs watched their owners hold a new toy and talk to another person about it. Then the pups were told to go to another room and retrieve that specific toy from a pile. Seven out of 10 succeeded. Only a select group of pooches is capable of this, and scientists aren’t yet sure what’s behind it. The new research was published Thursday in the journal Science.