Dogs learn new words after hearing them only four times: Study ANI | Updated: Jan 31, 2021 14:52 IST Washington [US], January 31 (ANI): A new study discovered that talented dogs can learn new words after hearing them only four times. Preliminary evidence shows that though most dogs do not learn words (i.e. names of objects) unless very extensively trained, a few individuals have shown some exceptional abilities by learning new words after hearing them only four times. The Family Dog Project research team at the Department of Ethology, Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest is investigating these exceptionally talented dogs who seem to learn words in the absence of any formal training, but simply by being exposed to playing with their owners in the typical way owners do, in a human family.