Researchers from Hungary's Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) have made a groundbreaking discovery: dogs can recognize their owners' voices using pre-recorded speech. This study, published in Animal Behaviour, is the first to provide evidence of individual-level voice recognition in dogs.
The experiment involved three members of the same dog-owning family. Each dog participated with their three owners, all equally familiar to them. The researchers recorded the owners' voices and played them back through loudspeakers placed behind the owners, ensuring no physical cues were given.
Each of the 31 participating dogs was tested 18 times, relying solely on their auditory skills. The results were impressive; dogs consistently chose the correct owner based on voice alone.
Key Findings:
Dogs performed above chance levels, recognizing all family members by voice.
Performance was best when identifying their main owner's voice, likely due to more frequent vocal interactions.
This research sheds light on the advanced communication capabilities of dogs and the significance of their bond with humans. It also raises questions about whether this ability is common among mammals or specific to dogs, who have evolved alongside humans.