If you live with a dog, you already know how much they can figure out. Many dogs pick up on words such as “walk,” “ride,” and “treat.” They also have clever ways of getting into mischief.
Since dogs can learn many skills and solve problems, it can be rewarding to play training games that provide them with a mental workout. Not only is intentional training and enrichment good for your dog, it will allow you to learn more about what your dog is capable of. Help your dog use their focus for learning rather than getting into the trash.
How Dogs Learn Words
Some dogs can learn many words, such as training cues and toy names. According to a study published in Science on January 8, 2026, some extremely skilled dogs can even learn by eavesdropping. The study focused on a small group of dogs known as gifted word learner dogs. The dogs already demonstrated an above-average ability to learn the names of objects.
What’s fascinating is that the dogs in the study were able to learn the names of objects simply by overhearing their owner’s interactions with other people, instead of the owner directly showing the dog an object while naming it.
While anyone who shares their life with a dog will tell you how smart dogs are, this recent study proves that there is still more to learn about what dogs can do.
At home, you can find out about your dog’s abilities by playing training games. A few minutes of daily training is a bonding activity that helps your dog practice focus and problem-solving.
Find My Slippers
Training your dog to recognize objects by name is a fun way to start testing your dog’s memory and focus. If you’ve already taught your dog to retrieve, you can train your dog to find you items by name.
Start by teaching your dog the name of one of their favorite toys. Since your dog will be interested in finding their favorite toy, this first step will help teach the concept of going to a particular object by name. Next, begin adding additional toys. Once your dog knows a few toys by name, see if he will choose the correct toy from a pile only by the name of the toy without any other hints, such as pointing.
Melissa Viera/Townsquare Media
Dogs can learn other objects by name as well. You can train your dog to fetch you your slippers, their food bowl, or even their leash. Remember that if a behavior is reinforced, the dog will repeat it. If you don’t want your dog randomly bringing you items when you sit down to relax, it’s important to only play this game when you give a cue, so the dog learns that the game has a start and stop button.
Choose the Matching Item
Another fun game to try is teaching your dog to match items. Instead of naming an object, you show it to your dog and cue your dog to find the same item from a selection. For example, you might have two identical dog toys, two identical push buttons, and two identical dog grooming brushes. You hold up the brush, then tell your dog to match, and (with training) your dog will indicate the identical brush from the selection of items. With practice, dogs can learn to match items visually or by scent.
Two Skills at the Same Time
Another game that makes dogs think is combining cues. If you tell your dog to sit and then to touch a nose target, the dog will likely get up from the sit, walk to the target, and then touch it. What if you want your dog to do both at once? With the target close enough, the dog could learn to maintain the sit while reaching for it. There are many creative ways to combine elements that will help you come up with new tricks and get your dog thinking.
Getting Started
If you’re motivated to start training more than the basics, the easiest place to start is where your dog shows a natural interest. If your dog likes playing with toys, then start with object naming. Does your dog tend to watch you closely during training? Then, visual matching might work great to begin with.
These training games aren’t about the end results. They are about getting to know your dog. It’s important to keep sessions short and positive. Training should be a fun activity for you and your dog without taking up all of your time together. You never know, your dog might just be a genius.
Melissa “MJ” Viera is the owner of MJ’s Pet Training Academy in Acushnet.
RANKED: Here Are the 63 Smartest Dog Breeds
Does your loyal pup’s breed make the list? Read on to see if you’ll be bragging to the neighbors about your dog’s intellectual prowess the next time you take your fur baby out for a walk. Don’t worry: Even if your dog’s breed doesn’t land on the list, that doesn’t mean he’s not a good boy–some traits simply can’t be measured.
Gallery Credit: Sabienna Bowman
LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state
Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.
Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.
Gallery Credit: Elena Kadvany
link