Dogs Communicate Using Soundboards and Two-Word Combos

A study from UC San Diego reveals that dogs trained to use soundboards can intentionally combine two-word buttons to communicate specific needs, such as "outside + potty," rather than merely imitating their owners. Analyzing over 260,000 button presses from 152 dogs, researchers found that these combinations occur more frequently than by chance, indicating purposeful communication. The study suggests that soundboards could enhance human-dog communication and strengthen bonds, with future research exploring if dogs can express abstract ideas like past events or missing objects.