DOG’S VOCABULARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 298, 28 September 1938, Page 8

DOG’S VOCABULARY.

average about sixty words. 'flic average pet. dog has a vocabulary of sixty words, about the same as that of a year-and-a-half-old baby, says Dr. Wilfred J. Punk, the lexicographer and dictionary publisher, reports a Now York message to the “Christian Science Monitor. ’ Dr. Punk, who for years has been amusing himself and others by his researches into the use ol words by human beings, began a study of wordrecognition among their canine toiirlcgged friends some months ago. His own six dogs were the first objects ol study. “If you have been belittling your own dog’s vocabulary,’’ Dr. hunk admonishes. “just write out the words to which ho will respond and you will doubtless be surprised at the number of them he knows.” With the assistance of a Hollywood trainer, the lexicographer came to the conclusion that trick dogs can be taught upwards of 250 words. An ordinary roving mongrel, lie found, somehow will pick up ten or more words. The smartest ol his own six dogs is a miniature French poodle with a vocabulary of more than KM) words. Second place went to a “mult” with a vocabulary of 85 words, although the four other Punk dogs were pedigreed animals. He described his loquacious “mutt’’ as half-bound, half-police dog. Dr. Funk said a Pomeranian iu the sextet 1 oscs no time in showing lie understands the phrase “get iu bed with me”-—even when idle “Rom is under the bud and out ol sight. In carrying out his research. Dr. Funk called on his friend Rupert Hughes, the author, and found that lie had to be careful about using the word “out” in that household. “The Hughes’s three Pekingese make a wild dasli for the door when they hear the word,” lie explained. Several years ago. Dr. Punk, who is also a poet, picked as the ten most beautiful words “dawn. hush, lullaby, murmuring, tranquil, mist, luminous, chimes, golden, and melody. and brought upon himself a lot ol rough comment from the late Ring Gardner. Pannii Hurst. Dorothy Racket. and other literati. I.iisf year there was a similar reaction when lie decided upon the ten most “overworked ’ words as “okay. luhsn . terrific, contact. definitely, gal. lackei, swell, impact and honey. So in picking ten words host known i,v lings, lie lists some alternates: (1) Talk. speak or hark : (2) quiet- or linsli ; {: J, wait or Stop; (I) heel, down or sit ; (5) up or stand ; (6) good-bye or by-by ; (7) quick; (8) hod; (9) eat ; (IU) si ecu hi. IK* said be was surprised at the number of dogs who know “kiss, “ashamed,’’ “naughty, and “icecream.”