New Research Suggests , Dogs Can Distinguish , Foreign Languages.br NBC reports that researchers in Hungary have found br that dogs can recognize when someone is speaking br their owner's native language or a foreign one. .br According to brain scans from 18 dogs, different areas br of the dogs' brains would light up depending on whether br the dog heard a familiar or foreign language. .br Dogs are really good in br the human environment. br We found that they know more than br I expected about human language, Laura Cuaya, a postdoctoral researcher br at the Neuroethology of Communication Lab br at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, via NBC.br Certainly, this ability to be constant social br learners gives them an advantage as a species: br it gives them a better understanding br of their environment, Laura Cuaya, a postdoctoral researcher br at the Neuroethology of Communication Lab br at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, via NBC.br According to NBC, Cuaya said that dogs br seem to recognize their owner's native br language without "explicit training." .br I think this reflects how much dogs are br tuned to humans. As many owners already br know, dogs are social beings interested br in what is happening in their social world, Laura Cuaya, a postdoctoral researcher br at the Neuroethology of Communication Lab br at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, via NBC.br The study reportedly included six border collies, two Australian shepherds, a labradoodle, a cocker spaniel and three mixed breed dogs. .br The study reportedly included six border collies, two Australian shepherds, a labradoodle, a cocker spaniel and three mixed breed dogs. .br 16 of the dogs' native language was Hungarian, br while the other two were familiar with Spanish. .br The dogs were read excerpts from Chapter 21 of 'The Little Prince' while in an MRI scanner. .br The report was published in NeuroImage.