Austria Dog Names

The Austrians are known for many things, including their food and rich culture, but they're also well-known dog lovers. Walking down any Austrian street involves seeing several dogs on walks, some without leashes, but all well-trained. Dressing up dogs in warm coats, splurging on lavish leashes, and shopping at doggy boutiques is all part of being Austrian. 

There's even a street, known as "Scooby-Doo Street," known for the sheer amount of dog poop left behind from the neighboring houses, all of which own dogs. The street has gotten so much press coverage over the years that a petition for tougher dog mess laws landed a whopping 157,000 signatures. One politician even wanted to DNA-test the droppings, to see if it was all the dogs, or just a few. 

It's no wonder that in a country filled with dog-loving people, there's a smart Border Collie that's been making headlines for years. Betsy is believed to be one of the world's most intelligent dogs. She understands a grand total of 340 human words, and will therefore follow instructions, give her input in conversations, and more. 

According to a National Geographic report, Betsy's comprehension of human language rivals non-human primates, such as gorillas. All Betsy needs is to hear the word twice and she immediately picks up on what's being said. She understands commands and instructions, and often astounds professors, the press, strangers on the street, and even her own owners. 

Researchers have been so amazed with Betsy's language learning abilities that she's been the subject of many humane experiments involving getting her to recognize toys, or obey training commands. It's speculated that in addition to her unique skills, Border Collies in general may be able to understand human vocalizations. This is probably because this herding breed historically had to pay close attention to spoken instructions. 

The seven-year-old Betsy recently set the world record for being able to recognize the most words out of any dog. Putting it in perspective, most dogs can't understand more than 15 commands, but Betsy understands 23 times more than that. 

If someone doesn't even want to say a command twice, she is fine with an image of the object in question. Show her a picture of it, and she will find it. So, once again, Austria shouldn't be underestimated. They love their dogs, and even take the time to properly train and educate them. Maybe it can serve as motivation for your dog?