No we're not barking mad - scientists claim they've invented a computer programme that can distinguish what different barks, yaps and howls mean
They tested it with 6,000 sounds from 14 dogs and it chose the right meaning - such as fight, play or ball - more than four times out of 10.
But the Hungarians experts admit that humans can do almost as well as the computer programme.
They say that the device could be developed to help dog well-being.
The computer was also able to pick out the barks and different noises of the individual 14 dogs used in the test.