Dog with 'Italian accent' proves animals can sound like their owners

A dog doing an 'Italian accent'? The internet really is the gift that keeps on giving.

Ditch your Christmas list because this video is the only thing you'll want - if you've made it onto Santa's nice list this year that is.

We all know that pets can sometimes end up physically resembling their owners, but what about what they sound like?

Aaron the husky and his owner Antonia live in Italy and in November 2023, Antonia took to TikTok to share a video of her talking to her pup.

Now, if you're not a pet owner this may already seem strange, but talking to your four-legged friend is very much a natural part of life - I prefer talking to my dog more than I do interacting with any human for that matter.

But the most surprising part of the video is the fact Aaron the husky actually responds to Antonia - and doesn't just respond, but does so with a seemingly Italian twang too.

And his owner has actually shared a handful of clips of Aaron's impressive talent, proving his 'accent' wasn't just a one-off thing.

Obviously it didn't take long for people to flood to social media to weigh in - it's not every day you see a talking dog and one with an 'Italian accent' too.

Aaron has proved a hit on TikTok (TikTok/@aaronthehusky_)

"WHY DOES THE HUSKY SOUND ITALIAN ALSO LMAO," questioned one person, as another echoed: "The husky even sounds Italian as well."

"He's really like 'bo bo bo'," said a third.

Someone else even went as far as saying Aaron could speak better Italian than them.

Another added: "I've never heard Husky whines with an accent. It's so cute!"

As to whether animals can really have accents, some studies have proven that they do.

Canine Behavior Center in Cumbria, England, found that dogs have regional accents like their owners because their owner's speech influences the way a dog vocalizes.

They conducted a study back in 2000 and recorded sounds of dogs barking and growling.

These sound samples were then compared and analyzed to produce the final result and ultimately discovered that pooches mimic the tone and pitch of their owners.

Does your dog speak to you? (Getty Stock Images/Raquel Arocena Torres)

Tracey Gudgeon, from the Center, previously told The Mirror: "It seems dogs are more able to imitate stronger, more distinctive accents than softer ones. It's one of the ways they bond with their owner."

And dogs aren't alone in having accents - other animals apparently do too.

In Britain, variations in vocalizations between birds have been found in different parts of the UK.

For example, ‘Cockney’ mallard ducks in London are said to have a harsher quack than those in Cornwall.

Elsewhere, farmers have reported that their cows in the West Country have an accent too.

Other animals with accents include sperm whales, orcas and humpbacks, as well as singing gibbons and rock hyraxes.

Cats have also been found to have an accent and, if you haven't heard of the Liverpudlian-sounding cat, I strongly suggest you Google it.