Arrf, Woof, Bow-wow! Ever wonder what these dog sounds mean? Do you think your dog might be trying to say something really important to you? Well now you may be able to find out. The Japanese toy company Takara claims that their new dog translator called Bow-Lingual can actually translate dog sounds into human words and phrases.

The device comes in two parts: a radio microphone that attaches to the dog's collar, and a receiver held by the owner that is said to translate the dog's barks. The translater is capable of translating the growls, grunts, and whines into phrases such as "I'm hungry," "walk me," and "I'm tired." The phrases as well as illustrations are displayed on the receivers LCD screen. Although the phrases are far from complex sentences, they do a reasonable job in describing what the dog wants or thinks.

In addition to translating what your dog is saying at any given moment, Bow-Lingual is equipped with a Data Analysis Mode, which allows the owner to track changes in the dogs perceived emotions over time. The doggy translator also includes a Body Language Translation Mode, a Training Mode and a Medical Reference Mode. It uses 5 "AAA" batteries, and the first set is usually included.

So how does Bow-Lingual turn bow-wow into human talk? Well, the device uses what is known as an animal Emotion Analysis System. This basically means that it has a large database of dog sounds which have been translated into human language by dog experts. So, when the dog makes a particular sound, the device matches the sound with the closest one it its database and spits out the human equivalent. Thus, the accuracy of the device is largely dependent on the experts prior ability to properly assign words and phrases to dog barks. And this, of course, is far from a perfect science.

The device originally sold for over $150, but now can be bought for around $40 - $50. At this price it is probably worth experimenting with if you are at all curious about what your furry best friend is trying to tell you.

Bradley James is a senior editor at SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful consumer electronics review articles. For more information on Bow Lingual translating technology, please visit our Bow Lingual webpage.