Of course, you’ve likely seen some movies where pets like cats and dogs can talk to their owners. However, what if this was already possible. Read on to discover the woman who has taught her dog 20 words…
Giving Everyone A Voice
From the outside, Christina Hunger from San Diego looks like any other happy dog owner. However, she’s always dreamed of giving her pets a voice, namely her dog Stella, and now she’s incredibly close! And don’t think that Hunger is simply some nut. She went to Northern Illinois University in order to obtain a master’s degree in speech-language pathology to see if she can give animals a real voice. Now, Hunger lives with her fiancé Jake and their dog Stella, and documents her studies with Stella on Instagram.
While others are only wondering if dogs can understand us or communicate with us, Hunger feels certain she will find the truth, no matter what the answer. It’s not just about dogs either! She says that “everyone deserves a voice,” regardless of their species.
Communicating With Her Owner
So, what exactly is this communication between Stella and Hunger? Well, it’s not exactly talking. Hunger uses a piece of equipment called an augmentative and alternative communication device. While it might sound very complicated, it’s really just a board with answer buzzers. In fact, you could build your own quite easily or simply pick one up off Amazon! Hunger then labels the buzzers with different words. These include simple emotions or subjects that come up in conversation often, like “leash,” “treat,” “bathroom,” and so on. Believe it or not, Stella has learned to used 29 different words, many more than any dog before her! If this method sounds a little familiar, it’s likely because you’ve seen it in nature documentaries before, scientists often use it with chimps!
“Every day, I spend time using Stella’s buttons to talk with her and teach her words just as I would in speech therapy sessions with children,” Hunger explained. “Instead of rewarding Stella with a treat for using a button, we responded to her communication by acknowledging her message and responding accordingly.” Now, Stella has even started making short phrases, like “Jake” and “come” when she wants her belly rubbed! “Beginning communicators include giving the learner increased wait time to process what’s happening and generate a response,” Hunger stated.
So, does it mean dogs can understand English? A former self-described cognitive psychologist, Jane Hu, says that there is a distinct difference “between Stella’s button-pushing and actually understanding language in the way that humans do.” But it doesn’t mean we don’t have progress! It will be very exciting to watch as this dog continues to grow and learn how to use language!