Christina Hunger’s book “How Stella Learned to Talk” was released on May 4th with stories about Stella, Christina’s work in speech pathology and tips for teaching your dog to talk. 

My biggest takeaway from the first 100 pages:
Presume Competence: assume your learner CAN understand more than they can demonstrate. Language learners typically understand more than they can express. Give them more than one word to start. Christina gives examples of learners who were limited by what words the adults chose for the learner. When given hundreds or even thousands of words to choose from, their language learning exploded.

Stella started with 3 because one button in the pack was broken. My girl Lil started with 4. I never hesitated to add buttons when I saw Lil expressing nonverbally that she didn’t have a word for what she wanted to say.


 What are your takeaways from this book?

Transcript: (whines) Water Take Outside Dog Belly
Corrected for grammar: Take Dog Outside Water Belly

She has a Pee button. She chose to use 5 buttons.

CFNetworkDownload_zaVswJ.tmp.mp4

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M-OivFhXwB8ouEYjPB4bDFBadz_4oU6g/view?usp=drivesdk&usp=embed_facebook

Momia had gone to help a close friend, Bethesda. About an hour after she came home, Lil used the ?hmm button to ask a question!! “Momia Bethesda Look SniffSniff “
Momia: do you smell Bethesda?
Lil “Yes Good”

She asked a question AND responded to a question all in the same ‘breath’

SniffSniff Bethesda

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v_R2niTrwz4uDSy8PYzuPOh6V_EMCjd1/view?usp=drivesdk&usp=embed_facebook

The next clip: “Cold Hot Bethesda Happy”
We are getting the winter weather here too, so I think Cold was intentional and maybe Hot a misstep? It’s so hard to tell, she is too fast. Any ideas?

Cold Hot Bethesda Happy

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11WFYQLm4pA9976Tj9FPbNyKG8h7G3Dtl/view?usp=drivesdk&usp=embed_facebook

I finally broke down and gave the pups "Poop" and "Pee" buttons yesterday. I modeled it when I put the buttons down but that's it. This morning, Lil's first button presses: Now Poop. Outside.
Celianna & Zuko + Binx I'm waiting for Lil to tell me to eat sh*t, too! lol

Now poop outside

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NbAgOpGyS-kjoChgxkzIpTzM-9M8-Qsp/view?usp=sharing&usp=embed_facebook

While looking at her reflection:
Look SniffSniff Friends Walk Hugs Friends Hugs Friends Paw Alldone

Interpretation: I can see a friend but can’t sniff or hug friend (her reflection)

Then a moment later:
Quiet Hugs Gentle Sad ?hmm

Interpretation: I will be gentle with friend, I’m sad not to play with friend

Also Finn: Happy Cold (it’s snowing hard and he loooooves it)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/170U6NwCshPrfa2nxo94whXo1ma3RpPa4/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yy6Zv4V72Qsk_RGe7Np4t00lC8q5tcAR/view?usp=drivesdk

Here’s the short version of context:
-I have two board and train dogs, and I am staying in our basement with them while my kids are upstairs with my wife
-Lil had attempted an introduction earlier this afternoon, neither resulted in meeting.
-I was upstairs for a visit while B&T dogs were outside barking.

ALLDONE GENTLE HAPPY WHEN

My interpretation is “When will friends be Alldone barking and Play Gentle?”

Thoughts?

Alldone. Gentle Happy When

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1feQzi5GKGlECqAn66V2g_rKclGV4gja6/view?usp=drivesdk&usp=embed_facebook

Someone posted about a service dog but looks like to got deleted.
Lil and Finn both do service at home. We have a Meds button and they help remind us to take them. They will also identify anxiety/high emotions and press Meds to indicate "take as-needed" medication. Funny, they refer to it as Eat Meds, which makes way more sense than our human "Take." They will sometimes remind us to go to bed on time, or drink water too. I believe there is HUGE potential for buttons to help service teams.

Some dogs can learn new words after hearing them only four times

Some talented dogs can learn new words after hearing them only four times, according to a new study.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/26/europe/dog-word-study-intl-scli-scn/index.html

I just want to share my personal experience with Lil and the EAT button.
EAT was the very first button I taught! Technically alongside the Outside button for potty training, but I didn't specifically teach that one in the same way.

She was 8 or 9 weeks old. I sat in front of her food bowl, and put in a handful of kibble every time she pressed the button. I even put the button inside the bowl!! I would move the button to the kitchen when it was time to eat, and she had to press the button in order to receive dinner.

Lil is a crack monkey for treats, and EAT is clearly her favorite button. EAT is her primary motivation in life. Seriously, she jumos through hoops for one piece of plain ol' kibble. However, we don't have a problem with her abusing the EAT button. Here's how:

Decide the rules. 

Now you just need to enforce your rules. Learner presses the button outside of the "rules"? Respond "No Eat Now. Eat Later." Repeat no more than 3 or 4 times, then completely and totally ignore your learner!!!! Just like your mom, no means no because I said so! You will suffer through a few tantrums, but if you stick to the rules, your learner WILL figure it out! Leave the button on the board even as you suffer through EATEATEATEATEATEATEAT tantrums. The only time to pick up the button is if it's in danger of being broken.

I will admit that Lil is wicked smart and this may not work for every dog, but it CAN work! If your learner just isn't that interested in buttons and you haven't introduced EAT, give it a try. It may be the spark that lights up their communication.

Here is Lil's completely appropriate request for breakfast this morning while I cooked her eggs (spoiled rotten, no judge)
"WANT EAT"

CFNetworkDownload_HOaF4Y.tmp.MP4

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rmUYBRaowtVLFzkj5HJNwx2NBjqQGAiS/view?usp=sharing&usp=embed_facebook