The Scene
The Smiths were the owners of an ex-police dog and they believed that they knew their dog quite well. However, they hadn’t seen his dog do anything of the sort when he noticed him placing his nose to the ground, as his ears tensed.
The Scene
Feeling Compelled
John felt compelled to see why his dog was focused on a tree. However, he never expected it to become such an ordeal. Nonetheless, what he spotted on the tree made his heart race. He couldn’t believe what he had just stumbled on.
Feeling Compelled
Very Wrong
John soon realized that something was very wrong. The dog was acting extremely strange and was sniffing around nervously. It had been years since his days as a service dog but something had awoken his senses. What came next was truly out of the ordinary.
Very Wrong
About Kyle
Before finding a home with the Smith household, Kyle had been in two different homes. He didn’t last very long because he was still a police dog and needed to continue crime-fighting. However, it seemed like Kyle still hadn’t finished with his detective work.
About Kyle
A Gentle Soul
After the extensive police dog training, Kyle’s major strengths were with data collection. He was an excellent detective. However, he could never fulfill the role of a violent police dog. It wasn’t in his nature but that didn’t stop him from being protective.
A Gentle Soul
His Training Partner
After gaining a new training partner, Kyle’s skills rapidly picked up and he was taught how to be more physical when it was required. He was at his best performance while working with this new training partner and everyone knew it.
His Training Partner
An Excellent Duo
Service dogs typically go on patrol with various police officers. However, this wasn’t the case for Kyle. He didn’t respond to others in the way that he did with Officer John. The pair made an incredible team. John later adopted Kyle, so they were constantly on-duty.
An Excellent Duo
Parting Ways
John wanted to keep Kyle when the canine’s time came to retire. However, he couldn’t take care of him while he was on duty. The officer wanted to do what was best for the dog, so he found the Smiths, who adopted them.
Parting Ways
A Dog’s Dream
Kyle and his new family, the Smiths, formed a strong bond through walking. The family had a home in the countryside. They ended up doing a lot of exercises when Kyle joined the family and they were always going on walks in the hills until one day.
A Dog’s Dream
Discovering Something Unexpected
Running around rampant in the woods and chasing after different kinds of animals is any dog’s dream. Kyle especially enjoyed these times. However, Kyle discovered something while in the woods that was entirely unexpected. Nobody could have ever imagined that Kyle would come across such a thing.
Discovering Something Unexpected
A Rapid Change
As the family usually did, the family started their day with a walk and Kyle accompanied them. They began walking the regular trail they always did when Kyle demanded that they follow a new route. The dog started behaving very strangely.
A Rapid Change
His Behavior
From everyone’s observation, Kyle had adapted well to his new environment and he especially enjoyed his morning walks with the whole family. However, it was like a switch had gone off and there was something entirely different about Kyle was acting on this particular day.
His Behavior
Acting Strange
However, Kyle’s actions on the walk weren’t the first signs of the dog’s abnormal behavior. He started acting strange and grew quiet. Nonetheless, that didn’t stop his tail from wagging and his happiness when they were on their walks until he came across something unbelievable.
Acting Strange
His Old Habits
After noticing something strange in the forest, his old habits began to kick in. He followed the trail that was only familiar to him even though the family tried to call him back to the trail. It was too late because he was already fixated on one particular scent.
His Old Habits
Locating the Scent
It isn’t out of the ordinary for a dog to sniff on his walks. It was common for Kyle to notice all kinds of wildlife while they were on their trail. He even located old clothes while on regular walks, but nothing like this before.
Locating The Scent
Making Him Nervous
The fragrance that he had noticed on this specific morning bad him nervous. The family cautiously followed him from behind. What Kyle had found was serious because it had immediately reverted him to his service days.
Making Him Nervous
Something Hiding
The family believed that Kyle’s behavior was strange. They thought that something might be hiding above in the trees or the bushes. No matter what Kyle did, he couldn’t catch the very thing that was taunting him. Nonetheless, the family couldn’t spot anything.
Something Hiding
Making Everyone Uneasy
Kyle had noticed something that had gone unnoticed for a while. The entire family was unsure about what they were dealing with, and it started to make them uneasy. From the way that Kyle had reacted, it was something serious.
Making Everyone Uneasy
Getting Answers
The Smith family had called Kyle but it was no use. When they looked, Kyle was frozen and lying down. They didn’t know what to do, so the family called Kyle’s ex-partner. John tried to explain that Kyle was trained to pick up certain odors that posed a threat.
Getting Answers
Inspecting the Tree
Kyle was trained to act accordingly in such situations. Officer John had advised Mr. Smith to examine the tree but he had to do so carefully because it might be dangerous. He thought there might be drugs but it turned out to be worse.
Inspecting The Tree
It Wasn’t Drugs
After inspecting the tree, Mr. Smith noticed that the bark on the tree was loose. It didn’t take long for Kyle to start barking. The man decided to peel back the loose bark when he noticed the hollow inside the wood.
It Wasn’t Drugs
The Next Move
Kyle automatically went on high alert when he noticed that they weren’t dealing with drugs. The dog was anxiously awaiting his follow-up orders. Both Mr. Smith and Kyle were unaware of what was happening next. The pair couldn’t leave the area immediately.
The Next Move
Calling for Backup
Mr. Smith immediately took his phone out and called John about what he had found. He explained exactly what the dog had found. The officer quickly became deeply troubled. He quickly fathered forensics experts and came to the scene at the Smith household.
Calling For Backup
In Disbelief
It was clear that the Smith family had never encountered something like this and that it was something severe. Kyle had found something that was potentially dangerous and the family couldn’t believe it. John had offered no clarity while on the phone, which was even more troubling.
In Disbelief
On the Road
John was in a rush to get to the Smith’s home. He found the drive excruciating and it was taking too long to get there. Two hours had passed and he still wasn’t there. In addition to the long ride, John also felt regret because he hadn’t visited Kyle since leaving him at the house.
On The Road
Reaching the Location
The officer felt sad when as he revisited the old days and the crimes they had solved together. However, it didn’t matter how John was feeling at that moment. He knew that he would be thrilled to see his old friend once again.
Reaching The Location
Reuniting
Kyle was unable to contain his enthusiasm when he saw the familiar sight of cruisers passing by. He was running in the direction of John to be reunited with his ex-partner. However, everyone knew that they had a job they needed to do.
Reuniting
A Shocking Sight
The officer’s heart races as he noticed Kyle’s barking. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw the sight Mr. Smith had told him about. He couldn’t believe the sight he was seeing. What could the team potentially be seeing?
A Shocking Sight
Taking a Closer Look
Kyle leads the team to a human skeleton that had been hidden inside a tree. This skeleton was so well hidden that the team needed to carefully cut the tree down to see what they were dealing with. What Kyle had discovered was incredible.
Taking A Closer Look
Getting Back to His Usual Self
Mr. Smith was surprised to see the ex-police dog looking as vibrant as he was while the team continued their work. It was like he had returned to his genuine self. Mr. Smith could also see how much Kyle loved officer John.
Getting Back To His Usual Self
New Information
Officer John quickly realized that he was out of his depth when he understood the new information that was surfacing. He was ready to notify his chief police officer for more reinforcements, but something stopped him from making the call to his department.
New Information
Understanding the Skeleton
The forensic team that came with Officer John stopped him from making the call when they brought something to his attention. They had unpacked tools in an attempt to find out where the skeleton came from and started inspecting it.
Understanding The Skeleton
The Investigation
Generally speaking, forensic investigators typically need at least one week to determine who the remains belong to and how they ultimately became remains. These investigators stopped the officer from making the call because they discovered something that practically closed the case.
The Investigation
A False Alarm
The team inspected the skeleton of a life-sized human. However, it was fake. The team concluded that someone must have planted it there as a joke for Halloween and forgot about it. Everyone laughed with relief but it was still puzzling why the dog had warned them about such a situation.
A False Alarm
Suddenly Realizing
Everyone was confused about why Kyle would make such a big deal out of a fake skeleton if he was trained to distinguish the smell between threatening and non-threatening objects. Realization finally came when they understood that Kyle knew that his police action would bring John back to him.
Suddenly Realizing
Why He Did It
After John’s arrival, it was clear that Kyle missed his ex-partner far too much. It seemed as though the dog had orchestrated this event to gain John’s attention and pay him a visit. Everything began to make sense and it was heartbreaking.
Why He Did It
Realizing
From his many years of training and working with officer John, Kyle knew that the only way to get his full attention was to make it a police matter. It was evident that Kyle felt delighted to have John by his side.
Realizing
A Clever Dog
Kyle’s plan had paid off and he was in the arms of his former partner. John bent down to squeeze Kyle’s checks. It was clear that both of them had missed each other but they were so happy to see one another again.
A Clever Dog
His Loyalty
Kyle’s act was a signal to John that showed how much he missed him. Since moving to this new home, Kyle hadn’t seen his former partner. Kyle still remembered the days where they would work together and everyone could see he missed it.
His Loyalty
John’s Promise
As the pair were walking through the woods, John could see that Kyle was extremely content. That’s why he had a promise. He told the canine that he would visit as soon as possible so that he wouldn’t be lonely.
John’s Promise
Incredible Feat
Another incredible dog is Bunny, who is able to communicate with her owners by pressing a series of buttons that are programmed to play pre-recorded words. When she was not even a year old, she was already capable of understanding complicated commands that go far beyond just “sit” and “stay.”
Incredible Feat
Bunny Talks
Bunny is a Sheepadoodle, as she is three quarters Poodle and one quarter Old English Sheepdog. After learning how to speak, she is able to use over 40 words in order to fully communicate and express her wishes and desires with her owners.
Bunny Talks
Bunny’s Owner
Bunny’s owner is a woman named Alexis Devine. She thought it would be fun to teach her dog how to communicate. She did it through using augmentative and alternative communicative devices, tools that are most often used to assist people who have limited speaking abilities.
Bunny’s Owner
Finding Bunny
Alexis always wanted a dog, and when her husband agreed that it was a good time to get one, she began researching immediately. She found a breeder based in Spokane, Washington. Bunny’s mother is a Sheepadoodle named Kimra. Alexis felt an immediate connection with the dogs and was even able to watch Bunny’s birth on video. She made the trip to visit when Bunny was a month old. She fell asleep on Alexis’ lap for two hours, and Alexis knew this was her dog.
Finding Bunny
Learning “Ouch”
From early on, Alexis began teaching Bunny concepts in order to be able to communicate with her. When night Alexis came home after getting a tattoo done, it was clear that Bunny was curious about the new addition on her skin. It was good that Alexis had an “ouch” button, and that’s how she taught Bunny to communicate the concept of pain.
Learning Ouch
Aided Augmentative and Alternative Communication
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, various augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are labeled as either aided or unaided. Unaided AAC systems are used with body movements like motion, facial expressions, sign language. Meanwhile assisted systems incorporate external assistance from technology.
Aided Augmentative And Alternative Communication
She Went Viral
Alexis and Bunny’s journey of communication captivated audiences all around social media. She has nearly 6 million followers on TikTok and 630,000 on Instagram. They have also made many TV appearances, making Bunny one of the most famous dogs in the world.
She Went Viral
She Wants More ‘Scritches’
While most dog owners spend countless hours talking to their dogs, the incredible thing about Bunny is that she “talks” back. You can see how she communicates via Devine’s TikTok page. In one particular video, Bunny expresses that she wants more ‘scritches,’ and she was demanding more now…how adorable!
She Wants More ‘Scritches’
Teaching Concepts
There are some concepts that are easier than others to teach, so Devine had to get creative. When teaching Bunny the concept of “outside,” Alexis said she would push the button that said “outside” and then repeated the word until she let Bunny out.
Teaching Concepts
Figuring It All Out
Devine shared: “If I understand precisely well how to model those words, it would be simpler for her to understand them, but it’s kind of putting puzzle pieces together, and without having experience in anything really similar to all of this, I’m kind of just making it all up as I go.”
Figuring It All Out
Her Inspiration
So how did Devine start with this whole idea anyway? She shared that she was inspired by the success of Christina Hunger, a pediatric speech language pathologist who began using buttons in order to teach her dog Stella to communicate with her.
Her Inspiration
Meet Stella
So who is Christina Hunger? She’s a speech language pathologist who started to gain attention from videos she was sharing of her dog, Stella, communicating with her through the use of buttons.
Meet Stella
A Growing Vocabulary
Stella has already mastered 40 words and is constantly learning more. Hunger is working on writing a book that will help other dog owners learn the process of teaching their dogs non-verbal communication. She said that the process is similar to teaching children how to speak: taking a lot of time, repetition, and patience.
A Growing Vocabulary
Stella’s Training
Hunger began training Stella (a Blue Heeler/Catahoula hybrid) when she realized that Stella was already responding and engaging through what she called “gestures and vocalizations.” She realized that perhaps through incorporating words, modeling, and giving Stella a chance to practice, she could communicate in a much more effective way than is traditionally done.
Stella’s Training
Hunger’s Recommendations
Hunger shared on an Instagram caption: “Best practice in speech therapy with beginning communicators includes giving the learner increased wait time to process what’s happening and generate a response. Pausing before prompting or talking more gives the communicator a chance to respond!”
Hunger’s Recommendations
Communicating About Her Mood
Stella is able to convey when she is feeling upset or irritated by pressing the “mad” button, and when she’s in a good mood she can express this through pressing the “happy” button.
Communicating About Her Mood
Helping Others
Hunger said that in addition to continuing to train Stella, she wants to help train other dogs as well. She said: “I think how important dogs are to their people. I just imagine how much deeper the bond is going to be.”
Helping Others
She Wrote A Book
After teaching Stella so many words to use with the buttons and seeing that Stella could use them on a regular basis, Hunger decided to write a book about the whole experience. Stella was able to complete nearly full sentences, and Hunger realized that she could help so many other dog owners reach this level of communication with their dog.
She Wrote A Book
How Stella Learned To Talk
Hunger’s book is titled How Stella Learned To Talk and it tells the story of how she embarked on this journey with Stella. It starts with the day the met, to the first time Stella “talked” and their accomplishments and obstacles throughout the whole journey. She also describes the methods she used to teach Stella, as well as critical phases as well as enforceable measures that can be used by any pet owner who wants to learn to communicate with their animal.
How Stella Learned To Talk
Potential Of Communication
On her Instagram page @hunger4words, Hunger shared: “In her three years, Stella has become a symbol for what dogs have the potential to learn and say, the power of AAC, and a new era of interspecies communication. I am so proud of this sweet girl who inspires me every day.”
Potential Of Communication
