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Dog Learns to Talk by Using a Special Soundboard That Her Human Made
My Modern Met ^ | November 8, 2019 | Sara Barnes

Posted on 11/11/2019 8:28:48 AM PST by cann

Speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger can make her dog talk—without barking. The 26-year-old has devised a way for her pup Stella to use human language to communicate her needs. Thanks to Hunger’s ingenuity, the Catahoula/Blue Heeler mix can specify when she is thirsty, when she wants to go outside, and when she is looking for her favorite toy. Hunger documents Stella’s burgeoning skills in short videos and their back-and-forth conversations are nothing short of amazing.

So, how does Stella talk? Hunger created an adaptive device that features rows of large, colorful buttons. Each switch corresponds to a different word that describes places like “park” and objects including “ball” as well as emotions ranging from “happy” to “mad.” When the button is pressed, Hunger or her fiancé’s voice says the word. Stella can then string together multiple words to express what she’s trying to say.

In one video, Hunger told Stella that it was time to lay down, but Stella responded with the word “water.” When her human went to her dish, it turns out that it did need to be refilled. After Stella drank the water, Hunger again tried to get her to go to bed. Stella countered with “toy ball want” to communicate that she wanted her Kong toy—something that is always in her bed with her. Once the Kong was found, Stella showed her gratitude by saying “all done happy!”

(Excerpt) Read more at mymodernmet.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: dog; language; talkingdog
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To: Deplorable American1776

My sister caught a baby skunk. She let me hold it.

Years later, my brother threw a rattlesnake in the cab of my pickup. It immediately slithered behind the seat. He wanted to keep it, but I made him get it out before we drove back to whatever we were doing.

I’m a country-raised boy. Anything we caught and didn’t kill and eat was a pet, at least for a time.


61 posted on 11/11/2019 12:11:09 PM PST by Alas Babylon! (The media is after us. Trump's just in the way.)
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To: PGR88
When your Lab has a tennis ball for a brain...it's fetchfetchfetchcomonalreadyfetch.


62 posted on 11/11/2019 12:28:17 PM PST by Daffynition (*I'm living the dream.* & :))
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To: Right Wing Assault

cat v coyote. Simple.


63 posted on 11/11/2019 12:29:32 PM PST by Daffynition (*I'm living the dream.* & :))
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To: Rebelbase

If you have a Lab, there is no need for a Roomba to clean-up fallen food scraps from under the table.

[Of course, there is the shedding problem] to keep a Roomba busy 24/7


64 posted on 11/11/2019 12:36:43 PM PST by Daffynition (*I'm living the dream.* & :))
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To: cann

Most dogs do this by walking to the water dish, or the food dish, or picking up the ball and bringing it.

Animals are really good at figuring out stuff like this. They had mice ringing bells for food decades ago.


65 posted on 11/11/2019 2:04:26 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: GulfMan; Deplorable American1776; polymuser

This lady discusses the spirit of inordinate affection for animals, from the point of view of a Christian.

10 Signs You Have INORDINATE AFFECTION Towards Animals and Pets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAzFsgda8UY

Thank you. Norski.


66 posted on 11/11/2019 4:48:29 PM PST by Norski
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To: Boogieman

That looks like MY dog!


67 posted on 11/11/2019 5:01:01 PM PST by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: Flick Lives

“Just because dogs don’t appreciate the entire spectrum of color that humans do, that doesn’t mean they don’t perceive different colors. They just may not see the “true” color of an object.

For example, the color red appears dark brownish-gray or black to a dog. And yellow, orange, and green all look a bit yellowish to a dog. Our furry friends see blue really well, but purple looks the same as blue to them.”

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/do-dogs-see-color


68 posted on 11/11/2019 5:12:08 PM PST by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: GulfMan

“Her human? This dog fetish culture makes me sick, people love dogs more than their own children or forego children to just have pets.”

That’s OK - some of us get sick of the whiners who don’t pony up to help keep FR on the air...
https://freerepublic.com/donate


69 posted on 11/12/2019 2:40:44 AM PST by trebb (Don't howl about illegal leeches, or Trump in general, while not donating to FR - it's hypocritical.)
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To: Mr. Blond

“What’s the point of colored buttons for a dog?”

Excellent point! Doesn’t paint that ‘researcher’ as too bright. LOL!


70 posted on 11/12/2019 5:50:07 AM PST by polymuser (It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit. Noel Coward)
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To: Norski

That’ll sure trigger pet lovers.

Those that read the Bible often are regularly refreshed with the word ‘beast’. In those days, these animals mostly served purposes — herding sheep, eating vermin, protection, hunting. Today, they’re often emotional crutches for those that don’t relate well to humans, or status symbols, or a way to be one of today’s ‘cool crowd’.

All of this pet-centeredness highlights how easy our lives have become, how much extra money and time a great many have for such affairs.

I will never kiss another that shares their water with their little, dressed up dog. Eeewww. That “Love me, love my dog” sign is a big warning sign.

Again, I do like dogs and cats and they like me. I’ve been told that I’m an ‘animal person’. But, there’s a limit — they’re beasts.


71 posted on 11/12/2019 6:11:23 AM PST by polymuser (It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit. Noel Coward)
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