How Stella Learned to Talk: The Groundbreaking Story of the World's First Talking Dog

by Christina Hunger

TAKEAWAYS FOR TEACHING YOUR DOG Add names and other nouns. This can help your dog communicate more specific messages. Test out your dog’s vocabulary. Spend time using your dog’s buttons to try saying the common words and phrases you use. If you’re able to use her buttons to say a variety of common phrases, that indicates a solid vocabulary selection. Model three-and four-word phrases. When your dog starts combining words, keep modeling the next level up. A good rule of thumb is to add one word to whatever your dog said. This helps expand length of utterance. Use the stages of motor learning to help you. Know that it’s possible for your dog to be in the beginning stages of motor learning with some words, and automatic with others. Keep modeling and providing cues for the words that your dog is still learning how to say independently and automatically. Give wait time. When your dog has shown that she is capable of combining words, give her time to do so. Instead of reacting right away to a single word, wait five to ten seconds to see if she will add to her message. Communicating with AAC takes time. Give your dog a chance to finish her whole thought.