A Scene To Behold As he put his nose on the ground, he squeezed his ears. This was something that his dog had never seen Smith do before, not like this anyway. They must have stumbled into something enormous! He was as still as a statue, his big paws pressing into the soft soil. A Scene To Behold What Kyle Saw He felt compelled to see that his dog was so focused on the tree, but he knew it would be an ordeal. He could feel his pulse race as his palms became clammy. He would not have believed what he had stumbled on if he had not seen it with his own eyes. What Kyle Saw Something Was Wrong It was like hiking with Kyle on every other regular day before they realized something’s not right with him. He was acting odd; he was nervous, sniffing around with intent, maybe from his days as a service animal, it was aged reflexes? Something Was Wrong Kyle Wasn’t Done Yet Either way, something was clearly wrong. Kyle had been to 2 other families before the Smiths. The last two only lasted for a short while because he had not yet resigned as a police dog and still had to do more crime-fighting. For sure, Kyle wasn’t done with his detective work. Kyle Wasn’t Done Yet Gentle Soul Kyle’s strengths were in data collection with all of his police experience; he was a true detective. But it just wasn’t in his character when it came to needing to be violent. He would still be protecting any officers he was with, and now if he wanted to, his new family. Gentle Soul A New Partner Kyle’s training picked up once he got his new partner, Officer John, And when the situation required it, he quickly learned to be more physical. He would use his life to safeguard his new partner as well. There is no doubt that his new partner definitely pushed him to his very best. A New Partner A Great Duo Usually, service dogs would go with multiple officers on patrol, but for Kyle, he just wouldn’t respond to others the way he did to Officer John. The two made a great team and shared a unique connection. John adopted Kyle, so the two were on constant duty. A Great Duo Parting Ways John wanted to keep him when Kyle’s time on the force came to an end, but he couldn’t take care of him when he went on duty. He wanted to do what was best for the dog, so he allowed the Smiths to adopt him. Still, Officer John certainly felt sad being away with his partner. Parting Ways Every Dog’s Dream Kyle and the Smith family is forming a bond through walking. They ended up exercising much more than they used to. Until one day, they went for a regular walk in the hills. In the countryside, their house had a large forest that surrounded it. Every Dog’s Dream An Unexpected Discovery It was a great advantage for Kyle that any normal dog would run rampant in the woods chasing after all kinds of animals. But Kyle discovered something else. What was it that Kyle discovered? However big it may be, we are about to find that out! An Unexpected Discovery A Drastic Change The day began, as usual, and they began their walk, with Kyle bounding ahead of them. They walked the road they always had, and then Kyle demanded that a new route be followed. That’s when the family knew their dog was behaving really odd. A Drastic Change Acting Odd Never before had Kyle been out of town for so long. He enjoyed his daily walks in the woods with his new family, but today there was something different, something that they hadn’t expected. It was like a switch was flipped and completely changed Kyle as a whole! Acting Odd Strange Behavior After a while, Kyle began acting odd. He became quiet and stopped eating. But he was content on the trip, with his tail wagging and bounding in the woods. They could see that when he was still in service, this is how he must have been. Strange Behavior Old Habits His old reflexes from his police days kicked in as he began to bury his nose in the dirt, following a trail only recognizable to him. The family tried to call him back to the trail, but the fragrance was something that caught his attention perhaps way too much. Old Habits Finding The Scent It wasn’t out of the ordinary for a dog to occasionally sniff the ground on walks. When they walked, Kyle would often notice all sorts of wildlife. He also noticed someone’s old clothes once. Kyle would check it out and find it if there was something to hide from this secret trail. Finding The Scent The Scent Made Him Nervously However, the fragrance that he discovered this time seemed to make him nervous, something the family had never seen before. They had to keep going now that they’d been invested. Whatever Kyle had discovered, it was definitely something serious as it made him revert to his old ways. The Scent Made Him Nervous Above Them The family felt Kyle’s behavior was strange; maybe something was hiding in the trees above them? Maybe a small animal? They may have taunted their dog, knowing he couldn’t catch them. But all they saw as they looked up were twisted branches where there would be leaves in spring. Above Them It Made Everyone Anxiously Kyle had discovered something that had been unknown to them up until now. And what did he find? The family also began to get anxious as they were all unsure about what they would be dealing with. With the way Kyle was acting, it was definitely something serious. It Made Everyone Anxious What Is It? Once again, Smith called him, but it was no use. Kyle instead was lying down, frozen. Smith didn’t know what to do, so he called John, Kyle’s former partner. John clarified that Kyle would know what to do if he picked up a smell out of the ordinary or posed a threat. What Is It? Approaching The Tree With how Officer John responded, he was sure that Kyle would be able to deal with it as he was trained to act in scenarios like this. Smith had been advised to examine the tree but to be careful as it might be dangerous. “Are they drugs?” Smith thought. No, what he was about to learn was even worse. Approaching The Tree Not Drugs Smith noticed as he approached the tree that the bark was loose. Kyle loudly started to bark. Smith braced himself, feeling inspired, and peeled it back, exposing the hollow within the oak. Suddenly, after peering into the darkness, his eyes concentrated, and he jumped up. However, it wasn’t drugs. Not Drugs Waiting For The Next Move As they realized that they were not dealing with drugs, Kyle on high alert as he was awaiting any follow-up orders. Smith and Kyle were both unaware of what they should do next, but it does not mean that they would have to leave the area immediately. Waiting For The Next Move Calling Backup Smith took out his phone without a moment’s hesitation and called the only person he could think of reporting it to, dialing John’s number shakily. He explained exactly what Kyle had found in that old oak, with his voice trembling. Before they all ran out to the scene, John, deeply disturbed and utterly unbelieving, hurried to gather forensics experts. Calling Backup They Were In Disbelief With how Smith talked to John on the phone, it was clear that Kyle was dealing with something he had not dealt with before; Smith knew that he had to rush to the scene as soon as possible to help them right away. A Closer Look Back To His Usual Self As they continued their work, Smith was surprised at how vibrant Kyle became. It was as though he had gone back to his normal self. Smith noted how much Kyle loved John. But there was new information unfolding as he watched Kyle. Back To His Usual Self Out Of His Depth Upon finding the remains stashed in the hollow oak, He felt out of his element. He started dialing, ready to notify his chief police officer so that they could send out more reinforcements. But somebody stopped him just before he could get hold of the station. Out Of His Depth Where The Skeleton Came From The forensic experts he had brought with him stopped him before he was able to make the call. And it was a good thing that they did. To find out where the skeleton came from, they unpacked their tools and began inspecting the skeleton. Where The Skeleton Came From Investigation Usually, it takes at least a week for forensic investigators to conclusively ascertain whose remains were identified and where or what they came from. They had prevented John from making the call because what they had found indicated that there would be no need for further investigation in this case. They had everything they wanted already. Investigation False Alarm They saw a life-size human skeleton, but it was also a fake one. Someone must have planted it inside the tree bark as a Halloween scare or joke and forgot about it. They laugh in relief, but why Kyle would warn them to a situation like this is what they couldn’t understand. False Alarm A Sudden Realization They were certain that Kyle had been taught to differentiate the smell of non-threatening and threatening objects, which is why they were confused as to why he was acting as such. But then, they realized something, which is when everything suddenly clicked! A Sudden Realization An Orchestrated Crime Scene The first to put two and two together was Smith. Kyle had just wanted to see John, he remembered. His recent actions showed signs of loneliness, and his best friend and former partner were absent. He knew that John was going to run after his police action. An Orchestrated Crime Scene Why Kyle Did It That’s maybe why he did this. Was this being orchestrated? Since he had arrived, Kyle had been staring at John. It was obvious that Kyle misses John so much. It was like everything was done in a way to grab John’s attention and make him pay a visit. Why Kyle Did It Realization His ex-partner, who was always jumping about with enthusiasm, licked his hands and nuzzling his thighs. It dawned on him then that maybe this was never about the skeleton. John remembered that there was only one fast and foolproof way to get his attention in all of their years of working together. Realization Old Times John certainly felt happy that his former partner went to such lengths just to meet him once more. It is also sure that both of them were delighted to have worked on a case one more time, just like how they did back then. Old Times Clever Dog Kyle had to know that there was no easier way for John to rush toward him… all he had to do was sit and bark when he spotted something just as he was taught to do. When it started to make sense, John could not help but laugh out loud. Clever Dog A Happy Reunion John bent down and rubbed Kyle’s cheek, looking into his dark eyes deeply. It was clear that they had missed each other so much and were very happy with the fact that they have finally seen each other once again, and they were thankful for it. A Happy Reunion Loyalty The signal from Kyle was a secret message to John, the partner he missed so much. He was so profoundly missing him that he had to figure out how to see him again. Even though Kyle hadn’t seen John since moving to his new home, he still remembers the days when they worked together and remained faithful. Loyalty Remembering His Old Pal Kyle definitely missed the old times and the times spent with Officer John. Regardless of how long they have not seen each other, Kyle certainly has not forgotten everything that he learned while being with Officer John, which ultimately helped them reunite once more! Remembering His Old Pal Moved John was incredibly moved by his display of unwavering loyalty and love, still looking into Kyle’s eyes. He decided to stay a little longer on stage to spend some quality time with his ex-partner. He made sure that he would make their time together to be as memorable as they could. Moved John’s Promise John could see how happy Kyle was as they walked around the woods alone. And John made a promise before leaving; he was going to visit Kyle as frequently as he could so that his old pal would not be lonely. John’s Promise A Happy Dog With John around, there was no doubt that Kyle was thrilled at that time. The poor dog had been looking for his old pal for quite a while, which is why when his old pal was finally there, he was ecstatic and was excited to play with him. A Happy Dog The Day Has To End Regardless of how happy the pair were, the day must still come to an end. Although it is sad, the two had to say their goodbyes to one another once more. But unlike before, they have a promise to hold on to, a promise that they would see each other every time they could. The Day Has To End A Look Before Leaving John looked back at him and chuckled heartily. With a goofy grin, he looked at Kyle wagging his tail, still leaping up and down with joy. John felt a strange pain of guilt and heartbreak, but he knew he made the right decision in letting the Smiths adopt Kyle. A Look Before Leaving In Good Hands He thought, with Smith by his side, petting Kyle and laughing along with the ruckus he caused, “What a clever old pup!” This tale shows how little credit we give to dogs. Sometimes though, a dog is smart enough to save a whole family… In Good Hands It might be frustrating for a dog lover, especially a dog owner when your dog suddenly changes behavior. Their normal, playful, and jolly self turns into a dog that is quiet and sad. Are they badly hurt? Or are they sad? Oh, how we wish that they could talk and just tell us what the problem might be. It’s probably impossible, though that would be a better scenario. Or is it? Meet Bunny With just a series of buttons programmed with recorded words, Bunny the dog can talk with her owner. Bunny was already taught how to use more complicated orders than the usual “sit” or “stay” commands when she was less than a year old. Meet Bunny The Talking Dog One-quarter Old English Sheepdog and three-quarters Poodle, the spirited and expressive sheepadoodle, learned how to speak, and now she can use more than 40 words to express her desires and wishes for her furmom and furdad. The Talking Dog Her Owner Alexis Devine, her owner, thought teaching Bunny how to speak would be fun. Hey, but how? Probably you are curious. With augmentative and alternative communication devices, which are commonly used to help people with verbal speech deficits, she did it. Her Owner Magical encounter Her husband finally said yes after wanting a pet dog for a while! She did a lot of research on breeds and found a particular breeder she liked that was based in Spokane, Washington, which was family-oriented and operated. The biological mother of Bunny was named Kimra, who is also a Sheepadoodle. Alexis had been on the phone for hours and was able to watch Bunny being born. When she was a month old, she visited Bunny and let her sleep on her lap for 2 hours. How They Met Was Magical How Ouch’ was introduced As she was still young, Alexis began teaching concepts to Bunny. One night, after getting a tattoo done, she went home. Bunny was curious about it. You can tell that she was slightly worried but that she could not express it. Good thing the owner has a button programmed and Ouch’ pressed. Since then, she has been pressing ouch’ every time they get wounds. How Ouch’ Was Introduced Aided Augmentative and Alternative Communication According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, different AAC types are typically graded as either unassisted or aided. Unaided AAC systems are carried out through body movements such as motions, facial expressions, and sign language. Some kind of external assistance from an object or technology is included in assisted systems. Aided AAC The talking dog went viral on TikTok Alexis and Bunny’s road of contact has captivated the globe, attracting almost 6 million followers on TikTok, 630,000 on Instagram, and more, not to mention numerous foreign television spotlights, making Bunny one of the most popular dogs in the world. The Talking Dog Went Viral On TikTok More Scritches Now Like several committed dog owners, Alexis Devine spends hours each day talking to her dog, Bunny, in her living room. The strange thing is that Bunny is back “talking”. Scroll through the TikTok page of Devine and see a stream of videos following the same general trend. You can see Bunny pushing three buttons consecutively in this video More, Scritches, Now. More Scritches Now Outside Some concepts are simpler to model than others, so she had to be imaginative, Devine said. Devine has to model how they are used in speech to teach different words to Bunny. For instance, Devine said she would push the “outside” button when Bunny was still learning the word “outside” and say the word until she let her out. Outside Putting puzzle pieces together She said, “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.” Putting Puzzle Pieces Together Buttons After hearing about Christina Hunger’s success, a pediatric speech-language pathologist who used buttons to teach her pet dog, Stella, to speak, Devine was encouraged to begin her approach with AAC devices. Buttons Game-changing dog And what about you? Do you know why other dogs can talk? What do you think of Bunny and her buttons for talking? Do you think she can help us change the way our dogs communicate? Game-Changing Dog Learning more about talking animals Driven by the videos of Bunny, scientists at the Comparative Cognition Lab of UC San Diego are trying to learn more. They have not yet come anywhere close to the solution, but they are collecting many data along the way. Learning More About Talking Animals Meet Casper Bunny, it turns out, wasn’t the only dog who could talk! Many people from around the world have tried to teach their dogs to communicate with their hands. Atlanta’s Stephanie Rocha, 51, shared a video of her Border-Aussie, Casper, clicking the buttons to say, Eleanor! No! Help! Mad!’ Because of the rain, Eleanor did not take the dog out for a walk after her daughter, as planned. Meet Casper Hunger and Stella Last year, the speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger captivated pet owners with videos of her dog Stella using buttons to send messages. Hunger and Stella 40 words so far Stella can now use 40 different worlds and help other dog lovers understand the process; Hunger is writing a book. Hunger has said that she follows Stella’s common ideas to apply to a child, a ton of time, repetition, and practice. 40 Words So Far Training Stella A little over a year and a half ago, when she discovered that Stella was already involved through “gestures and vocalizations.” she began training her dog, a blue heeler/Catahoula hybrid. By incorporating words, modeling, and allowing her dog a chance to practice, Hunger established this ability. Training Stella Hunger and Stella Hunger posted on Instagram, “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 And Stella Happy or mad? For example, Hunger would say the word “mad” if Stella was in an irritated state and constantly pressed the button for that word. With “happy,” she would have done the same thing when Stella was in a good mood. Happy or mad? Hunger for belly rubs Christina said she heard her dog bark on the front step one day and paced impatiently. She figured she wanted outside’ for Stella. Yet, it was a different thing. The dog went up to the gadget and tapped out, “want,” “Jake,” “come.” She was also standing at the door until Jake, Christina’s fiance, had shown up. “The dog pushed “happy” a few minutes after Jake came in and flipped over to get a belly rub. Hunger For Belly Rubs