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

'A wonderful book.' - Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation Understand what your canine best friend is thinking with this New York Times bestselling handbook. An incredible, revolutionary true story and surprisingly simple guide to teaching your dog to 'talk' from speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger, who has taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using simple paw-sized buttons associated with different words. How Stella Learned to Talk is part memoir and part how-to guide. It chronicles the journey Christina and Stella have taken together, from the day they met, to the day Stella 'spoke' her first word, and the other breakthroughs they've had since. It also reveals the techniques Christina used to teach Stella, broken down into simple stages and actionable steps any dog owner can use to start communicating with their best four-legged friend. Filled with conversations that Stella and Christina have had, as well as the attention to developmental detail that only a speech-language pathologist could know, How Stella Learned to Talk is the indispensable dog book for you and your puppy pal.

About the Author :
Christina Hunger is the author of How Stella Learned to Talk. She is a speech-language pathologist and the creator of the project Hunger for Words. She is known for her groundbreaking work in being the first person to teach a dog to talk using a customized communication device and speech therapy techniques. Hunger has a graduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Northern Illinois University and has professional expertise in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She works with young children with significant delays in language development as an early intervention speech therapist. She lives in San Diego with Stella and her fiancé, Jake.

Review :
A talented speech therapist... Christina Hunger trained her puppy to use words in a meaningful way... The results speak for themselves. A wonderful book. When we are open to the idea that communicating with another species is possible... we create the space for shared language and a deep connection. Christina has provided the key that unlocks this potential for all of us. This delightful book is a joy to read... Christina has shown that a dog has the cognitive capability to learn to use buttons as words and to formulate meaningful sentences. She also has very practical advice on how to teach your dog to do the same. I highly recommend this book. A must-read for anyone who ever wished their dog could talk, Stella’s story will lift your spirits and inspire your soul. Christina Hunger takes us on an incredible journey of joy, discovery, and innovation that will forever change the relationship between dogs and their humans.