How Stella Learned to Talk

A talented speech therapist who works with children, Christina Hunger trained her puppy to use words in a meaningful way. She was amazed that language learning in her dog was similar to that of a young child. The results speak for themselves. A wonderful book. – Temple Grandin, author of Animals in TranslationWhen we are open to the idea that communicating with another species is possible, and provide a language-enriched environment, we create the space for shared language and a deep connection. Christina has provided the key that unlocks this potential for all of us. – Penny Patterson, PhD, president and research director of the Gorilla Foundation and Project KokoThis delightful book is a joy to read. But it also has an important message for the study of animal languages: When you think outside the box, you can come up with amazing results. 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. – Con Slobodchikoff, PhD, author of Chasing Doctor Dolittle: Learning the Language of AnimalsA 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. – Shari Robertson, PhD, CCC-SLP, former president of the American Speech and Hearing Association

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.