The Science Behind Bunny the Talking Dog
The internet celebrity and conversationalist has amassed over seven million followers on TikTok, but does Bunny really know what she’s saying?
Those of us lucky enough to share our home with a beloved pet, has at one point or another, found themselves watching their furry companion and wondering — ‘Just what are they thinking?’
A sheepadoodle named Bunny, her owner Alexis Devine and an ever-growing word board, may finally provide an answer. Using a word board from FluentPet, Bunny can ‘speak’, form short sentences, and communicate her thoughts and feelings. When Devine began posting videos of her dog ‘talking’ to her on TikTok, people were instantly fascinated, and Bunny rocketed to international fame.
Bunny began her training with a single button for ‘outside’. When she pressed the button, Devine would let her out. Every time Bunny used it in the correct context, Devine rewarded her. Since then, Bunny has learnt over eighty words — an impressive feat considering two-year-olds typically know about fifty words.
Since then, she’s learnt to string up to four words together and has even talked about her dreams. When awoken from what appeared to be a distressing nap, Bunny used her words to tell Devine about the ‘Stranger Animal’, she had seen.
Back in 2020, the internet grew concerned for Bunny as she appeared to have an existential crisis. After learning that her reflection in a mirror was in fact herself, she proceeded to stare outside the window for a period, before asking for help.
Bunny has even been able to tell Devine that she is in pain and where it was hurting.
The videos of the chatty canine aren’t just for fun — Bunny is a part of a research study conducted by the University of California. The scientists are investigating how dogs understand language, and over 700 animals are involved, including dogs, cats and horses, each with its own set of buttons.
The challenge lies in determining whether the animals truly understand what they’re saying. Sceptics argue that Bunny may have formed an association between pressing a button and receiving a certain reaction. The next step of the research project involves sending a stranger to Bunny’s home and seeing if she can still hold a conversation — without feedback from Devine.
Bunny’s brain is being put to the test as she is challenged with the concept of time, using ‘morning’, ‘evening’, ‘yesterday’, and ‘tomorrow’ buttons. Unexpectedly, the clever dog does appear to understand, displaying a level of intelligence beyond what the scientists thought possible.
Last August, Otter the poodle joined Bunnys household. Armed with his own set of buttons, he seems to have not only got the hang of talking to people but of manipulating them. Otter has, on multiple occasions, used the ‘Outside’ button to distract Devine so he could steal Bunnys favourite toy.
By watching his sister, Otter may learn quicker as he appears to copy her language. Most bizarrely of all, Bunny has spoken to Otter — not using a dogs method of communicating — but by using her buttons.
