If you enjoy Sci-Fi films, you must have encountered one depicting animals gradually evolving and dominating the planet.
Not to alarm you immediately, we haven’t discovered (yet) such a creature, but the dog in today’s narrative is definitely heading in that direction.
This extraordinary canine earned the moniker, “talking dog”, for valid reasons, considering her abilities surpass the ordinary.
And, her owner, who aided her in achieving this skill, ensured that all of us regular folks could witness what her pup can accomplish.
“Talking Dog” Video Became Viral
From artificial intelligence to advanced robots, technology in the 21st century is absolutely limitless.
However, we wager that you have yet to observe a dog that interacts with its owner effortlessly on a daily basis.
We won’t overstate and claim that Copper, a 3-year-old red fox Labrador Retriever, merely opened her mouth and instantly conversed like an actual human.
Nonetheless, the fact that her guardian, Tia Herrel, a speech therapist from California, can effectively converse with her using augmentative and alternative communication techniques is remarkable in itself.
This is an automated technique which does not rely on vocalization for interaction, utilizing what resembles a “Risk” game-like motherboard as the means of communication.
In a viral TikTok clip with an astronomical view count, this clever dog showcases her skills.
Copper utilized her buttons to express concern moments after Tia coughed. The video illustrates Copper using a button that states ‘Worried’, prompting Tia to press the button that reads ‘Why’.
Copper shifts to another button and articulates ‘Mommy’. Tia responds: “You’re worried about Mommy?” and presses the buttons for ‘Why? Worried. Mommy.’
To address this inquiry, clever Copper presses the button “Sound” and Tia promptly understands that she is worried about her coughing. She hurriedly selects the button labeled ‘Ouch’, while reassuring Copper that mommy is perfectly fine.
We can’t speak for you, but we’ve come to agree that Copper is the Einstein of dogs, although some might argue, considering her method of communication, that she resembles Stephen Hawking. Nevertheless, her mother held a different opinion.
“I would say that Copper is the typical dog that is just exceptionally emotionally intelligent,” she stated in a conversation with the New York Post.
Took Her Initial “Talking Steps” As A Puppy
Tia did not instantly establish the TikTok account, @thechattylab. It was genuinely a lengthy educational journey that brought Copper to this stage.
She remarked that she learned about another speech therapist employing this communication technique with her pet and decided to do likewise by procuring recordable buttons and constructing a talking board.
“Copper started using buttons when she was four months old and it significantly aided her with house training,” Tia shared with NeedToKnow.co.uk. “She adapted to it very swiftly and began utilizing the buttons within the first week.”
She also noted that since that time, Copper has become capable of using the buttons to ask for various toys, inquire where family members are, request a treat, convey how she’s feeling, express worry, seek a ride, ask where her human sister, Savannah, is, and much more.
As time progressed, her character transformed, and Tia could discern this change better than most pet owners since she was able to communicate with Copper.
“When she was younger, she frequently spoke about her toys and playtime. Now, she discusses her family and emotions significantly more. I believe Copper is highly emotional and adores her family tremendously.”, Tia stated.
Followers Were Astonished, Yet Impressed
The earlier mentioned video is certainly not the sole recording that Tia has shared with her audience on TikTok. A multitude of other videos featuring her interactions with her dog have amazed many individuals and sparked numerous reactions.
Viewers were astounded by her ability to communicate, with one admirer commenting, “This is incredible! Your dog is so intelligent and beautiful.”
Another remarked: “Animals are FAR more intelligent than people acknowledge. This is astonishing!”
A third person humorously noted, “A dog can know as many words as a 3-year-old child … I don’t know about you, but 3-year-olds think they know everything.”
However, not everyone was quite so impressed by this loquacious dog. Some viewers attributed the dog’s so-called “talking” to a case of extreme anthropomorphism.
We also had the opportunity to hear from professionals like Sarah-Elizabeth Byosiere, the director of the Thinking Dog Center at Hunter College. She informed the Washington Post that she believes, “our dogs have been ‘talking’ to us all along, but we just haven’t been ‘listening’.”
Regardless, Copper has truly showcased her verbal abilities to a vast audience. We certainly anticipate new scientific breakthroughs that might one day enable us to hear our best canine companion ask us, “How are you?”
Who knows? We have undoubtedly been living in a “Brave New World” for quite some time.