Beyond Words w/ Alexis Devine

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The Lessons We Learn From Expanding Human-Dog Communication

About The Episode

Since we last had Alexis Devine on Dog Save The People in 2021, she has continued to work with her sheepadoodle Bunny on learning to use pre-recorded buttons that help bridge the gap between human and dog. Her pack has also expanded to include Otter, a standard poodle, and Tenrec, a papillon. She works with them, too, though Bunny is still her main partner in this process. 

Over the past five years of her research to date, a big misunderstanding Alexis has noticed among dog parents is the difference between choice and agency, which can often be conflated. “Choice is selecting between available options. Agency is manufacturing those options,” she says. “Often we can just present a few options to our canine companions, giving the illusion of choice. But that may not be encompassing of what they really want to choose to say or do.”

Alexis has also gone beyond only using buttons to now incorporate gestural communication, including something as simple as pointing, to further expand the way she can have a dialogue with her dogs. 

Through these different techniques, Alexis tries to listen and observe in as many ways as she can – down to the subtlest behavioral cues or signs of interest, attention, or reactivity around a given subject.

For anyone trying to learn more about their dog, Alexis feels we have to respect them for who they are and how they behave. We cannot just anthropomorphize, holding them to human standards, but rather we should embrace their unique selves and try to help them live the best life possible.

We can also learn a lot from our dogs when we give them this respect and recognize their true selves. In Alexis’ new book, I Am Bunny, she discusses all the lessons that she has learned in this process of understanding Bunny’s behavior. One of which was coming to an autism diagnosis, after studying nonverbal communication uses. This diagnosis helped reframe her entire perspective on her behavior and helped better understand how she could move forward.

Alexis and Bunny have been part of the largest citizen science canine cognition study ever attempted, through the Comparative Cognition Lab at University of California at San Diego (UCSD). With the help of Alexis, Bunny, and thousands of others part of the study, humanity is learning valuable lessons in real time about the way we can continue improving communication with our furry friends in all sorts of ways.

Dogs intelligence should never be underestimated. “They are completely capable of communicating very complex intentions without language,” she says.” And I think that's one of the things that I appreciate most about living with non-humans is that I think sometimes words just get in the way.”

About The Guest - Alexis Devine

For the past five years, Alexis Devine has been training her dog, Bunny, to communicate through pre-recorded buttons that better helps express feelings, wants, or needs. To date, Bunny has learned over 100 words. The videos, which Alexis shares on social media, have also found a large and loyal audience (TikTok: 8.5 million followers, Instagram: 1.5 million followers). In November 2023, she released her book I Am Bunny: How a Talking Dog Taught Me Everything I Need to Know About Being Human.

About The Host - Dr. Sharon Holland

Dr. Sharon Holland is a Distinguished Professor of American Studies at the University of North Carolina (UNC). She teaches a popular class on animal studies, where Sharon challenges students to re-think the way we co-exist with other beings in the world through philosophical discussions. Her most recent book, an other: a black feminist consideration of animal life, explores this concept from a personal perspective as well. She is a lifelong equestrian, who has found strong connections with both horses and dogs. Sharon currently lives in North Carolina with her two rescues: Winnie, a senior lab mix, and Saol Sa'ed, a German Shepherd / Husky / Cattle puppy.

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