We all wonder what our dogs are thinking and desperately want to gab with our furry companions. Over the last few years “talking” buttons have risen to fame through social media, which begs the question:
Do they really work?
The short is yes! Though the nuance isn’t that much different than training them with commands. Dogs, like humans, learn words through association, so if you have a button that says “outside” and press it before you go outside, your dog will learn what it means.
How to use talking buttons?
Start by introducing your dog to the buttons. Let them explore and get comfortable with them. You can put treats near or on top of the buttons to encourage curiosity. You might also want to show your dog how the button works by pressing it yourself and then giving them a treat or attention right after the button is pressed. Over time, you can repeat this process with other buttons, so the dog learns the difference between each one. You can also use positive reinforcement, like treats or praise, whenever your dog successfully presses a button or shows interest in the correct one.
Once your dog has gotten the hang of the more simple buttons you can expand out to ones that represent different people, like “mom” and “dad.” Some of the more advanced doggy button users, like Bunny, have leveled up to words like “love” and “dream,” and while dogs definitely love and dream, the concepts are less abstract than how complicated us humans make it–maybe we should take a lesson from our pups here!
Will my dog actually use them?
Certain breeds are more inclined to use the buttons as they’re intended, like poodles, retrievers, and shepherds. These breeds are smart and find incentive in learning and pleasing their pet parents–plus they have the height and heft to actually press the buttons. Smaller and more laid back breeds may be less interested in learning how to use the buttons.
We hope this gives you some insight on how to better communicate with your dog. Your dog will appreciate the chance to demand a snack whenever they want!
