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If you’re anything like us, you’ve been fascinated with the “talking dogs” in TikTok videos, and marveled at the devices dog owners use to communicate with their pup. One of the most popular methods we’ve seen in these videos is through pet communication buttons. Maybe you’ve even thought of buying some of these pet communication buttons for you and your dog?
Before purchasing a set of buttons for yourself, you may want to know whether or not they truly work–and are they worth it?
In this article, we’ll discuss how these buttons work and some guidelines for implementing them with your own dog.
How Do Dog Communication Buttons Work?
The buttons work pretty simply: Owners can record their voices saying short phrases like “outside or “treat” and assign them a specific button. When a dog presses that button with their paw, the recording will play your voice saying those phrases. Dogs then learn to press the buttons with their paw or nose to communicate when they want those things. They come in kits sold by various companies, including FluentPet.
As dogs advance, they often learn to string words together, such as “outside poop” or “bone treat” to communicate more effectively. Some dogs even speak in short sentences, though this takes a lot of time and effort to achieve, as well as a smart and willing dog.
The History of Dog Communication Buttons
The dog language buttons we see on social media today were first developed by Christina Hunger to communicate with her puppy Stella. Hunger is a speech-language pathologist and, in her words, noticed Stella “demonstrated many of the same prelinguistic communication skills as toddlers” and was inspired by the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices used by humans.
Now, you can find many dogs using buttons on TikTok and other social media sites. Their videos are popular because they’re fun to watch, and fascinating for those interested in the workings of a dog’s mind. But, are these videos real, and are the dogs in them actually talking?
Are Dogs Who Use Buttons Actually Talking?
When you get technical, most experts will agree that dogs cannot really “talk.” However, dogs can learn words by association and via a reward system.
Most of us can agree that dogs have the ability to learn what words like “sit” and “potty” mean, and science supports this. Dogs who have been trained on buttons are able to understand and use the words they’ve learned, even when spoken by strangers without buttons present.
Some pet parents also opt to teach more abstract ideas such as “love you,” and sentence particles like pronouns. There’s much more controversy over whether our dogs really understand these concepts or can string sentences together accurately. It’s also much harder to demonstrate understanding of these words.
The science behind dog language buttons is relatively new, and skeptics dislike that much of it is funded by the companies making the buttons. As time goes on, we’re sure to learn more about what dogs can understand and how buttons might be useful for the everyday pet owner.
Are Dog Language Buttons Worth It?
All of that said, most of us aren’t looking to have existential conversations with our dogs. We just want to know if the buttons will be fun or useful, and if they’re worth buying.
The answer is yes, with caveats. If you have the time and patience to train your pup, buttons can be a great communication tool and provide excellent enrichment. Busy dog parents might get less use out of them, though. And if you tend to start projects without finishing them, the buttons might sit in your closet after the first few weeks. (Not that I’m talking from experience here!)
Will My Dog Use Buttons?
It’s also worth noting that not all dogs will use buttons, and some use them only sparingly. You can probably get your dog to press “outside” or “treat,” but getting whole sentences like Bunny the talking dog on TikTok is less common. Bunny’s mom has dedicated years to teaching her new words, which isn’t every pet parent’s cup of tea.
Lastly, dog language buttons are more likely to work for puppies. Adult dogs have often already found effective ways to communicate with their humans, and don’t have as much motivation to learn new methods. But, if you think your older dog will have fun learning something new, it won’t hurt to buy a small set of buttons for them!
How Do the Buttons Work?
To train your dog to use buttons, most people start with a simple word such as “outside” or “pet me.” Here’s how to train your dog to use their first button:
- Record your own voice on the button
Label it for future use so that you don’t get confused. Some people use pictures, while others prefer written words.
- Set it in a convenient location
Buttons can be placed on the floor for paw presses or mounted to the wall so that your dog can use their nose. The “outside” button may go by the back door, where you can press it every time you let your dog outside.
Remember not to change the location of the buttons often, if at all. Your dog will remember the buttons’ locations and may get confused or frustrated if they can’t find the word they’re looking for.
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- Press the Button Yourself to Model the Behavior
For instance, you may press the “pet me” button before petting your dog. Consistency is key here if you want your dog to learn what button presses mean!
This kind of modeling is similar to speaking to a baby until they finally say the word back–and it can take just as long as trying to get a tot to say “mama!”
4. Have Patience
Many dogs require months of repetition before they get the idea to push the button themselves. After your dog learns a button or two, things should progress faster since they understand the concept, and you’ll only have to teach the meaning of the word.
Are Dog Language Buttons Ethical?
Of course, there are also some ethical concerns when it comes to teaching animals language. Some worry that there will be consequences to the use of dog language buttons, similarly to other animal language experiments such as teaching gorillas sign language. However, dogs are unique in that they’re domesticated animals bred to live in human families.
From a scientific perspective, dog language buttons have been around for years and we’re yet to see negative impacts documented. Most dogs using buttons seem to find the experience fun and enriching. Dogs also choose to opt in to button usage, showing a desire to communicate more effectively with their human companions.
People who dislike dog language buttons also argue that it can lead to anthropomorphizing our pets and treating them too much like humans. This is a valid concern. It’s vital to learn dog body language and listen to nonverbal cues just as much as, if not more, than their button usage.
Benefits of Dog Language Buttons
On the other hand, a possible benefit to dog buttons is being able to communicate pain and illness. For instance, Bunny the dog once used the buttons “ouch stranger paw” to indicate that she had a splinter in her foot.
We definitely need more science before making grand statements, but it would be incredible if one day our pups could communicate that they’re not feeling well in a way that we can understand. Many times we miss early symptoms of illness because canine body language can be so subtle.
Final Thoughts
There’s a lot that scientists are still learning about dog language buttons and whether dogs can effectively learn human language. If you’re interested in buttons, they can be a fun way to bond with your pup–but for now, you probably shouldn’t rely on them for much more than that.
