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How I Taught My Dog to Speak with Buttons (Fluent Pet Guide & Tips!)
- Carly Thomas
- Mar 18
- 4 min read
Why I Wanted to Teach My Dog to Use Buttons
I first discovered dog communication buttons through my friend @baconthedoggers on Instagram. Bacon the 'Toronto Doggy Fashion Influencer' uses his Fluent Pet buttons to communicate with his owner, Tiana. One of my favourite things he does? Pressing the button that says “change my shirt” to let Tiana know he wants a different outfit. 😂 It got me thinking, if Bacon can smash a button demanding an outfit change, what buttons would Widget want to be pressing if we had them?
That’s when I decided to introduce Fluent Pet buttons into our daily routine.
In this blog, I’ll cover:
What Fluent Pet buttons are and how they work
Our setup and how I introduced Widget to them
Our training process and experience
Thinking about trying communication buttons with your pet? Keep reading because I’m sharing everything I’ve learned so far, plus some helpful resources to get you and your pet started too.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use with Widget!
What Are Pet Communication Buttons?
Ever wished your dog could actually talk to you? Well, communication buttons are the next best thing! These buttons, when pressed, play pre-recorded words or phrases, giving dogs (and other pets like cats...although Olive hasn't taken to it herself) a way to express their needs, wants, and (let’s be real) their demands in a way we can understand.
But do dogs really know what they’re saying? Or are they just pressing buttons because they like to annoy us?
How Do Fluent Pet Buttons Work?
Fluent Pet buttons use sound association to help dogs connect words to specific actions. It’s basically like training them to recognize a cue except they get to push the button instead of waiting for us to say the word. How cool, right?
Here’s how it works:
Pair words with actions - Each button is assigned a word like "outside" "walk" or "scritches"
Repetition is key - Press the button when doing the action so your dog connects the two together.
Reward the wins - Praise and encouragement help reinforce the learning process!
Why I Chose Fluent Pet Buttons
There are a few different button brands out there, but Fluent Pet stood out to me because our friend Bacon sent us a couple to try out before we made the commitment to purchasing the buttons and because I may have ADHD hype fixated on learning everything about pet communication buttons at 3am on a random Thursday...
Clear, high-quality sound – Dogs need distinct audio cues to recognize words.
Modular hexagonal design – You can expand your soundboard as your dog learns more words.
Super durable – Built for excited paws or in Widget's case...dirty nose boops.
Thinking about trying these buttons out with your dog (or cat)? You can save 12% off your purchase of $50 or more using my Fluent Pet discount code COZYCREW or check them out on Amazon.
Getting Started: Setting Up the Buttons & Training Basics
When I first got Widget’s Fluent Pet button set, I had no idea where to put them or how to start. I knew I wanted him to actually use them and not just ignore them like a fancy floor decoration, so I had to be intentional with the setup.
Here’s what I did to get him started:
Step 1: Picking the First Words: I didn’t want to overwhelm Widget with a million buttons right away, so I started small. The first words I picked were: “Outside” Since he already runs to the door when he wants out, this felt like an easy win. “Play” Because, It's easy to associate with the action of playing with a toy or throwing a ball.
Step 2: Finding the Perfect Spot: Placement matters when you’re teaching button communication. If they’re in a random place, your dog might not make the connection. I put “Outside” near the door and “Play” right next to his toy basket so he’d naturally interact with them in the right context.
Step 3: Modeling the Words: Every time we went outside, I’d press the button and say “Outside!” before opening the door. Same thing with “Play”, I’d press it before grabbing a toy.
Step 4: Encouraging Widget to Use Them: At first, Widget just stared at the buttons like, “...Okay???” But whenever he even sniffed or pawed at one, I made sure to do a happy dance and praise him for his valiant efforts. 10/10 Good boy, Widget.
Pro Tip: If your dog isn’t into the buttons right away, don’t stress! Some dogs take a few days (or even weeks) before they start making the connection. Keep pressing them in the right moments, reward any interest, and let them learn at their own pace.
Our Fluent Pet Board Set Up
Once Widget got the hang of pressing a couple of buttons, I knew it was time to expand his vocabulary.
As of March 3rd, 2025, this is what Widget's Fluent Pet Board currently looks like:
People & Pets – Mommy, Daddy, Krystah (my best friend), Grandma, Olive
Feelings & Needs – Love you, Help, Scritches
Actions & Commands – Walk, Come, Play
Toys & Comfort – Ball, Toy, Blanket, Kong
Places – Office, Outside, Bed
Watch Widget Learn New FluentPet Words!
Curious to see FluentPet buttons in action? In my latest YouTube video, I add new words to Widget’s talking button board and test how quickly he can learn them! Watch the full video below to see how FluentPet is helping Widget communicate with me.
Are you thinking about trying communication buttons with your pet? Let me know in the comments what their first words would be!
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