Q. Who is this learner of yours?

 

Bastian is a hurricane Florence rescue from 2018; he was found wading in the flood waters with his sister, Ariel, at 4 months old. I had put an application in to meet him, but the meet and greet with in NJ on the same day that I was attending a close friend’s wedding in NH - and the rescue said they were not able to hold him for me. Fate must have stepped in, though, because he was the only dog not adopted that day - even his sister found a home! I think people are looking for that “love at first sight” moment; they want the dog who hops in their laps and licks their face… not the one hiding in the back who is too timid to say hi. This worked in my favor, though, because I was approved to meet him the following week! Bastian came home to two “big” kitty sisters, who are now passed. Initially, he was quiet and timid, but as time has passed, he’s found his voice (both in his bark and in the buttons!)

 

Q. How long did it take for him to press their first button?

 

Bastian got buttons on his second birthday. It was during the pandemic, and we invited some family over to hang out on the patio. When I told them about the unopened buttons upstairs, they immediately made me open them, and we recorded “treat” on the first button. At first, I used the “paw” command to get Bastian to touch the button in my hand, but as he became more comfortable, I moved it to the floor, and we turned it into a game! By the next day, he was ready for his next buttons: walk and outside.

 

Q. What have the buttons revealed about your Bastian that you wouldn’t have known without the buttons?

 

The first surprise was that Bastian kept asking for a “water treat”. His water was in the fridge, and each time he hit “water,” I added more to his bowl. Treats, however, came from the pantry. He seemed to consistently ask for “water treats” when the fridge opened, though, until I got the idea that maybe this was related to the refrigerated venison jerky that I kept in the fridge for him. I quickly added a “fridge” button, and sure enough, “water treat” was quickly replaced with “fridge treat”. He’s made his preferences clear many times with the button - even once telling me he’d rather stay home than join me on an outing to the store – something he’d normally love to do! Bastian was also instrumental in Kiley’s end-of-life care, in ensuring she got timely medical treatment when he noticed changes in… I guess her smell? I don’t really know what it was, but any time he told me he was concerned about her, I took it seriously and made a vet appointment. Each and every time it resulted in a need for medication adjustments. I am lucky that their vets took us seriously enough to take the time to review her care plan.

 

Q. What do you do to ensure the buttons remain an engaging and positive experience for Bastian over time?

 

I love using them as a game. My friends come over and want to use them to talk to him, too! He knows that the buttons get him access to things I might not normally realize he wants/needs - I think this is motivating too. Recently, he wouldn’t eat his breakfast, and after asking him what he wanted, I discovered that he wanted to eat it outside. Sure enough, I moved the food outside and he ate it right away!

 

Q. What is your funniest  button moment?

 

One of my favorite moments was when he asked to go for a boat ride in the middle of the night, and I had to explain that it was too late. It’s cute how time is so different for them, and his concept of appropriate time for activities is limitless.

 

Want buttons like Bastian?

He uses FluentPet Connect Buttons with HexTiles.

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Q. What is your most surprising  button moment?

 

When Bastian used the buttons to tattle on Kiley (cat) after she swatted him - it happened twice. Generally, he doesn’t use them to talk to other learners, but there have been several incidents where he’s used them to seemingly talk TO ME about the learners! Recently, he asked about his friend, Charlotte, whom he hadn’t seen in over a year. That was surprising because research continues to be inconsistent on canine cognition in this area.

 

Q. What challenges have you faced with button teaching?

 

I am admittedly bad at modeling. There is a direct relationship between the frequency of my pressing and Bastian’s, and when I fall off, so does he. I need to get better at this!

 

Q. How do you decide when to introduce a new word to Bastian?

 

When I start noticing Bastian talking about something new, or there’s a reason to. Recently, we had a moth infestation in birdseed, and it was… not fun. But a great opportunity to introduce the BUG button!

 

Q. How have buttons changed your relationship with your learner?

 

They have provided the opportunity for clarity on both sides. Since I spend more time modeling words verbally, I feel confident that Bastian understands if he has to wait for a request or cannot have something. He is also barking less. I find that the buttons have provided me with an accelerated learning curve for doggie body language, too. Bastian is my first dog, and being able to observe parallels in body language and his use of the buttons has significantly improved my understanding of him when the buttons are not available. I would like to think that it’s helped him trust that I will make the best decision for him as well, since he sees me actively (trying) to make decisions in his best interest.

 

Q. What advice would you give to others who are interested in teaching their learners to use buttons?

 

To enjoy the journey. I think people often begin with a destination in mind and miss the bonding and learning that comes along the way. I am beginning to teach our kitty, Westley, buttons and experiencing the magic of his little “aha!” moments as they arise. He isn’t independently pressing them (yet), but I swear he can hear the “soup” button from across the entire house!

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