FluentPet FAQ
Do your products come with a startup guide?
Each kit comes with a guide to get you started. We also recommend watching the Getting Started video available at http://clvr.pt/getstarted.
Why is there already a recording on my new sound button?
We test every sound button to make sure that it records and playbacks properly. Sometimes, for a number of the buttons manufactured in the past, the test sound remained on the button after shipping. Under normal operation, this test sound would never be heard. However, under certain conditions, customers may be able to hear the test sound. If you switch your button to record mode then press and hold the button until you hear a beep, any previously recorded sound will be erased.
How do I record words or sounds onto the FluentPet buttons?
To record, make sure your button is in record mode by sliding the switch on the side of the button to the left. Press and hold the button until it beeps (3-5 seconds), then say the word or phrase you'd like to record. Release the button when you're done.
Slide the switch to the right to change to play mode and press the button to play back the recording. In play mode, your learner is prevented from accidentally erasing the recording.
How do I get the best sound from the FluentPet buttons?
By experimenting with the volume of your voice and the position of the button while you're recording, you can significantly improve the button audio quality and reduce distortion.
The microphone is located on the underside of the button—it is a small hole around the size of a pen tip. Make sure the microphone is uncovered when you are recording. If the microphone is covered while recording, it produces static.
When speaking too close to the microphone, the microphone can be overpowered—causing the playback to be significantly distorted. Speak clearly, but not particularly loudly. The button will adjust its volume to compensate if the volume is low, but it can't compensate for volume that's too high. Because of the button's size, higher-pitched sounds tend to be better reproduced than lower ones, so adjusting the pitch of your voice can also be a way of improving the audio the button produces. Getting it just right can take a few attempts.
Do you offer different button sizes for larger or smaller dog breeds (or other small animals)?
The FluentPet System is designed to be flexible and accommodate learners big and small. For small learners, the buttons require relatively little pressure to activate. In the case of larger learners (and paws!), we recommend spreading out the buttons when they first start using sound buttons and not filling every HexTile button space. As your learner gets more comfortable and precise with their button presses, you can experiment with a more dense arrangement of sound buttons.
Where are the sound buttons and tiles manufactured?
Like nearly every electronic device on the planet in this price range, the tiles and buttons are manufactured in China. We are working as hard as we can to expand production to North America and Europe.
Did the FluentPet Compact HexTile change?
Why, yes. Thanks for noticing! We're so excited to introduce our NEW and IMPROVED HexTiles with soft tops. Brighter, lighter, and easier to assemble, they're nicer to walk on and represent the latest evolution of soundboard design. Our kits now come standard with the Soft-Top HexTiles.
Our original Hard-Top HexTiles can still be purchased individually. They're compatible with the Soft-Top HexTiles, so whichever you choose, they'll easily fit together.
If each HexTile can hold up to 6 sound buttons, why do the kits come with fewer sound buttons than button spaces?
Our ratio of tiles to buttons is designed to maximize your chances of success in teaching buttons while minimizing the cost involved. In particular:
1. Spacing out sound buttons across multiple HexTiles makes them easier to distinguish from each other, and thus, should improve your learner's ability to learn and remember them. We strongly discourage filling HexTiles with buttons too quickly, which can overwhelm and confuse learners. Rather, we recommend one button per HexTile, gradually increasing the number of buttons per HexTile as your learner's vocabulary increases.
2. More space between FluentPet Sound Buttons means more precise communications. At first, many learners are a bit "sloppy" in their presses, which can lead to problems if the HexTiles are full. Over time, many learners become more skilled, permitting a greater button density, but many teachers will want to preserve the added space, especially if their learners have bigger paws.
3. Because there's no "final" vocabulary, it's almost never the case that every single space in a soundboard will be filled with buttons.
What are the HexTiles and buttons made of?
The FluentPet Hard-Top HexTiles are made of a combination of a hard-plastic top layer, a flexible EVA foam layer (the same material used for flip flops and slippers), and a non-slip rubber bottom layer. The Soft-Top HexTiles are made primarily out of EVA foam and also have a non-slip rubber bottom layer. The buttons have an ABS plastic housing that holds the electronics to make them work.
What is FluentPet?
FluentPet is a system of HexTiles and recordable sound buttons designed to help you teach your dog to communicate. It is inspired by Christina Hunger's work with her dog Stella. Detailed information on the FluentPet system can be found on the Science and Design page.
Are you collaborating with the Speech Language Pathologist Christina Hunger?
Not currently, but we'd love to! We want to partner with anyone who can help spread the word about the potential of giving dogs and other animals better abilities to communicate and express themselves.
Who created FluentPet?
The FluentPet tiles and button system was developed by Leo Trottier, a California-based cognitive scientist trained at University of California San Diego, in close collaboration with the Canine AAC Test Pilots, a group of people based in the US, Canada, Sweden, Netherlands, Australia, and beyond, who have made incredible progress teaching their dogs to use sound buttons to express themselves.
What kind of research are you doing?
FluentPet developer Leo Trottier started CleverPet while a PhD candidate in Cognitive Science at University of California San Diego. We are sharing what we're learning with the Comparative Cognition Laboratory at University of California San Diego to better understand how it is that dogs and other animals use, and are able to use, sound buttons to express themselves. For more on this, please check out How.TheyCanTalk.Org for information on how to join (and don't worry, you don't need to have FluentPet buttons to be a part of this!).
Where are you based?
Our team works remotely from locations in the US and Canada, with a good many of us in California.
Where can I purchase FluentPet products?
FluentPet products are available exclusively on this website and our new EU website.
What are your eco-friendly practices?
We strive to reduce waste and use less plastics in our product line wherever possible. All our products are shipped in recyclable cardboard boxes, with a minimum of plastic packaging materials. For the items where we still use plastic packaging materials, we have plans in place to replace these with sustainable alternatives or to completely remove them.
Do you offer a training guide or classes?
Yes! Our FluentPet Academy courses and sessions are offered for a large range of button learners, from new to advanced. These classes are designed to help all levels of learners be successful with pressing buttons and continue to progress and build on their vocabulary afterwards. You can also check out our Complete Guide On Getting Started or the online community at How.TheyCanTalk.Org for tips and tricks and great conversation!
Do you have an affiliate program?
Kind of! What are sometimes called "affiliates" we call FluentPet Guides. Guides benefit in a similar way by receiving a commission for orders they refer. It's about much more than that though! By being a FluentPet Guide, you get our support as you help to show the world how to be successful with teaching your learner. As such, eligibility is based on your learner's level of progress—everyone with a dog, cat, or other learner who has demonstrated success with FluentPet is welcome. Check out the FluentPet Guides page for benefits and requirements of the program.
While I am waiting for my first FluentPet order to arrive, what can I do to get started?
There are many things to keep you and your learner busy while you wait for your buttons to arrive! Recommendations on what to do in preparation for button use can be found at our online community at How.TheyCanTalk.Org. You can also read our Guide To Getting Started Here.
Where do your products ship from?
We ship out of our new US warehouses. For more information, please visit Shipping and Returns.
I've been tracking my order, but it hasn't moved. How can I find out where it is?
If you chose the postal/standard service to ship, they offer very limited tracking, only recording the milestones. For more information, please visit Shipping and Returns.
What if I want to cancel my order?
You have up until your order is picked and packed and that can happen quickly! To cancel, email info@fluent.pet and our customer service team will be happy to help. Inquiries are typically answered within 24-48 hours. Please check your spam folder if you don't see a response from us. For more information, please visit Shipping and Returns.
My address is wrong. What can I do?
If your order hasn't been packed by a US warehouse, we can help you change your address. Just e-mail info@fluent.pet and our customer service team will be happy to help. Inquiries are typically answered within 24-48 hours. Please check your spam folder if you don't see a response from us.
The product I ordered isn't a good fit for my pet. Can I return it?
For the safety of our learners and their parents, we cannot accept returns on opened or used products as they can't be resold. Please visit Returns and Cancellations for more information.
If you're unsure of whether this will work out, we recommend giving it a try with our low-commitment Tester Kit.
Please read "The Complete Guide To Teaching Dogs To Talk with Buttons" for assistance. We have broken down this guide into 4 main stages (plus additional FAQ at the end): Preparation, Getting Started, Patience, Growth. Each stage contains step-by-step instructions as well as helpful tips and tricks.
You can also visit How.TheyCanTalk.org our online community devoted to realizing the potential of communication with dogs and other species. Ask questions, find support, and watch and share amazing videos of learner successes.
The product I received is broken/defective. How can I get a replacement?
We stand behind our products and will happily replace parts with manufacturing defects. If you are experiencing bad/distorted sounds with one of your sound buttons, you may be eligible for a replacement. If it's occurring with all of them, the most likely scenario is that the sound was recorded incorrectly. For more information about getting the best sound out of the FluentPet Sound Buttons, click here. Please refer to our Warranty page for more details.
I've just been told I need to pay more to get my package! What's this about?
Duties and taxes, as well as courier fees are a part of importing goods into your country when ordering internationally. Each country's government has their own rules and unfortunately, that is beyond our control. Please see our Shipping and Returns page for more information.