I knew from the start that my puppy Yannick was fearful. He found the world a challenging place, full of alarms and frights.
So when I learnt about these talking buttons - where dogs can actually communicate what they are thinking and feeling - I was excited to give them a try.
They worked a treat!
I started with his favourite two things - PLAY and CUDDLES. Once he was able to ask for these, I gradually added more buttons. And as you can see, he has forty-four of them now, many of them used on a daily basis.
Now he’s able to tell me if he’s WORRIED, or he feels SAFE. He can tell me he loves me, or he loves something I’ve done (LOVE YOU). He can express HAPPY and SAD; he can ask for his favourite things - PUZZLE, BEACH WALK, CUDDLES (still!), FLIRT POLE …
I’m going to show you some videos here of some exchanges between us. Usually I’m WORKING (unavailable) when we’re in his button room, so sometimes there are pauses while I finish a sentence.
🐶 Yannick notices the heating is noisy (to his sensitive ears)
🐶 Yannick talks through his buttons!
So you can see how my working sessions go! (And who wouldn’t be glad of such charming interruptions?)
I find it a delight that my anxious dog is able to express himself, make observations, and ask for what he wants.
A farewell to his old friend
One very moving episode, which sadly wasn’t captured on camera, was when I was kneeling on the floor ministering to our dying Cricket the Whippet - who Yannick loved dearly. He sat and watched me, then turned to his buttons and pressed SAD.
Now for the sceptics amongst you, maybe he was describing how I was sad. But I am quite sure that he was expressing his own sadness in seeing the gradual decline of his friend.
Her name is still on his button board, and from time to time he talks about her - CRICKET LOVE YOU - especially if a picture of her appears on the television screensaver carousel.
Do you want to try these excellent buttons for your dog?
If you’re now dying to unlock your dog’s deepest thoughts and feelings, you can use these buttons too!
As a Fluentpet Guide I’m able to offer you a discount on any buttons or kits you purchase. It’s a great company, with masses of educational programs (nearly all free) and a thriving community hub. There is solid research going on behind all this.
Here are some more stories, showing that cats and dogs are equally good at talking with their buttons.
If this is something that interests you, I can show you how I introduce Yannick to a new button.
Let me know what you think of Yannick's chitchat! I’m dying to hear …