Your dog is saying more than you think

It used to be said that dogs had the memory of a goldfish and only lived in the present. 

Yes - a lot of things used to be said, which fortunately aren’t being said any more.

And there are two things wrong with that statement above - 

1. Goldfish have very good memories and respond well to training.

2. Dogs have very strong memories of what has happened in the past and they can project into the future too.

This is actually the basis of reward-based training - they do things based on the historic knowledge that there will be a consequence. 

Interspecies communication

This has become abundantly clear to the folk who are working in the area of AIC (Augmentative Interspecies Communication). They don’t confine themselves to domestic pets, but work with all kinds of animals. 

When you think about it, isn’t the very thought of interspecies communication thrilling? 😃

And doesn’t it confirm what we all know? That animals are sentient beings. They think and feel. This is law in Europe and UK amongst others - there are 32 countries in all that have formally recognised non-human animal sentience in their laws. (Sadly the whole of North and South America is a long way behind in this respect.)

Dogs and cats frequently use buttons to talk about NOW, LATER, SOON, TOMORROW, REMEMBER. And given the opportunity, they will press buttons to express sorrow, fear, safety, happiness - and missing a person or family pet who has died or left. 

This means they are thinking about these things!

Things that may have happened years ago. 

Like when Yannick sees an image of Cricket the Whippet on the tv screensaver, and presses SAD, or CRICKET. (She died over a year ago.)

Or when a few days after my son’s visit, he presses his name on his button board. That gives us the chance to talk about the absence and how we both feel about it. 

They can also talk about things right now, of course! Like asking to be brushed, wanting cuddles, wanting to go out, play, specifically with a ball, frisbee, or flirt pole. 

Here’s what Yannick had to say yesterday evening, when he woke up from a nap:

Clearly it was nearly suppertime! 

Why is all this important?

We are all guilty of saying “ok, later” when hearing a request. Having to respond to your pet’s requests means that you have to become more reliable. Your promises must be fulfilled!

A request for BEACH WALK, once acknowledged by a promise of BEACH WALK TOMORROW, must be kept to!

You have to show that you are hearing your dog, listening, and keeping your word. 

Lesson for all of us! 

Would you like your dog to “talk”?

If you’d like to learn more about how to teach your dog (or cat) to talk to you through buttons, and unlock a new world of communication between you, take a look at: 

Getting Started with talking buttons

and

Real Stories from Pet Parents Teaching Them to “Talk”

You’ll get lots of help and support there! As I have.

Does your dog talk to you?

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 asks me to sing!

▶️ 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 …

RESOURCES

How do buttons work?

Is there science behind Fluentpet buttons?

How can I teach my dog or cat to talk?