On 6/20/23, I started training Gravy to use the talking pet button mat offered by companies like #HungerForWords (HfW) and #FluentPet (FP). While my preference would be to have the FP boards, there is no way I can afford them.
Gravy's first words are centering around play, as that is what he tends to bark as a way to get my attention for. He wants to play, but half the time I can't tell what he wants to play with, and we both leave a bit frustrated.
There was a lot of focus on introducing the buttons and mat as fun things to interact with. I made sure to offer reinforcement to Gravy for interacting with them at all, and then for doing so appropriately (stepping on the buttons, and not chewing on the mat).
Once I recorded the four starting words that we've picked (ball, tug, walk, and all done), I put them in the board and started modelling tug. I said "tug," pressed the "tug" button, and offered the tug toy
Luckily I was ready for this part at the time of day Gravy usually wants to go all-out with tug, and I got a lot of involvement from him doing this. When I put the toy away, I also started to model "all done," by saying "all done tug" and pressing the "all done" then "tug" buttons.
Later on, I was watching to see what if anything he would do with the board. He stepped on the buttons a couple of times, apparently by accident, and I took that chance to model again
I got a bit excited when I saw him walk over and nearly press one while making eye contact with me, but he was only sneezing, lol!
Ultimately, I'm fascinated to figure out how long it will take him to start using the buttons, as the examples I know of (Stella and Bunny) seem to have been introduced at a very young age to the boards and buttons. It took them a number of weeks to start using the buttons. How will an older dog react? I want to know!
So far today, we've worked on reinforcing and modelling "tug" and "all done." when Gravy and I are done with different things, I try to use the "all done" button as often as possible.
I've been trying to offer him play more often during the day to build association with the "tug" cue and button outside of his nighttime zoomies
Morning and afternoon, we spent more time modelling "tug" and "all done," as well as modelling "walk" for the first time.
At night, I was on my computer when I heard it, my own voice coming from a button on the mat a few feet behind me, cheerfully saying "tug!" I whipped around, and saw Gravy standing at the buttons. He was holding a tug toy. I repeated "tug" back to him, praised him, and played tug with him. I'm so proud!
It's wild to me still that Gravy managed to connect the dots so well so quickly. I knew he would likely learn faster than a puppy because he's already an adult, intelligent, and knows many cues. I had no idea it would be such a fast turnaround before he used a button on his own though!
I've been continuing to reinforce and model "tug" and "all done" today as well. When it's warmer, I plan to take him on a walk to model that as well. He has not pressed the buttons yet today on his own, and that's to be expected.
With my husband's encouragement, I've got a second set of 4 buttons in the mail, and have started to think about what words Gravy needs next.
Modelling has continued but less intense over the past couple of days as I have been out of the house a bit more.
We are still working on "tug," "ball," "walk," and "all done." The second set of buttons arrived, and they have been recorded with words for "go outside," "water," "I love you," and "Gravy."
Gravy used one of the buttons on accident today, having rolled over and bitten one. Because it was the "tug" button, I was able to model tug with him though
Last night, after consistent modelling and asking Gravy to paw the "tug" button before playing tug with him, Gravy went up to the button mat and pressed one on his own. He instigated tug with Theodore (one of our corgis) immediately after. This was so cute and so great! He absolutely pressed the "all done" button which is on the total other end of the board, but I'll take it hahaha
Moss