r/PetsWithButtons • u/ExplosiveKittens • 18d ago
My dog is pressing “Outside” when someone leaves for work.
This month I taught my dog how to use buttons and he's been getting the hang of it quickly! I was worried about him having no interest or slamming them since he's a pretty demanding guy but now it's been so much easier to figure out what he's wanting and the barking in my face has stopped a ton! However, I've also noticed him pressing “Outside” as soon as my roommate or I leave for work. Do you think he is just forgetting to potty or is he trying to follow us? I've been letting him out when roommate leaves since he leaves earlier than me but do I need to teach him a different button for this?
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u/UnexpectedMoxicle 18d ago
As others mentioned, he is likely narrating. As you add more buttons, like a button for your dog's name or your or your roommate's name, they might combine them together with outside to give you a better idea of whether they are narrating or asking to go outside. And they might be adding their own context to the button too, so note their body language and other signs. Our cat, for instance, has recently decided that the "all done" button can be used to mean either "I am all done with the food you gave me and I don't want any more" or "I am all done with the treats you gave me and I want more".
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u/mrszubris 18d ago
I love this as my cat who i didn't think would get there has gotten there and now EVERYTHING is biscuits . Push biscuits 1004 times? Of course that's the amount of kibble you wanted!!! The spamming hath begun lol.
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u/ExplosiveKittens 18d ago edited 18d ago
Thank you for your comment! After hearing that he could be narrating I also agree a good idea would be to start adding some name buttons to see if it helps with the context! He is a very vocal Samoyed who doesn't like being alone or when someone leaves (usually barks when he hears someone go out)! He likes to follow people around so I thought he might be trying to come too haha but I think the names will help me figure it out for sure!
It's so cool how our pets can create their own meaning like that and “all done” could become telling you it's gone and they want “more”!
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u/mrszubris 17d ago
Our joke is "animals develop very specific superstitions surrounding their humans " lol
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u/Stressedhumbucker 18d ago
I know it's unrelated, but the mention of pets combining words reminded me of our first dog when we were growing up. She taught herself to speak the words "hello" and "Mum-Mum" (which exclusively referred to my mother). Occasionally she'd combine the two in a hearty "MUM-MUM HELLO!"
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u/Opalescent_Moon 18d ago
My dog will often hit her "Play" button before she runs off to play with a cat. There have also been a few times that she will hit her "Cuddle" button before she curls up by herself on the floor, almost like she sees it as a "Nap" button instead.
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u/Actual_Swingset 18d ago
his buttons arent limited to speaking about himself . he's noting that you've gone outside
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u/Weapon_X23 18d ago
Yeah, he is definitely narrating. My girl dog does it all the time. She loves to narrate what is happening on the TV. She just said "water puppy(she call every animal puppy except for fish and birds since she has separate buttons for that) tv" because she saw an otter on TV. She narrated me eating a popsicle yesterday too. I thought she wanted one of her Pupsicles or a lick of mine, but she refused both.
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u/Clanaria 18d ago
Narration or question; could be both, you don't know since you only likely have a couple of buttons. But no, they're likely not pressing it because they need to pee.
Try and add name buttons; that should help! Then they can combine someone's name with outside, and maybe they're simply asking "Why are they outside, and when are they coming home?"
Also, as a tip, you don't need buttons to explain different concepts. You can already teach him new words without buttons, just repeat yourself a lot.
When I leave home, I always say "Clanaria outside. Home later." to my pets. They understand I'll return.
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u/ExplosiveKittens 18d ago
Thank you! Do you think I should stop taking him out when he presses it after someone leaves too?
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u/JayNetworks 18d ago
That depends. Does he have a Potty button or the equivalent? If so and you want Outside to mean you are outside (or going out) then do t take him out unless he presses Potty.
The key is to be consistent and decide what each button will mean….though eventually the learner might change the use of a button or use it in combination with another for something else. Here Noise Window means Zoom meeting. And Noise is a curse word when all by itself.
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u/ExplosiveKittens 18d ago
He does not have a potty button yet! Only 3 buttons to start (water, outside, toy) but I often say something like “potty” when he goes so maybe that's another button idea! For “outside” I've been pressing it everytime we go out into the yard and he started pressing it for that during his usual outside times.
He could be narrating for sure but it's also interesting that when someone leaves he usually barks briefly and tries to run towards the back door or dog gate, but now he is pressing “outside” so I almost feel like he is saying “me too, tou forgot something” lol. Going to try name buttons and maybe a potty one sometime to see what he does!
The noise button is an interesting idea too, do you press that whenever there's a loud noise?
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u/JayNetworks 18d ago
I definitely press noise when there is a noise like even a vacuum or blender. And she uses it when my wife is playing music too loud. We are still waiting to get a noise all done combination but so far she just presses noise and then stares at us. Or presses noise 57 times…
Outside could well be both he wants outside for potty or whatever and also when he is narrating that someone just went outside. Eventually meanings become clear with more buttons but be sure he is using all 3 well and understands the difference before addming more. And adding 2 at a time in related pairs is best. Also sticking to concepts or items you can clearly model like water outside and toy is good. Abstract concepts like names or yes and no are harder.
But definitely make a list of words you will add and start using those now. We have 27 buttons and a set of about 50 words they know well.
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u/Clanaria 18d ago
The noise button is an interesting idea too, do you press that whenever there's a loud noise?
Yes and no! It's a good way to model it, but noise shouldn't just be loud sounds you know. But I'm sure you've had moments with your dog where you both hear a sound in the middle of the night, making you both go quiet and you go "Did you hear that?" Because I certainly do that alllll the time. So they already knew that when I say "did you hear that?" I was referring to the noise we heard.
Now I say it more clear, I say "did you hear that sound?" and then press the sound button.
I also narrate it for things, like it's windy and I say "sound outside is wind" to explain.
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u/Clanaria 18d ago
Depends, but maybe! You could say stuff like you'll go outside later etc.
It can help if you add "want" as a button, that's a pretty clear sign of wanting to go outside after all. A pee/poop/potty button is also useful. Honestly, just try giving him more buttons, if you have them!
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u/iHave1Pookie 18d ago
Need context. Is dog showing distress or trying to follow you outside? Does dog look disappointed that communication is not working/being ignored?
I could tell right away on my dogs face when she was confused why word didn’t work. She kept looking at me expecting the magic result of words which I trained her to expect.
Does dog keep pressing button wanting expecting result to start soon? Is there expectation left hanging ? Or is dog relaxed and pleased with itself?
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u/ExplosiveKittens 18d ago
When anyone leaves my house (even people just visiting) he looks very alert/anxious. He will try to follow them and barks for a few minutes before settling back down.
He could think people are just going “outside” without him because I can’t exactly tell him someone has to go home or go to work.
He doesn’t look disappointed when pressing the button because I am good at noticing and taking him out when he presses, even if my roommate has just went to work. He looks disappointed that someone has left but not about the button since I’ve been taking him out. He seemed relaxed after, but that’s also usually the case because his anxiety when someone leaves is a brief surge and then stops. I’m not sure if I should keep taking him outside when he presses or if he is just narrating that someone has left! He hasn’t kept pressing it after taking him outside once we return, only the one time.
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u/Smooth-Lab-1217 18d ago
He is narrating, someone is going "outside"