The idea of animals using tools to communicate isn’t entirely new. We’ve seen primates, dolphins, and even parrots learn to communicate through sign language, vocalizations, and symbols. But for household animals like dogs and cats, the concept of pushing a button to "speak" seemed like a distant dream—until recently.
In my personal experience, I began using buttons with my pup, Pharaby Fable in April 2020, at a time when the concept of augmentative interspecies communication was still quite new. I hadn’t yet heard about Stella, the dog made famous by her speech pathologist mom, Christina Hunger. In fact, it was only later that I discovered Stella and realized that many others, like me, were also exploring the potential for animals to communicate using buttons. I originally saw a clip of Bunny ("What About Bunny") on social media, which gave me the idea to get buttons for Pharaby. To be completely honest, it didn’t even occur to me to follow other talking animals or seek out a community. I just immediately thought it sounded like a great idea and knew Pharaby would be able to do it, so I ordered buttons that night.
It’s important to note that this all began with a speech pathologist named Christina Hunger. Christina, who worked with children, had the brilliant idea to apply her speech therapy techniques to her dog, Stella. She set up a simple soundboard with buttons that represented basic words like “outside,” “play,” and “water.” Stella quickly learned to use the buttons to communicate her needs and feelings. Stella wasn’t just pressing buttons at random—she was having real conversations with her humans! This breakthrough sparked a movement, and soon people all over the world started experimenting with similar setups for their dogs and cats. So, even though I felt like an early adopter, it was already secondhand information by the time I saw it.
Pharaby’s journey started with just 4 buttons. At first, we used buttons to help her communicate basic needs—whether she wanted to go outside, get fridge water, or ask to play. What I noticed almost immediately was her eagerness to engage with this new form of communication. She didn’t just press buttons randomly—there was real intent behind her actions from day one. We got more buttons quickly since she was so interested in communicating this way.
About a year into our button journey, I discovered that many others were doing this too. Pharaby became part of a study with UC San Diego’s Comparative Cognition Lab in March 2021. It was exciting to realize we were part of a larger movement—one that was expanding how people thought about animal communication. Pharaby’s progress wasn’t just a fun experiment; it was evidence of a deeper connection, one that showed animals are more intelligent and emotionally complex than many had previously believed. I’m glad science is catching up.
Now, dogs like Pharaby Fable, along with many others, are showcasing the profound potential of interspecies communication online. Pharaby’s ability to express her desires, needs, and even emotions through the use of buttons has not only enriched her life but also opened the door for countless other pet parents to try this method with their own animals.
Thousands of pet parents are now teaching their pets to use buttons and soundboards, and the results are as varied as they are amazing. From dogs asking why to cats requesting soup, people are realizing just how much their pets understand and how eager they are to communicate with us—if only we give them the tools to do so.
If you're interested in teaching your dog or cat to communicate with buttons, don’t miss my book Button Up. It takes you through the groundwork you need, even before you get buttons. I also have discount codes for buttons and tons of resources to help you on your button journey. Everything is linked below.
