When people see my dog Pharaby using AIC (Augmentative Interspecies Communication) buttons to "talk," one of the most common questions I get is, "How did she learn all those words, and how does she find them?"
It all started almost five years ago with just four buttons. At that point, Pharaby already understood the meaning of the words we started with—like "walk" "play," and "water." From there, I gradually added more buttons with words she knew, 2-4 at a time, until she had a board of 129 buttons.
She’s able to find the right button by remembering where each one is placed. It’s not because she can read or relies on the pictures on the buttons—those are mainly for me! Over time, she’s memorized the placement of each button, so even if a sticker falls off, she’ll still use the correct one.
If you’re curious about teaching your own dog (or kitty cat) to use AIC buttons, I’ve written a step-by-step guidebook, "Button Up" that explains how to get started, how to choose words, and how to keep the process fun for both of you.
Additionally, I created an AIC Planner "Lets Talk" designed to help you track your learners progress and plan your button board, plan next words & document your exciting progress! It’s a great resource for anyone looking to build a stronger bond with their pet through communication.
Teaching my dog to communicate with AIC has been such a rewarding experience & i'm sad that I didn't get to teach my first 4 babies to communicate this way.
I hope this inspires you to give it a try with your furry friend. Trust me—seeing them “speak” their mind is amazing!
