In a world where technology integrates into every aspect of life, many of us dream of the day we can communicate with our beloved pets without limitations. Imagine understanding your pet’s needs or feelings with ease or having the ability to clearly express your thoughts to them—whether it’s calling them for dinner, inviting them out for a walk, or even saying “I love you.” 💞

While there’s no tool yet that perfectly bridges the communication gap between humans and pets, Communication Buttons (also known as Talking Buttons) have emerged as an innovative way for pet parents to “talk” with their dogs and cats. By programming these buttons with recorded words like “treat,” “play,” or “outside,” pets can learn to associate these sounds with their needs, enabling them to communicate more effectively.

One prominent figure leading this trend is Bunny (TikTok: @whataboutbunny), a Sheepadoodle (a mix between a Poodle and Old English Sheepdog) who became a social media star for her ability to press buttons to express her desires and “talk” to her hooman mom. As of January 2025, Bunny and her mom have amassed over 8.6 million followers on TikTok and another 1.6 million on Instagram!

This phenomenon has also caught the attention of researchers like Federico Rossano, director of the Comparative Cognition Lab at the University of California, San Diego. Together with his team, Rossano is studying Bunny and over 700 other animals that use communication buttons as part of a project called, They Can Talk. The goal? To explore how much pets can learn and use language or recognize changes in their surroundings. For instance, when a pet presses “water” and “outside,” does it mean they want a drink and a walk, or are they signaling they noticed it’s raining outside?

From an academic standpoint, it’s still uncertain whether pets can truly grasp language the way humans do. However, for pet parents who want to better understand their furry friends, FluentPet is the go-to brand for communication buttons. It’s the same brand Bunny uses!

FluentPet’s products feature their signature HexTiles, a hexagonal layout system that makes it easier for pets to remember and use the buttons. Their buttons are touch-sensitive and customizable with various sound options, designed to accommodate the learning styles and behaviors of different pets, whether dogs or cats.

It’s still a long way to go to discover the secrets of pet and human communication. Using communication buttons doesn’t just enhance understanding between pets and their parents; it also strengthens bonds and allows pets to express themselves in ways we might not have known before. So, if you’re looking for a new way to connect with your four-legged family members, communication buttons could be the answer. Who knows? Your pet might have something they’ve been wanting to share with you too! 🐕🐈‍⬛

References

The Verge
They Can Talk
Kpbs
TikTok

What If Pets Could Talk? Unlock Communication with Communication Buttons