The 5 best dog talking buttons of 2024

Pros: Fully customizable, comes with tiles to keep buttons organized, starter guide and batteries included

Cons: Pricey

Fluent Pet's Get Started Kit was designed to foster better communication between dogs or cats and humans. The battery-operated system garnered attention when Bunny, a canine learner using the buttons, began to amass hundreds of thousands of social media followers. The kit comes with everything you need to teach your dog, including six buttons with microphones for recording words and 67 stickers to identify the buttons visually.

Valli Parthasarathy, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and cofounder of Synergy Veterinary Behavior, recommends starting with words that can be clearly paired with something your dog regularly sees or does. "More abstract concepts such as emotions and time would be more challenging to teach," she says. The buttons fit into three nonslip hexagonal tiles: one for actions, one for objects, and one for places. The tiles can be arranged in multiple configurations and easily disassembled or added to. The kit arrives ready to use with batteries installed and a starter guide.

Pros: Includes four easy-to-press buttons, comes with activity guide, easy to record sounds

Cons: Mat and batteries not included

The best dog talking buttons don't have to cost a lot. The affordable Hunger for Words Talking Pet Starter Set was developed by Christina Hunger, the speech pathologist whose Blue Heeler-Catahoula mix Stella went viral after learning to communicate using dog buttons. It comes with four different colored buttons that are easy for dogs to press. You can record simple phrases like "outside" or "food" and use the included step-by-step teaching guide to introduce them to your dog. The recordings are clear and easy to hear. During testing, the buttons were simple to set up and record words, which was a nice bonus. 

Hunger For Words makes add-on sets and a button mat for teaching more advanced communication. How quickly your dog learns depends on a variety of factors, says Sara Scott, a professional dog trainer. "A dog with a long history of training may pick it up really quickly, but a dog who is green might take considerably longer," she says. "It also depends on how efficient you are as a trainer and how much work you're putting in."

Pros: Fully customizable, can record sound using a computer or smartphone, includes six buttons in different colors

Cons: Pricey, mat and batteries not included, must turn buttons on and off for use

According to Scott, you can either teach your dog new words one at a time or simultaneously work on a few words with different meanings. Talking Products Talking Tiles consists of six different-colored buttons that you can customize with audio messages and images.

Each 4-inch-wide hexagonal button can record sound using a built-in microphone or a smartphone or computer using the audio-input jack. You can further customize each button by adding a picture or symbol underneath the removable transparent cover. Each button runs on three AAA batteries, which must be purchased separately. A downside of these buttons is that they need to be powered on and off individually using a switch on the bottom. This may be tedious for frequent users. 

Pros: Easy to press, 38 customizable bell tones, can be used indoors or out, water-resistant, 90-day money-back guarantee

Cons: Not recordable

Teach your dog how to communicate when they need to go outside with the Mighty Paw Smart Bell 2.0, the most high-tech option among the best dog talking buttons.  The bell consists of a plug-in receiver and an easy-to-press activator button. The 2-inch-diameter wireless activator button can be placed anywhere within 1,000 feet of the receiver using a 3M adhesive strip. The water-resistant button can even be placed outside for dogs who need to let you know when they're ready to come in. To adjust the sound of the bell, choose from 4 volume levels and 38 different ring tones.

The Mighty Paw Smart Bell also comes with a training guide to help you get started and a self-charging battery is built into the device. Just be sure that you are responsive to the bell after your dog learns to use it. "Once your dog understands that they can ask to go outside, you need to make sure that you prioritize meeting your dog's needs," says Scott.

Pros: Light-up buttons good for dogs who are hard of hearing, easy to press

Cons: Batteries, mat, stickers, and starter guide not included

Decdeal's recordable LED buttons are one of the best dog talking buttons made with durable plastic that glow with LED light when pressed. While this feature can be a useful cue for teaching any dog to communicate, it may be especially helpful for those who are hard of hearing. A visual signal like a light should work the same way to help a deaf dog communicate as sound does for hearing dogs, says Scott.

The flash of the light can be paired with an action like going outside or giving your dog one of the best dog treats. For dogs that can hear, these four different-colored, easy-to-press buttons can also record sound. Each button runs on two AAA batteries, which are sold separately.

Pros: 12 training modules with instructional videos, a members-only forum, additional resources

Cons: Buttons not included

If you want to use the best dog talking buttons but aren't quite sure how to get started, Talk To The Beans will show you how. The online speech button training program provides 12 training modules that include simple, easy-to-follow explanations and videos to guide you through each step, from choosing your first word to building a vocabulary. In the forum, members can ask questions, share experiences, and troubleshoot problems.

The program, which can be applied to any type of dog button, doesn't just work for dogs. Cats, birds, guinea pigs, and horses can also learn to use buttons using the Talk to the Beans method during daily 10- to 15-minute training sessions. The website also offers additional resources, peer-reviewed research on speech button training, and links to button users on social media.

Not all dog buttons are created equal, so choosing the setup that will work best for you and your dog is important. Dr. Paige Adams, a veterinarian at Etowah Veterinary Hospital, says it's important to consider your pet's needs. Dogs who are hard of hearing may require buttons that project sound clearly. If you want to teach your dog a select number of phrases, a few buttons rather than a whole set is ideal. Figuring out what type of buttons your dog prefers will come down to trial and error, but understanding their needs is a good starting point, says Adams.

You'll want to consider the following features to get the right tools for you and your dog.

Sound level: Look for buttons that record your voice clearly and at a loud enough volume for your dog to understand. Since each button will contain only a single word or phrase, you don't need to worry about the recording time length.

Durability: The best dog talking buttons need to be durable. Look for ones made of heavy-duty plastic that are easy to wipe clean. Because some dogs prefer to push buttons with their noses, water-resistant options or those made from BPA-free plastic are ideal.

Ease of use: Dog buttons should be a cinch to set up and record. Simple designs are better than overly complicated ones with lots of bells and whistles, which might confuse your dog. You'll also want to ensure that the button size is right for your pet. Adams says that larger breeds may have trouble pressing smaller buttons, just as toy breeds may struggle to press larger buttons.

Customizability: If all the buttons look the same, both you and your dog will struggle to distinguish between them. Stickers can help differentiate the buttons, but dogs are also good at recognizing the meaning of a button based on its placement. For example, the "outside" button is to the left of the "play" button, which is to the left of the "food" button. Look for sets that include mats or sell them separately to hold the buttons in place, especially if you plan to teach your dog many words. 

Starter guide: If you're new to dog buttons, look for a set with a starter guide or instruction manual. Some guides also include additional activities to encourage learning.

Batteries: All of the best dog talking buttons are battery-operated, but some batteries are easier to replace than others. Look for buttons with a simple battery insert or recharge with a USB cord. Bonus points go to buttons that are sold with batteries included.

To understand how dogs interact with and learn to use "talking" buttons, we consulted Valli Parthasarathy, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist; Sara Scott, a professional dog trainer; and Paige Adams, a veterinarian. Based on their input and author Shoshi Parks'  experience as a professional dog trainer, we selected the best dog buttons based on the criteria in the previous slide, including sound level, durability, ease of use, and customizability. We also tested the Fluent Pet buttons, Hunger For Words Talking Pet Starter Set, and Talking Products Talking Tiles. Our other selections are based on brand reputation.

Do dog buttons work?

Yes. You can teach your dog to communicate using buttons programmed with words. But your pup isn't the only one who may be able to communicate with buttons. "Cats are as good at making associations as dogs, so it stands to reason that they can also learn to use the buttons and associate them with certain situations or activities," says Parthasarathy. For example, a cat may be able to communicate with you when they want to play with the best cat toys.

Do dogs need buttons to learn words?

No. If you've trained your dog to sit, come, or stay, you've already taught them to recognize human language. "Dogs also learn words and phrases that are associated with certain outcomes such as [when] 'do you want to go out' equals being let outside or 'dinnertime' means food will be put in the bowl," says Parthasarathy.

How do I teach my dog to talk using buttons?

First, Scott says your dog must learn to push the button with their paw or nose. Begin by recording a word like "treat" on a button. Press the button to make the word sound, then immediately reward your dog. Repeat this 10 to 20 times so your dog associates pressing the button with getting one of the best dog training treats, then wait in front of the button for your dog to begin exploring it.

If your dog moves toward the button, quickly press it yourself and reward them with a treat even if they don't manage to activate it. Eventually, they'll hit the button on their own. Each time they do, immediately reward them with a treat. When you're not training, put the button away so your dog doesn't become frustrated when pushing it doesn't result in a treat.

Once your dog understands the concept of pushing the button, you can start pairing it with objects and actions common to their everyday life. "Some of the easiest behaviors to teach first would be patterns of routines you already have set in your life," says Scott. Some good words to start with include "outside," "food," and "play."

Both repetition and reinforcement are essential to your dog learning a new word. If you want to teach the word "outside," for example, record the word on a button and place it by the door. Ask your dog to press the button, then immediately open the door to let them out. If your dog loves to go out, the action acts as positive reinforcement. If it's not an activity they love, offer them a treat after they've gone through the door. Repeat the sequence every time you let your dog out. In time, they will understand that pushing the button opens the door and begin to do it on their own.

While it's much harder for dogs to learn more abstract concepts like emotions, dog buttons can be used to address some problem behaviors, according to Scott and Parthasarathy. "Using these buttons can potentially be helpful in cases where a dog uses an undesired behavior such as barking at their guardian to obtain something they want," says Parthasarathy. The button doesn't have to be pressed by the dog in order to be useful. A shy dog who's startled by sudden movement might appreciate a warning that you are about to stand up from your desk. Pressing a button that says something like "up" before you stand lets them know what's about to happen.