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How do I use the FluentPet buttons?
You can spend hundreds of hours training your pets with treats, gestures, clickers or dog training whistles. However, it is usually a one-way conversation, where the owner initiates a command and the pet carries it out.
But a new system for training pets has caused a sensation on social media. Owners share videos of their smart dogs pressing interactive buttons to communicate via one-word audio clips. It’s a great way to give your pet a voice, and FluentPet is one of the leading companies in the field.
How FluentPet works
Starting with the buttons
The core of training and communication are the large, battery-operated buttons. These are designed so that a pet can easily press them to play the audio clip. There are different sizes of buttons depending on the paws of the pet.
However, before you start using Fluentpet’s buttons, you need to configure them. They do not come with pre-installed audio clips; you need to record your own. This is easily done by pressing the little switch on the side of each button and clearly saying a word.
This can be anything from “play” and “out” to “food” or “bed”. It really just depends on what your pet likes to do. Once the word is recorded, the button will play the sound through a small built-in speaker each time it is pressed.
And don’t worry about forgetting which word is etched on which button, as all FluentPet kits include removable stickers for easy identification and recognition.
Improving with the buttons
As your pet progresses, it is possible to incorporate more buttons for complex actions. For example, if you have “play,” “out,” and “in” buttons, you can teach your pet to press the two corresponding buttons, such as “play outside” or “play inside.”
To keep the buttons firmly on the ground, place each one in a dedicated cutout on the included HexTiles. These have a soft foam top and a non-slip coating underneath. Depending on the size of the tile, there is usually room for up to six buttons. The design and layout of the buttons make it easy to combine actions.
Different types of FluentPet kits
Many owners will probably disagree, but some pets are smarter than others. There’s no telling if your pet will pick up on the concept of the buttons or just stare at them.
That’s why FluentPet makes several kits. It’s a great way to get your pet familiar with it or to expand its growing vocabulary. In addition to the “Tester” and “Get Started” kits, there are also several “Connect” kits that include a larger, more powerful speaker, Wi-Fi connected buttons, and a mobile app.
FluentPet is great, but keep in mind that it can be an expensive gamble if your pet isn’t used to technology.
Other options
FluentPet is one of the more popular options when it comes to writable buttons for pets to press, though several other companies make similar products. Some include pre-recorded audio clips, larger buttons, or larger speakers. But for the most part, all of the pet buttons work the same, except for how audio clips are recorded and stored.
What you need to buy for FluentPet buttons
FluentPet Test Kit for Dogs and Cats
If you’re not sure how your pet will react to buttons, this is a great test kit. It comes with two compact HexTiles that have holes for six buttons, but only two FluentPet Talking buttons are included in the package. To help you remember what audio is recorded on each button, it comes with 67 ideogram stickers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
FluentPet Button Starter Kit for Dogs and Cats
When your pet is more comfortable with the buttons and understands what they are for, consider upgrading and adding more. This is where the Starter Kit comes in, as it includes three compact HexTiles and six FluentPet Talking Buttons. It is fully compatible with the Tester Kit and has 56 ideogram stickers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
FluentPet Cat and Dog Buttons Basic Vocab Kit
This is the ultimate package if you want to give your pet the best experience and a great selection of actions. It comes with six compact HexTiles and 12 Fluentpet Talking Buttons, compatible with the other kits. Everything is carefully packaged. It comes with 56 ideogram stickers and a link to a downloadable getting started guide PDF file.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
VocalPups dog buttons for communication
This VocalPups starter pack is a bit more affordable and works similar to the FluentPet offering. The kit includes four large buttons with pre-recorded audio clips for “play”, “out”, “food” and “water” in a male voice. The beefy buds have large speakers, making sounds clearer and easier to hear.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Hunger for Words Talking Pet Starter Set
If you’re not sure where to start teaching your pet to push buttons, this is a great option. While it doesn’t come with a mat to keep the buttons from moving around, they are large enough for most pets to easily press on. Speech therapist Christina Hunger developed the starter game, which includes a step-by-step teaching guide.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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charlie fripp writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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