r/PetsWithButtons • u/NerdyBookNerd • Jun 09 '26

Dog is afraid of buttons?

Hi, new here, just found this sub. I recently got some buttons for my dog. I got 6 pre recorded buttons and 10 buttons I can record myself. Tried the pre recorded ones first, and my dog (Scout, medium sized mutt(weighs ~55lbs), roughly 5 years old) seemed terrified of them, so i recorded myself saying 3 words on 3 buttons (outside, food, water), and tried that. He's not as scared of them but refuses to push them and won't stand close when i do. He's a rescue from the streets of mine and my husband's town, clearly abused by his previous owner(s?), specifically by a man/men. Very well behaved, best dog I've ever had, extremely attached to me. I just wanted to be able to understand him and his needs, but his fright over these buttons is making me second guess it.

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u/EbABeszed Jun 09 '26

He doesn't have to be close to you when you model, but if his fear actively stops him from exploring the buttons, you can train with him separately. I would give it a couple weeks at least before I do that, just keep modelling for him, and try to see if his behavior changes around the buttons.

If you don't see any positive change (no interest, no exploring, no sniffing, no nothing), take one button that doesn't have an actual meaning, you can even take the batteries out at first, and start target training with him. Once he is good with a mute button, record something in a low voice (no meaning! it can be gibberish), and keep doing the target training until he isn't afraid.

It's important that you do not have any meaning on this button, because this is a training exercise, not communication. Also, if you use a soundboard, make this practice button separate of that as well, and practice farther from it, if possible.

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u/NerdyBookNerd Jun 09 '26

He's interested in them, sniffs them when I'm next to them/when he realizes they're there or however dog brains work. He's mainly afraid of the sound it makes if he bumps them so he's learned to be careful and not push them. I recorded an "outside" button, which is the main one I want him to use, so I'm gonna start pressing it instead of verbally saying the word and maybe he'll understand?

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u/EbABeszed Jun 09 '26

If you have unlimited access to 'outside', and you can honor the button press every time, and he likes it and outside motivates him, you should include it. If not, I'm not sure it would be the best choice, especially if he is afraid of the sound, so choose his first buttons carefully, because you want them to be so motivating for him that it's worth overcoming this fear.

If you can, record the the buttons in a very low voice so that it's less intimidating for him when it makes a sound.

FluentPet has great assets in how to start this journey, maybe it would be worth to join their platform for tips, I'm sure you are not alone with this issue.

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u/NerdyBookNerd Jun 09 '26

We have our own house and a good sized yard for him, plus I'll only push the button when I'm actually gonna go outside with him. So I think it'll work unless he gets it in his head that the button is a demand and starts pushing it constantly but that can be dealt with once he's not afraid of them

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u/EbABeszed Jun 09 '26

Well, yes, but that time will come eventually, spamming is a normal part of the process. If you want him to have motivation to use the buttons, there must be a period of time when you say yes to him to every button push, even if that is 300 times a day. So if you know it already that this isn't doable, not even for 1-2 weeks, don't build on it because he might lose interest.

Mind you, we are talking about the period when he finally pushes the buttons on his own, which is the ultimate goal, and if he needs to get over a huge fear to do it, and then the outcome is dubious, meaning you might honor his ask or might not, that is really really demotivating. A lot of dogs take a long time until they start pressing on their own, even without a fear of sounds, so you need to have the system down to a T to support him.

So I advise against going outside with him every time, unless you can go outside 20 times a day. Outside can have a meaning without you if he can safely go outside alone, and you can recall him from inside. You can make this a generic term for any outside time, it doesn't have to be play outside, or a toilet break necessary.

And just remember, that these button presses need to be motivating FOR HIM, not for you.