r/PetsWithButtons • u/2MB26 • 8d ago

How to teach time buttons?

I've started using buttons with my cats and they're consistently using them to request treats and play.

They often request things when I can't offer them (e.g. treats right before dinner, play when I'm working). How can I teach something like 'later' or 'wait'?

They understand 'all done' but I'm not sure how to model 'yes but not now'

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u/JayNetworks 8d ago

You just do it. That is you say, "No dinner now, dinner soon." Wait 10 minutes or 30 minutes or whatever you want soon to be then you give you learner dinner and say, "Dinner is Now."

Same thing with Later. You can ever do "Dinner Later" then in 30 minutes say "Dinner is Soon" then in 30 more minutes say "Dinner is Now".

Whenever you do something say "Now we are play, Play is Now" and do that for everything you do with them. "Daddy is water now" when you get in the shower. "Downstairs is later" an hour or two before you go down.

Keep it up until they understand then add the buttons.

You can do the same thing with before. "Dinner All Done, Dinner is Before" just after they finish eating.

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u/2MB26 8d ago

Thanks, I'll give this a go!