Pets Are Finding Their Voices, And Industry Should Be Listening

If you’ve been anywhere near social media lately, you’ve probably seen a dog walking up to a colorful board of buttons and pressing one that says “outside,” or “play,” or even “love you.” 

It’s endearing, it’s fascinating, and it’s sparking one of the most intriguing conversations in animal behavior science today: Are our dogs really talking to us? 

What started as a viral novelty has grown into a legitimate research movement. FluentPet was one of the first, but now other “button-talking” systems are being used in thousands of homes across the world, with owners logging every press through connected apps. 

Researchers at UC San Diego have analyzed thousands of these data points, and their findings are striking. Many button trained dogs are combining two words far more often than random chance would predict, pressing combinations like “outside + potty” or “play + ball.” 

That’s more than mimicry; it shows intention. And while scientists stop short of calling it “language,” they do agree that dogs are using symbols to communicate real needs and preferences. 

Behavioral researchers believe the buttons function as a form of augmented communication, like the assistive devices used by nonverbal humans. The dog learns that pressing a button produces a consistent outcome, and with repetition, those patterns take on contextual meaning. 

In short, our dogs may not be speaking English, but they are beginning to hold conversations on their own terms. 

While this is an adorable trick, it could also be the foundation of a new era in the human animal bond: communication that goes both ways. 

For BSM Partners and the broader pet industry, this shift has enormous implications. 
If dogs can signal wants and needs directly, our approach to product design, feeding systems, and nutrition may need to evolve, too. 

Imagine a future where: 

• Button-press data helps brands understand what dogs prefer in real time; 

• Feeding systems adjust automatically when a dog signals hunger, thirst, or fullness; 

• Formulations for cognitive health are evaluated not just by biomarkers, but by communicative engagement and learning outcomes. 

It may sound like science fiction, but it’s actually a realistic next step in pet innovation. 

Whether or not dogs ever “talk” the way we do, they’re clearly communicating more than we once believed possible. Every button press, every pieced-together phrase, and every intentional sound is a reminder that pets today can become active participants in their care, rather than just passive recipients. 

At BSM Partners, we see this as an extraordinary opportunity to bring science, empathy, and innovation together, to build an industry that doesn’t just feed pets, but listens to them. 

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About the Author

Bill Bouldin is a Product Innovation Manager at BSM Partners. He has experience in product development and quality in pet and human food. Bill enjoys woodworking in his spare time.