Button Teach Tips!

Button Teach Tips!

Favorite Resources:

  • How.TheyCanTalk forum - http://how.theycantalk.org/
  • TikTok/Social media videos
    • https://www.tiktok.com/@whataboutbunny
  • “How Stella Learned to Talk” by Christina Hungers

Resources:

Advice:

  • The most important thing is to be patient!
  • Model all the time, verbally and with the buttons!
  • Start with a button that is motivating to YOUR learner and their specific interests
    • You CAN add a food-related button -- some Learners need food for a first “ah ha” moment
    • Though you may want to pair with an “All Done” so you can tell them they’re all done with that motivating thing
  • Listen to your Learner: give them buttons (first) for their needs, interests, and wants
  • Target train (teach your learner to press a blank button or a button with a nonsense word on it)
    • Not all learners need target training, but it can help
    • You can target train using a nose or paw
    • Some learners aren’t food-motivated, so use something your learner LOVES as a reward (treat, play, chance to go outside, etc.)
  • Give your Learner time to think (longer than you might think)
  • Don’t reward pressing buttons with treats (unless you’re specifically working on target training with a blank or nonsense button)
  • Don’t overprompt (point to or tap next to a specific button) your learner! Model and let them decide when to use the buttons in their own time.
    • "Least to most" - start by standing by the board, then pointing, then tapping, then pressing
    • Make sure to give them time to respond on their own!
  • Add more buttons than you think. 
  • Start with centralized buttons. Consolidating buttons is a slow (and sometimes painful) process.
    • Plan your soundboard ahead of time to help with this!
  • Treat accidental button presses as real button presses to help emphasize their meaning
  • Don’t force your dog to push the buttons!
  • This is for fun and to enhance your relationship with your learner
    • Don’t compare to others’ progress or numbers
  • There’s many ways for learners to interact with their soundboards, not just one “right way”
    • Don’t be afraid to try something new/different, but go back if there’s any sign of frustration or over arousal
  • If your learner is still using other forms of communication (such as barking or standing near something), respect that communication, as well, just make sure you model verbally and with the buttons!

Teaching tips:

  • First and foremost, be patient even if it seems like there’s no progress!
    • Give them lots of time to think and respond
    • Even human children generally take 2-3 years to understand and use simple phrases
  • Model at every opportunity: verbally and with buttons (and repetition is good!)
    • Say the word while pressing the buttons as well as before and after
    • You can verbally model even when you’re not by the soundboard
  • The process isn’t a race or a reflection of how smart your learner is or how good of a carer you are
  • Plan ahead so you don’t have to change your soundboard much once it’s established
  • Learn how others model words and hack their boards to work better for their learners
  • Target train (teach your learner to press a blank button or a button with a nonsense word on it)
    • Not all learners need target training, but it can help
    • You can target train using a nose or paw
    • Some learners aren’t food-motivated, so use something your learner LOVES as a reward (treat, play, chance to go outside, etc.)
  • Add words that work for YOUR Learner (things they like, want, or need)
  • Start slow, but be flexible
    • Sometimes the plans change and words get added in an unplanned order and that’s okay
  • Don’t compare your learner or experience to others, you’ll move at your own pace and that’s fine!
  • Don’t help them press the buttons! Let them decide when to press.
  • Don’t dwell on what isn’t working, try something new
  • Speak slowly and clearly when talking to your learner
  • Just because other animals in the household don’t seem interested doesn’t mean they’re not learning
  • Just because a button wasn’t fully pressed, doesn’t mean you should ignore it: the intent was there, so treat it like a full button press
  • Ask questions in the form! Forum members are very helpful, supportive, and positive! http://how.theycantalk.org/ 
  • Be consistent with your word choice, even before adding a button for that word
  • Talk in simple sentences
  • Be prepared to learn things that might surprise you
  • Keep notes/journals to track your own progress, as well as your Learner’s
  • Don’t reward pressing a button with treats
  • Keep your soundboard central & make it easy for your learner to look at you