Do any of your learners spam new buttons when introduced? 

I just introduced both “all done” and “later” to Ginzo. While he has pressed “all done” twice that have made sense, I’m still modeling them both. 

However, tonight, he plopped down on the later button and kept pressing it repeatedly. When I asked him “what later?” He pressed it again and again. 

I definitely don’t think he gets it yet because I’ve only modeled it a few times (with the button— have used the word a bunch leading up to it). But it’s so interesting that he picked that button. Like he knew laying on play or cuddles would mean id try to interact and he just wanted attention later? Or it’s just a coincidence... 

Just wanted your thoughts! 

Ginzo has successfully learned 4 buttons and I have transitioned them to 2 separate hextiles. 

One has “treat” and “food” and is in the dining room where he is fed. The other has “play” and “cuddles” and on the opposite side of the dining room near the living room where we play and cuddle. 

I have one button left in my starter kit, but I’ve been waiting to add more words because I’m not sure where to go from here... 

Do I start modeling 2 words phrases? Do I add another button he can request? I feel like we’ve hit a wall...? 

So I’m a little hesitant to transition to the hextiles after reading some posts in here about the setbacks in training associated with it. 

Ginzo knows 3 words and we are modeling a 4th now. He uses food, treat and play reliably and in context and we’re learning cuddles. 

Currently the buttons are scattered around the house in the location associated with each thing. 

Would it make sense to put one at a time on a hextile and then slowly move the others over to it? 

While I’m doing this should I stop teaching new words? 

Any advice is helpful! I’m excited to be moving to the next steps! 

I’ve noticed recently that Ginzo will seek out naughty behaviors (jumping on the table, playing with household plants, etc) when he gets bored— but isn’t pushing his “play” button to indicate he wants to play. 

When he does this, I’ve been asking him “what do you want”, prompting him to push the “play” button, which he will press, and then play for about 30 seconds before he gets bored. (He will usually play for pretty long bouts when he’s into it) 

I feel he just wants my attention.  Anyone else have this happen? What buttons have you used to teach your learners they can ask for attention with buttons instead of with bad behavior? 

After about 2 months (a little less) Ginzo has finally started doing unprompted presses of his “food” button (and occasionally his play button! 

This morning, as I was making myself food he ran over and started obsessively smashing the button. 

He already had food in his bowl so I’m not sure if he was simply commenting on my activity, forming a habit (because I’m normally hustling around the kitchen making HIM food) or looking for attention, but it’s something. This is the first time it’s happened while I was making myself food— hes done it a few times now while I’ve prepared his food! 

I kept telling him “yes. This is food! This is Momma’s food! Good boy!” And did give him some treat toppers on his food just to reward him for the button press. 

I’m not sure which concept to teach from here because it’s not necessarily “all done” since he still had food to be eaten?  Although I guess it could be? 

Any suggestions? 

The past week or so, I’ve been focused heavily on modeling the buttons to Ginzo with no expectations. To be quite honest, my time has been very slim for training (hoping to spend more consistent time once holidays are over) 

However, I’ve noticed that since starting button training, Ginzo has been meowing at me MORE. he’s not consistently using the buttons yet and the few times he has used them I’m not sure we’re intentional..., but he IS hanging out by where they’re placed and meowing. 

This is new behavior— he used to meow occasionally but not nearly this much. 

Has anyone else noticed other forms of communication pop up during training? 

Learner Name: Ginzo

Age: 2 years (DOB 12/18/18)

Teacher Name: Ashley

Started Learning Word Buttons: 12/1/2020

Number of Words: 5

I’ve been modeling “food” and “play” for Ginzo for about a week now. He’s pushing the button with a lure and very interested now when I push them before the behavior! While he hasn’t activated the button by himself yet, I can definitely see him thinking and I think we had a big breakthrough today!

Today, he watched my housemate prepping food in the kitchen and he sat watching her and looking at the “food” button. He even lifted a foot onto the hex tile. 

And then just now (as I was typing actually), he meowed at me so I said “show me what you want” and he ran right over to the “play” button!!! 

I just got my buttons in the mail for my kitty today and I’m so excited to use them! 

I’ve started to introduce “play” to him, but there’s so many things I want to teach him I’m trying not to overwhelm him or me. 

With cats, is it better to start with one word and hope it catches on or start with a few and see which takes hold?