I’ve been working to expand his criteria for the outside button. Poop, pee, look or walk.
He’s not getting it.
Walk outside seems to mean anything.
When he went out to poop and returned. I pressed poop, all done. He was concerned.
He started corralling Chihuahuas thinking they needed to go out.
All I done is make the Chihuahuas push poop enthusiastically. I changing it to shit, soon. I promise.
Good grief, you have a house full of canine toddlers yelling “poop!”.
Yep. Poop is a favorite. Second only to Treat.
The Chihuahuas have no clue what they’re doing.
They watch Bayliss get attention and treats. So they mimic his behavior. I guess that’s a bit of learning. Gotta start somewhere.
Bayliss did Ouch, walk before we walked this morning. As he’s had trouble with one toenail many times I was concerned. I looked and his toenails were fine. We walked. Came in. I cleaned dog feets and pressed outside, walk, all done. He immediately punched ouch all done.
I’ve figured it out. Ouch sounds similar to Outside. He’s abbreviating.
Dang, that dog won’t do.
I’ve taken up the ouch button until further review.
Out and ouch are very close. Baylee’s is a good smart boy.
Thanks for all the wonderful updates! Bayliss is an awesome doggie, and you are an awesome caregiver and you’re both lucky to have each other!
As for the Chihuahuas and the Meeses, I don’t care to comment. 
ETA: Jojo, of course, is a welcome addition to the menagerie.
There’s an entire Gary Larson book called Wiener Dog Art. I’ve received it as a gift from two different people.
Maybe owie would sound less like out.
I’ve seen a bunch of youtubes wth huskys (huskies?), and they all sound like they’re using the proper intonation. You can sometimes make out proto-words. Very funny.
I’ll take your extra copy off your hands!
Ouch was an extra button to lead to more expressive ideas. He gets a couple of them like cold , later and eat. I’m leading him this way. I wanna see how much he can understand.
I realize I’m down a rabbit hole.
Don’t judge, please.
Sorry, I already passed it on!
Ok.
I had time on my hands
Bayliss was attentive. (And his toe feels better)
In an attempt to explain further the difference between asking for a treat and announcing he has one. I did the following:
I put a treat beside the button. I had a treat in my hand. He was sitting about six feet equally from me and the button.
I said “treat”
He sat there.
I pushed the treat button treat
He looked pained. But sat there.
I pushed the buttons treat now
He came got the treat from my hand. Went to the button board and pressed ouch treat
Sat down and ate both.
Then pushed Bayliss treat
And walked out the room.
I think I failed.
And he figured out how to get 2 treats.
(He truly loves the ouch button)
Maybe Bayliss is one of those deeply philosophical dogs experiencing existential angst due to having reached the conclusion that life has no meaning. Nihilism can be emotionally painful for a dog.
.
That is sooo funny.
Lager has a treat button. He roars like a mini lion until you give him a treat to shut up.
I think Bayliss thinks he’s entertaining me.
I kinda hope he does. I’m truly entertained by this.
Update: Bayliss now wakes me up. Pressing “Mom, sleep, all done.” Every freakin’ morning.
“Mom, go.” When I say bye Bayliss when I’m leaving.
If course “treat” is still the favorite word.
Many mistakes and boo boos. But it seems like it’s going good.
And would you say your experiment is a success?
well someone has to wake me up. And believe me no one wants the job.
I would just stay in bed. It’s better that I don’t, obviously.
He has successfully completed the objective. To use words, together, that mean something. That he understands he’s saying to another species.
He knows certain buttons achieve a response.
And does it consistently.
I think my experiment shows he can be taught this. He can’t say so. He can’t define the word by the dictionary definition.
“Mom, sleep, all done” is clear, concise. As soon as I hear it and say “ugh” I get doggy kisses on my face, til I sit up.
Yeah, successful.
Maybe not smart.
Where do you get this Doggy Button gizmo? Amazon? Chewy?
~VOW
I ordered mine online. It’s a set of individual buttons. You record each one to say a word or simple phrase. Mostly, “treat” “poop” or “love you”.
You can record more thoughtful phrases as you continue training.
Bayliss knows many now. He confused "ouch’ and “outside” for awhile. I changed “ouch” to “hurt” and he got it straight.
He’s doesn’t do it constantly. But he has his moments.
I can push or speak “find” “little dogs” and he goes and gets them. I can push “Bayliss” “bedtime” and he grabs his pillow bed and drags it into the closet and lays down.
He’s pretty smart. So I knew once he understood how they work he’d do it
Oh. He’s a lefty.
When he starts with a button about anything I get in there with him and work on new words.
Mid-dau says he occasionally pushes “Mom” “bye” “soon” when I’m gone to dialysis. I find that sweet.
Google pet language buttons. Many brands out there.