Pretty’s Breakthrough: Her First Intelligible Button Sequence

Today, we celebrate an extraordinary milestone in Pretty’s journey with the communication buttons, a moment that speaks volumes about her intelligence, patience, and sheer determination to connect with us. Our 9-year-old Springer Spaniel has officially composed her first intelligible sequence, showcasing her growing command of the buttons and her deepening ability to express complex thoughts.

The Need for a New Button: “I Love You, Dad”

Pretty’s progress began to accelerate with her recent request for a new button. As I sat with her last night, Pretty made it clear she wanted an additional way to communicate—one that could go beyond simple actions. In response, we added a new button labeled “I love you, Dad.” This new addition quickly became a powerful tool for Pretty, allowing her to convey a much more nuanced message.

Pretty’s First Intelligible Sequence: Two Buttons, Three Ideas

What happened next was nothing short of remarkable. Pretty combined two buttons, “Katcheek” (our familiar signal for going outside) and “I love you, Dad,” into a sequence that, through her understanding, created a more complex sentence. Her message, translated into human terms, meant: “I love you, Dad (I understand this new button and I’m using it), let’s go to the kitchen, and once there, I’d love a treat that I’ll enjoy outside.”

This sequence essentially communicated a combination of three ideas: expressing affection, indicating where she’d like to go (the kitchen), and signaling her desire to end up outside with a well-deserved treat.

Bridging the Communication Gap

What’s fascinating is how Pretty’s sequence demonstrates her determination to bridge the communication gap between us. Her eagerness to use a new button she barely learned, in conjunction with another button, shows her intuitive grasp of using the buttons to represent complex thoughts. While Pretty has experimented with combining buttons in the past, this was her first clearly composed, intentional, and coherent sequence.

This breakthrough signals a profound realization on our end: it’s often us, the humans, who need to catch up to Pretty’s growing vocabulary and nuanced expressions. Her ability to adapt the buttons to fit her intentions challenges us to recognize the depth of her understanding and the subtleties of her communication.

The Journey Ahead

Pretty’s achievement today is nothing short of inspiring. Her button journey began as an experiment, but it has quickly evolved into a form of real dialogue, where each button press reveals a new layer of her personality, needs, and emotions. With each sequence, Pretty pushes the boundaries of canine communication, showing us just how much our four-legged friends are capable of when given the tools to speak.

Stay tuned for more updates on Pretty’s progress as we continue this journey together. Today, we celebrate not just her achievement but the unique bond that grows each time she presses a button. Here’s to many more conversations with Pretty, where love, curiosity, and learning come together in every paw press.