The Two-Button Dilemma

Tadpole is doing great with his two buttons. In case you just got here they are "Outside" (first) and "Play" (second and most recent). We did the first button for two weeks and I was extremely proud of him when the whole communication-concept clicked for him.

We did it without any treats. I put the button next to the door and whenever we'd go out before I hooked up the leash I'd push the button and immediatly say "Outside? Yes!" After 4 days I started placing his paw on the button to make it say "outside" and I'd hook up the leash and out we would go. After a week of this, he tried to paw the button, but it was difficult for him and he started pushing the button with his nose. When he did I dropped everything and took him out. After we got back, he nose-pushed it again and we went out again. Returning from walk # 2, he did it again and I took him for another walk. That seemed to understand it from that moment forward and that was it. I'd delay our normal routine by just a couple minutes and he would push the button himself. That was it. He had it. I let him do this for another few days and then introduced the "Play" button which he immediately loved.

The same day the two-button dilemma introduced itself. I'd be working at my desk which is up against a wall (thinking about this, I'm going to change that tonight) for a while and he'd push both buttons.

To keep this short, he realized that pushing both buttons would immediately remove me from my task at the computer. We've fixed that somewhat, but I'm now hoping that changing the desk position so that I can see him at the same time while I'm working on the computer might be the solution to this issue.

He's a rescue dog. It's only been a little more than two months since bringing him home and I'm gthe biggest difference in his life. It's not a home, it's not play. It's me and he likes to be able to look in my eyes and see what I'm doing.

Time to move the desk. Thank you for your help with this problem! Catch you next time!