Dog owners can give their pets a clearer way to ask for things by pairing consistent cues with actions and, in some cases, simple devices, U.K. dog behaviorist Annie-mae Levy told .

Levy outlined methods that range from spoken commands and hand signals to recording words on buttons or using bells tied to doors — techniques intended to let dogs make requests rather than rely solely on body language. This training approach fits within a broader research trend showing that dogs possess sophisticated social and communicative cognition that includes understanding human gestures, eye contact, and some word meanings.

Her guidance matters because it reframes common training moments as opportunities to build a two-way exchange. Levy described a straightforward example: a Miniature Poodle puppy that repeatedly had accidents on the floor next to the door. A bell tied to the door handle allowed the puppy to communicate its need to go outside, and the author celebrated the breakthrough in potty training when the puppy learned to ring the bell. Approximately 62-67% of dog owners believe their pets can understand human language, highlighting the significance of these communication techniques.

Levy emphasized observing the dog’s existing signals and pairing them with consistent human responses. “Dogs certainly do use body language and vocalizations to communicate with us,” she said, framing button-based tools as an extension of natural canine cues rather than a replacement. Effective techniques for improving a dog’s communication skills include using consistent verbal cues paired with actions and employing a clear, positive tone of voice.

Practical steps in the Kinship guide include linking the human action to the cue every time it happens. Levy advised owners to model the action during teaching: “Press the button yourself every time you do the action,” she said, demonstrating how repetition and timing can guide the dog toward the desired response. Positive reinforcement is key to cementing these behaviors.

For owners introducing a bell or a single prerecorded button, Levy’s approach concentrates on reinforcing a clear sequence: perform the action, mark it with the cue or sound, then reward the dog for attending to the cue. In the potty-training example the bell produced a consistent outcome — the door opened and the puppy was taken outside — which encouraged the dog to use the bell deliberately.

Levy and the Kinship piece present button devices and bells as tools owners can adopt selectively. The article positions them alongside verbal and visual cues, rather than as a universal solution, and stresses that the human side of the exchange — consistent responses, timing and reinforcement — shapes whether the device becomes an effective communication channel.

Owners who have tried bells or single-button devices often describe the moment a dog first uses the tool intentionally as a practical milestone. In the Kinship write-up the author celebrated when the Miniature Poodle moved from accidental contact near the threshold to deliberately jingling the bell to signal a need to go outside, a shift the article presents as demonstrating functional communication.

The Kinship resource synthesizes these methods for puppy and kitten parents and links them to everyday training practice. Readers can find the full guide and step-by-step examples on the Kinship site.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.