The idea behind sound buttons is straightforward and the work is not. You press one, say the word, and do the thing, every time, for weeks, until your dog makes the link between the sound and the outcome. Dogs that end up pressing for a walk or for dinner have owners who were relentlessly consistent for a month first. It is training, with a button as the prop.

Each button is ABS plastic, about 35mm high and 85mm across, weighing 54g, with a top surface large and firm enough for a paw or a nose to trigger without needing any precision. You record your own phrase onto it, so the vocabulary is yours rather than a fixed set someone else chose. Two batteries and a sticker are included for labelling, and a range of colours lets separate meanings be told apart at a glance.

• Records your own phrase for playback
• ABS body, 35mm high and 85mm across
• Weighs 54g
• Two batteries and one label sticker included
• Sold singly, one button per order
• Several colours, plus a non-recording preset version
• Universal for cats and dogs

Two things worth knowing. These are sold one at a time, so a board of several words means several orders. Start with one word your dog already cares about rather than building a wall of buttons on day one.

Who it's for: Owners who enjoy training and want an enrichment project, rather than anyone expecting a dog to start holding conversations.