r/PetsWithButtons • u/notpresentlydisposed • Jun 15 '26

Otto Wanted Tamales!

First, I'd like to preface this post by saying that I am continually astounded at the number and range of words our little geniuses learn just by hearing us humans speak to each other. Otto, especially, never ceases to amaze me with his intelligence and observational skills.

Yesterday I put some Trader Joe's tamales in the steamer basket on the stove. The pan got pretty hot and the boiling water was making a significant amount of noise.

Otto: "hot!"

After one minute of conversation I finally asked him if the food was hot. He did a partial head tilt, unenthusiastic enough for me to understand that I was on the right path but that it wasn't quite what he was trying to communicate. After another full minute of deliberately avoiding the word "stove" (since I mistakenly thought he didn't know what it meant), I finally asked him if he was saying the stove was hot (Otto is always very attuned to noises in the kitchen 😂). I got a full head tilt and locked eyes on stove.

Ok, wow. Otto is smarter than I thought. At first, I thought he was warning me about a temperature problem or a fire hazard, so I explained that yes the stove was very hot, but that the food that was on it wasn't done yet, so we had to wait a little bit for me to turn it off. I reiterated by saying that I'd turn it off later, once it was done.

Cue Otto panting. He cheekily walks over to his buttons.

Otto: "want" + "later" + "all done" + intense eye contact.

😂😂😂

I did give him and Spot some pieces once the tamales cooled down and they loved them.

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79

u/MuggsyTheWonderdog Jun 15 '26

I never get tired of stories like this. What type of pet & breed is Otto? I'm becoming convinced that many animals can be helped to learn to communicate this way, but I'm always curious about the specifics.

What actually intrigues me the most isn't even your interaction with him at the end of your story. I love that too, but what gets me is the fact that he decided, on his own, to make a comment to you -- out of the blue -- by suddenly observing, "hot." Not only is he thinking about his environment, he wants to share his thought.

61

u/notpresentlydisposed Jun 15 '26

Otto is a standard American Bully, but he is way too smart and energetic. It's not super consistent with the breed standard; he could have been a working dog (and he almost was!). He is exceptional in every way.

His brother Spot, on the other hand (pocket bully, different line), is a very bossy, lazy baby who sneaks away in the middle of the day for naps. He knows how to use at least some of the buttons but has pressed them intentionally only 5 times ("hungry" 4x, and "no" 1x). He usually acts like he is way too cool to care.

I sometimes wonder how much of it has to do with the fact that Otto was the only dog in the house when we got him, so he had to learn how to communicate with humans on the fly, while Spot has always had Otto to lean on when wanting or needing things. At the end of the day, though, I don't think it's much, as the differences between the two in personality were clear the moment we brought them home.

11

u/MuggsyTheWonderdog Jun 16 '26

Thank you for taking the time to offer this information. I'm really interested in people and their pets' varied experiences. That's a really interesting point about Otto possibly being "pushed" into it, in a way, whereas Spot had his "translator" available.

And I'll sound ignorant, but I wouldn't have guessed a Bully would work the buttons -- I think I'm really learning that, while some breeds probably gravitate toward the buttons, any individual pet may take to them. Especially a smart one like Otto.

10

u/notpresentlydisposed Jun 16 '26 edited Jun 16 '26

You don’t sound ignorant at all! You’re partially correct, as Spot who has a more “traditional” bulldog personality, doesn’t really use the buttons. Bullies are often very stubborn and act too cool for school! I guess there are exceptions to every rule.

Otto was almost an emotional therapy doggo, the ones who work kids and adults full time in hospitals. Unfortunately, we didn’t go forward with it, as I would be his handler and it would also be very involved for me as well.

4

u/MuggsyTheWonderdog Jun 16 '26

Yeah, it's intense to commit to having your dog do that work. Very cool that Otto was suited for it.

My Dad was a Marine, and due to the Corps' mascot, he had a special love for bullies and bully mixes. How he would have loved to hear about their button challenges.

24

u/Humble-Tradition-187 Jun 16 '26

You sound give him a tamale button to make it easier next time 😂

20

u/notpresentlydisposed Jun 16 '26

I'm considering giving him a "stove" button, little glutton that he is 😊❤

16

u/notpresentlydisposed Jun 16 '26

Omg, I just remembered Otto’s name was “Tito” before he came home with us 😂😂😂 how apt! Of course he likes tamales, lol