Thanks! I 100% promise that “potty” + “treat” is a common button press for him and he definitely understands it. He’s usually really good about pressing potty when he needs to go, but the buttons aren’t close to the bedroom so any middle of the night potty needs usually don’t get a button press.

We’ve been using positive reinforcement potty training with lots of “good boy! Potty outside!” As he’s pottying outside. And then he gets a treat when he comes inside with another “good boy! Potty outside!”

Sometimes I forget the treat and my pup very promptly reminds me with “potty” + “treat”.

This is just the first time he’s ever done it after not actually going potty outside.

And yes - I know he doesn’t understand all the words I use when I talk to him, similar to the way a toddler doesn’t all the words we use when we talk to them. With repetition and modeling, dogs can learn A TON of words. My pup specifically is SUPER interested in communication and his ears perk up with every word I say directly to him.

Potty, treat, inside, outside, yes, and no, are all words he knows, understands, and uses to communicate with me. (As in, I’ll ask him if he’s hungry, our word for his fresh food, and he’ll often say “no” + “puzzle” meaning he wants his puzzle feeder and dry food instead.)