FluentPet says communication buttons can help pets adjust to daylight saving time

As daylight saving time ends Nov. 1, FluentPet is using the clock change to show how recordable buttons can help dogs and cats express routine needs when feeding, walks and playtime shift. The company says the tools can reduce confusion for pets and give owners a clearer read on what animals want.

Why it matters: - Daylight saving time can throw off pets that rely on consistent routines for meals, walks, play and sleep. - FluentPet says communication buttons give dogs and cats another way to signal needs when familiar schedules change. - The approach may help owners interpret behavior more quickly instead of guessing why a pet is pacing, waiting by the door or asking for attention.

What happened: - FluentPet highlighted its communication buttons as daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1. - The San Diego-based company is using the one-hour shift as a practical example of how pets can communicate when routines move earlier or later. - Founder and CEO Leo Trottier said animals do not understand why clocks change, but they do notice when daily patterns shift.

The details: - FluentPet's recordable buttons let dogs and cats associate words with familiar activities, objects and requests. - The company says trained learners may press buttons such as "Food," "Eat," "Outside," "Play" and "Now" when expected routines are disrupted. - A dog that expects breakfast at 7 a.m. may still want food when the clock reads 6 a.m. after the time change. - A cat used to morning play may seek attention before its person wakes up. - Trottier said augmentative interspecies communication, or AIC, gives animals a way to communicate needs and desires using customizable sound buttons. - FluentPet said the examples illustrate possible uses of learned buttons and do not mean animals understand daylight saving time itself. - The company listed five ways to help pets adjust: reinforce familiar words, listen for requests outside the usual schedule, shift daily routines by about 10 to 15 minutes a day before Nov. 1, recognize natural cues such as barking or pacing, and keep button meanings and schedules consistent.

Between the lines: - The time change gives FluentPet a timely hook for a broader pitch: pets can learn repeatable words tied to daily life, not just one-off commands. - The message frames buttons as a supplement to natural behavior, not a replacement for it. - The company is also positioning the product as useful year-round, not only during disruptions like daylight saving time.

What's next: - FluentPet says the buttons are meant for everyday use across the year, including meals, outdoor trips and play requests. - The company directs people to more information at fluent.pet. - FluentPet develops tools and educational resources for communicating with animals, including recordable sound-button systems for dogs, cats and other animals.