Gabra Zachman

Wolves do not have this muscle. This eyebrow movement most likely has no meaning for the dogs, Kaminski told me, but it may have meaning for humans. It makes us want to take care of the poor things. When humans and dogs look each other in the eye, each species produces oxytocin, the same hormone that bonds mothers to their children.

Wolves do not have this muscle. This eyebrow movement most likely has no meaning for the dogs, Kaminski told me, but it may have meaning for humans. It makes us want to take care of the poor things. When humans and dogs look each other in the eye, each species produces oxytocin, the same hormone that bonds mothers to their children.

Kaminsky believes that dogs have evolved into creatures we treat like our own children, and that the buttons feed into this impulse. It's this trap we are falling into, she said. We evolutionarily created this niche for infants that we now have designed this other species to fit right into. People can't help themselves.

Kaminsky believes that dogs have evolved into creatures we treat like our own children, and that the buttons feed into this impulse. It's this trap we are falling into, she said. We evolutionarily created this niche for infants that we now have designed this other species to fit right into. People can't help themselves.

They see the dog pressing the I love you button and they're like, we're having a conversation. In August, I drove up an unpaved road about three hours east of Tacoma to visit Alexis Devine and Bunny. Devine and Leo Trottier have sold more than two million buttons. Earlier this year, she moved into a stylish two-story cabin on a 55-acre property to give her dogs a life with more agency.

They see the dog pressing the I love you button and they're like, we're having a conversation. In August, I drove up an unpaved road about three hours east of Tacoma to visit Alexis Devine and Bunny. Devine and Leo Trottier have sold more than two million buttons. Earlier this year, she moved into a stylish two-story cabin on a 55-acre property to give her dogs a life with more agency.

It was fire season, and the hills around the cabin were covered in parched yellow brush. An elk moved on the opposite slope. Mount Rainier, wreathed in snow, loomed in the distance. As soon as I parked, Otter and Tenrec, Divine's second and third dogs, bounded to the car. Divine kept Bunny on a leash, hanging back a safe distance.

It was fire season, and the hills around the cabin were covered in parched yellow brush. An elk moved on the opposite slope. Mount Rainier, wreathed in snow, loomed in the distance. As soon as I parked, Otter and Tenrec, Divine's second and third dogs, bounded to the car. Divine kept Bunny on a leash, hanging back a safe distance.

Since moving to the cabin, Bunny's chronic anxiety and gastrointestinal issues had calmed. She was less fearful. Upon seeing wildfire smoke around the cabin earlier that year, she pressed fire but not concerned. Her temper was better. She'd been playing with Otter rather than going ugh about him.

Since moving to the cabin, Bunny's chronic anxiety and gastrointestinal issues had calmed. She was less fearful. Upon seeing wildfire smoke around the cabin earlier that year, she pressed fire but not concerned. Her temper was better. She'd been playing with Otter rather than going ugh about him.

About Tanrek, a tiny papillon who looked less like a dog than some kind of plushy gremlin, she was mostly confused. She thinks he's a cat. She's said that several times, Divine said. Devine got Bunny as an eight-week-old puppy. I wanted a different complexity of relationship you can only get with a dog, she said.

About Tanrek, a tiny papillon who looked less like a dog than some kind of plushy gremlin, she was mostly confused. She thinks he's a cat. She's said that several times, Divine said. Devine got Bunny as an eight-week-old puppy. I wanted a different complexity of relationship you can only get with a dog, she said.

She chose a sheepadoodle because she wanted a smart and active dog, one that could offer a real connection. At the time, she had a successful career as a wearable art designer. When the pandemic began, her fashion shows were canceled. More time for Bunny. She was my next big project, Devine said. I knew before I brought her home that I wanted to teach her to talk.

She chose a sheepadoodle because she wanted a smart and active dog, one that could offer a real connection. At the time, she had a successful career as a wearable art designer. When the pandemic began, her fashion shows were canceled. More time for Bunny. She was my next big project, Devine said. I knew before I brought her home that I wanted to teach her to talk.

Devine spent those months making jewelry at the coffee table in her living room. Bunny and the buttons spread out right in front of her. She demonstrated the buttons constantly to her new puppy, and Bunny pressed the buttons spontaneously all day long.

Devine spent those months making jewelry at the coffee table in her living room. Bunny and the buttons spread out right in front of her. She demonstrated the buttons constantly to her new puppy, and Bunny pressed the buttons spontaneously all day long.

There was this need for her to feel like she had some control over her environment, Devine said, and I believe that the buttons were a way for her to do that. She could ask me what was going on outside. She could hear a sound and then express an emotion about it. She could request specific places she wanted to go. This is all hindsight.

There was this need for her to feel like she had some control over her environment, Devine said, and I believe that the buttons were a way for her to do that. She could ask me what was going on outside. She could hear a sound and then express an emotion about it. She could request specific places she wanted to go. This is all hindsight.

But she was telling me all along how I could help her be in a better frame of mind. The first words, outside, ball, mom, dad, were easy. As Bunny's vocabulary grew, Divine modeled more abstract concepts, like yesterday, by narrating that Bunny had, the previous day, go see friend. A months-long period when Divine was getting tattoos done was an opportunity for mom, ouch.

But she was telling me all along how I could help her be in a better frame of mind. The first words, outside, ball, mom, dad, were easy. As Bunny's vocabulary grew, Divine modeled more abstract concepts, like yesterday, by narrating that Bunny had, the previous day, go see friend. A months-long period when Divine was getting tattoos done was an opportunity for mom, ouch.