French Bulldog Learns To Use Talk Buttons, Keeps Asking for Foot Rubs

Owner says her 3-year-old dog treats the button like her "personal service bell"

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:24am

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A French bulldog named Pop Tart has gone viral on TikTok for repeatedly pressing a button that says "foot rub now" to demand foot rubs from her owner. The dog's owner, Robin Maxwell, says Pop Tart quickly learned that pressing the button would get her the desired foot rub, and now uses it "multiple times a day" to remind her owner.

Why it matters

The video highlights how some pet owners are using "talk buttons" to allow their dogs to communicate their needs and desires. While research suggests dogs don't truly understand human language, they can be trained to associate specific sounds or buttons with certain outcomes, like getting a foot rub.

The details

In the TikTok video, Pop Tart can be seen pressing the button before spinning around, lying down, and propping her foot up, clearly expecting the promised rub. Maxwell says the training didn't take long, as Pop Tart "picked it up immediately" once she realized pressing the button would get her a foot rub. Maxwell describes Pop Tart as "very smart and very determined", and says the behavior fits her dog's "bossy" and "diva" personality.

  • The TikTok video was posted in March 2026.

The players

Pop Tart

A 3-year-old French bulldog who has gone viral on TikTok for using talk buttons to demand foot rubs from her owner.

Robin Maxwell

The 59-year-old owner of Pop Tart, who says her dog treats the talk button like a "personal service bell".

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What they’re saying

“Once she realized the button meant 'foot rub,' she decided it was her personal service bell. She presses it multiple times a day and is not shy about reminding her dad when he's ignoring it.”

— Robin Maxwell, Pop Tart's owner (Newsweek)

“I always tell people she was born bossy—she's definitely a little diva.”

— Robin Maxwell, Pop Tart's owner (Newsweek)

The takeaway

This story highlights how some pet owners are using innovative technologies like talk buttons to allow their dogs to communicate their needs and desires. While dogs may not truly understand human language, they can be trained to associate specific sounds or buttons with certain outcomes, providing new ways for owners to better understand and respond to their pets.