Clever Bichon Frise Figures Out How to Call Her Mom at Work to Complain About Her Day
By Barked Editor0
A Bichon Frise uses her custom speech button and an Echo speaker to ring her mom's phone during the workday.
Aly woke up from an afternoon nap, trotted across the living room to her 80-button soundboard, and firmly tapped a small plastic disc that piped up: “Alexa, call my mama.”
Seconds later, Shelly Smith looked down at her desk at work to see an unexpected incoming call flashing on her phone screen: Aly is calling.
When Shelly answered via her connected Echo Show, the little white pup didn’t ask for dinner or suggest a walk. Instead, hearing her mom’s voice crackle through the speaker, Aly tilted her head back and let out a dramatic, mournful howl, making sure everyone within earshot understood that being left alone on a Monday was a total tragedy.
Shelly, a regional manager living in Washington, couldn’t help but chuckle as she comforted her vocal girl through the screen, reminding her that Mondays are notoriously tough on everyone.
Aly’s journey into fluent conversation didn’t happen overnight. Shelly started introducing augmentative communication buttons when the Bichon Frise was just a three-month-old puppy. What began with elementary cues like "treat," "potty," and "outside" steadily grew into a sprawling semi-circle of dozens of colored buzzers lining the wall. Over time, Aly demonstrated an astonishing knack for stringing phrases together to describe her moods, request errands, and ask to tag along to the mailbox.
Setting up the Alexa trigger was an experiment in whether smart-home automation could bridge the workday gap. Shelly recorded a button prompt that activates the nearby smart speaker, commanding it to place an outbound call directly to her mobile device.
While Shelly wondered how long it would take Aly to understand the cause and effect, the clever dog caught on almost immediately. Security camera footage captured the exact moment Aly realized she no longer had to passively wait by the window for footsteps in the hallway. Whenever the midday loneliness peaked, mom was simply a paw press away.
The unprompted calls have quickly become a staple of Shelly's work routine—even when Aly accidentally dials in during serious office meetings. For breeds known for high sociability and deep emotional bonds with their people, extended quiet hours at home can sometimes bring on a touch of separation blues. Having a two-way channel where she can hear a comforting voice telling her to go lie down and rest brings immediate relief to both dog and owner.
Being able to talk to Aly when I’m at work is something I’ll never take for granted.
For dog lovers following Aly's adventures, the viral moment offers equal parts humor and heartwarming reassurance. Technology can’t shorten the hours on the office clock, but having an expressive little pup who knows how to pick up the phone turns an ordinary afternoon apart into an unforgettable conversation.
