“Train Without Tools”

Let’s talk training tools. You’ve probably heard people go on about how they “train without tools” or that their dogs “don’t need tools to work.” Are training tools a bad thing? Well to answer that, let’s get to the bottom of what training tools actually are.

Put simply, training tools are any device or extension that allows (dog and handler) to communicate and better understand each other. Typically when we think of tools, it is clickers, prong collars, and gentle leaders that come to mind – and you would be correct in assuming they all are. But you might be surprised to know that training tools can come in a wider variety of forms!

For example, any leash is a tool. You put it around your dog’s neck to better communicate with them and work with them – it is an extension of your hand. Any collar (even a flat!) used in conjunction with any amount of pressure is also a tool. Treats are tools, as they allow you to better motivate your dog and encourage correct behavior. Hand signals are tools; they give a visual cue and often direct motion. Even your voice is a tool, since it allows you to effectively communicate with your dog and direct his or her behaviors.

So are training tools a bad thing? No! But they can absolutely be used incorrectly (and therefore, cause more harm than good). An ill-fitting or over-used prong can harm dogs. And screaming or angrily belittling your dog with your voice can cause emotional/psychological harm. All tools can be used incorrectly. But that does not make them inherently bad.

So can someone really “train without tools?” Maybe. But I haven’t witnessed it yet! Until someone can work their dog without verbal cues, without treats, without hand motions or any kind of collar/leash, no one can (honestly!) claim that they work their dog without the use of tools. And that’s okay! Tools aren’t crutches; they’re communication devices!