03/02/2026
I have decided to weigh in on this extremely polarising debate over the use of dog training tools. I find these debates to be toxic and generally unhelpful; however, I think there are some important points that both sides, and those on the fence, NEED to consider.
Here we go…
I’ll start by saying this: many people who want these tools removed are acting from a place of care and love for dogs. The challenge is that not all dogs — or all situations — look the same, and approaches that work in one world don’t always translate to another.
I can tell you from my own personal experience, I was once on the “ban all the devil’s evil tools and destroy anyone who uses them” side of the fence. I was misguided, misinformed, and genuinely believed that there was no way these things were necessary… EVER!!!
🚫🚫 I WAS WRONG 🚫🚫
Thankfully, only a small percentage of the population will ever have to live and work with a dog that has serious behavioural concerns.
For those who do, training tools and aids are lifelines 🛟 — not soul-destroying evil devices.
Yes, there are plenty of dogs who will never be introduced to correction-based tools, and they are still happy, well-behaved dogs. That’s genuinely great 👍 — truly.
BUT, if you have never lived in a world where every walk is stressful and every interaction is a cause for concern — where every thought is whether you need to discard your beloved family member because they are “too far gone” — it can be hard to see what life is actually like for some owners 🚶♂️⚠️
For these families, tools are PART of what brings a dog OUT of despair, and for many owners, they help stop things from ever getting that far in the first place.
What is important to remember here is that these owners are not looking to replace their dog with an easier option. They are not looking for a shortcut. They want to find a solution. They want their dog to feel happy in as many aspects of their life as possible. They have tried many, many different options — sometimes many different trainers and training styles.
Their dog is part of their family. They love them dearly.
Using tools in some situations is what allows that dog to stay safely at home and maintain control in the community — which is a point that ALL dog owners make abundantly clear is the top priority.
I think we all need to consider one thing here, no matter where you sit on the debate: both sides really do care about dogs. We all genuinely want the best for them. We have not all had the same experiences, and some of us have learned through our experiences that we can help in a way that many others cannot possibly understand — until you live it.
Until you help a dog that everyone else said must die.
This isn’t about winning an argument — it’s about keeping dogs safe, housed, and alive.
