[katieHaylor (OP)]

Rhys asks:

Are dogs tool users? Mine will deliberately pick up and move a light food container from slippery flooring to a rug (the tool) so that it doesn't move as he licks it.

What do you think?

[RD]

Keep the car-keys out of its reach ...

[jeffreyH]

A dog doesn't have opposable thumbs which allow humans, primates and some other species to grasp objects. It will be very limited in its ability to manipulate objects. In this sense the answer is no. There may be other views that I have not taken into account.

[evan_au]

To manipulate things, dogs most commonly grasp them in their teeth.

[jeffreyH]

And then often shake them vigorously from side to side.

[alancalverd]

Dogs are managers. Managers don't use tools. They bark or whimper until their staff open the tin/start the car/throw the ball. If you are quick enough, you may be rewarded with a wag or a lick, or even promoted to bed partner..

[Colin2B]

Dogs are managers.

When our daughter was trying to teach her border collie to fetch a ball, it would never bring it back but leave it some way ahead and the lie in wait. It didn't take long to realise the dog was teaching her the game of 'hide the ball in a small hollow, grass clump etc and see if you can find it'.

[Danne]

Dogs can manipulate the surroundings depending on the situation. You can train their voluntary reflexes to do so. They wont understand what they are doing, but they will do it to achieve a reward.

There are a lot of videos of dogs doing interesting things - such as unlocking doors with other tools.

[alancalverd]

Depends on what you mean by "understand". They may not know why you are asking them to do something, but that merely puts them slightly above the intellectual level of most churchgoers and revolutionary mobs, since dogs expect (based on experience) tangible rewards for their efforts.

[vent]

I don't think they use tools the way we humans do.

[Yahya]

To manipulate things, dogs most commonly grasp them in their teeth.

but they won't use them, a human can't use a tool hold by his mouth that easy let alone an animal.

[Yahya]

in general fierce and wild animals do not use tools. they use their natural tools, just like a strong person tends to use his hand rather than a gun.

[Yahya]

A dog doesn't have opposable thumbs which allow humans, primates and some other species to grasp objects

it doesn't matter , even if we build a complicated tool so that it can function by just pressing it , it won't use it.

[Zer0]

My doggy used to come n sit on my feet, lick my toes to grab attention...n when I would look down, he would make the most cutest puppy face n stare into my eyes giving me that gloomy look.

It sent a cold shiver up my spine n echoed crys of s.o.s.  rattled my human soul n reminded me of heavy words such as kindness compassion n grace.

Casting a hypnotic spell of bow wow it would magically transform me from a lazy potatoe at rest on a beanbag into a dogcrusader hell bent on providing justice to my four pawed sidekick partner in crime in the cruel world of human dominance.

In no time I would find my humble self rushing up up & awayyy towards the kitchen flyin at ftl speeds n unleashing a shock & awe campaign on the refrigerator, digging out a couple of treats for him n offering him all goodies n surrendering all the spoils of war.

So depending on your own personal/subjective definition of the term " tool "
OP - Do dogs use tools?
Answer - Yes!
Puppey Powerrr !   🐶