Dog Training Saves Dogs From Debarking Surgeries

Debarking surgeries, also called ventriculocordectomies, bark softenings, devolcalizations, or vocal cordectomies, might be met with some opposition from a top dog trainer. These procedures are thought to be unnecessary by some, and inhumane by others.

When a veterinary surgeon performs these procedures, he or she accesses the dog's vocal cords through an incision in the throat, or by way of the oral cavity. Tissue is then removed from the vocal mechanism, lessening the volume of the dog's bark.

These surgeries, along with cat declawing, docking of tails, and cropping of ears, have been barred in the United Kingdom. The controversy forges on in the United States, where restrictions and leniencies vary among the states.

In the U.S., the ASPCA advocates debarking surgeries only in severe cases, when all dog obedience training techniques have been employed, and the dog is faced with losing his home or his life because of the barking. Additionally, the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association both agree that vocal cordectomies should only be used when they are the only remaining option, as determined by a professional.

Ideally, all dog owners would grasp the concept that debarking surgeries are only meant for the most severe cases, in which owners have identified the causes of the barking, removed stimuli, and employed positive reinforcement dog training techniques. This would eliminate the cruelty of devocalization surgeries that are performed on small puppies before they're adopted out, and debarking procedures that are performed for owners' conveniences, without any dog training consideration.

Dogs bark for many different reasons, including excitement, communication, fear, boredom, aggression, and self identification. When a dog owner removes a dog's ability to bark, it doesn't remove the dog's desire to bark. Instead, it further frustrates the dog because he cannot voice his excitement, fear, etc. Additionally, a dog needs his voice to warn his owner of fire, danger, intruders, and to alert people of his own distress or entrapment.

Many times, the key to stop your dog from barking is to cut out the unintentional reinforcements that dog owners are often guilty of. For example, if your dog is fearful of visitors, and you comfort him while he's barking at your great aunt, he'll think that you're approving of his vocal display. Or, if your dog barks when he wants attention, and you stop what you're doing to either yell at him or pet him, his attention barking may never stop; you have reinforced it in his mind.

The first step in eliminating annoying dog barking is to remove the motivation for that barking. When quiet times are achieved, and that quiet time is rewarded, dog barking can be quickly and easily eliminated.