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OPINION: The pros and cons of debarking Debarking is a surgery in which the vocal chords of a dog are cut and partially removed so it cannot bark as loudly. Although it sounds simple, the surgery has begun to generate something of a controversy in the canine world. Some are opposed to the surgery for the problems it doesn't address, while others say it is a necessary tool for keeping a noisy dog -- a surgery not unlike spaying or neutering. At Kansas State University's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, not many of the surgeries are performed -- usually, other alternatives are explored. Debarking is banned in New Jersey. But what do the experts think about this canine vocal chord surgery? Here are two sides of the debarking story.
Debarking not the right way to stop the noise By Dr. Kathy Gaughan, assistant professor of clinical sciences at Kansas State University's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
Dogs may bark incessantly for any number of reasons, including inadequate social and physical stimulation, fear, anxiety or aggression. Debarking an aggressive animal is dangerous as the dog's bark is no longer able to warn its potential victim. Usually when people come to K-State's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital with a nuisance-barking dog, they are looking for a "quick fix." Many who request debarking either live in an apartment, are breeders with many dogs or have dogs whose barking has become a problem with neighbors. We try to educate the pet owners regarding the debarking procedure and causes for barking. Dog owners need to understand that a debarked dog may be silent or have a low, hoarse bark, which sometimes is more annoying than the original barking. We attempt to identify the underlying factors that are contributing to the dog's bark and make appropriate recommendations for resolving the issue. Recently, some animal advocates have asserted this surgery is cruel to the animal; some countries have even outlawed the procedure. I do not believe the surgical procedure is cruel; however, failing to address the underlying factors is inappropriate.
Debarking, or bark softening, saves lives and helps neighbor relations By Charlotte Clem McGowan, a dog show judge for the American Kennel Club and author of "The Shetland Sheepdog in America." She has been a hobby dog breeder for more than 40 years. I have debarked dogs for decades. Debarking has made it possible to keep my dogs in a residential neighborhood and be a good neighbor. A skilled surgeon can debark a dog in a very simple procedure using an adenoid punch to make a tiny hole in each vocal chord. This method is virtually bloodless. The dog recovers quickly and is not stressed by the surgery. The dog will not be silent, but his bark will be reduced in pitch and volume. Breeds like shelties were used to keep livestock out of gardens, to keep birds of prey from taking lambs and as guards and alarms. They are very, very talkative. Shelties bark for all kinds of reasons, including joy. They also bark with a generally high-pitched, piercing bark that can be extremely annoying. Debarking takes them from annoying to manageable. Since shelties, by nature, will bark at birds and squirrels and while playing and having fun, keeping shelties in any number larger than one is difficult. Veterinarians provide a valuable service with debarking. A dog that can bark at squirrels and while playing without being constantly disciplined is a happy dog. The urge to bark does not diminish, but the noise level does. The chief reason shelties are dumped in shelters is barking. Sheltie rescuers can easily re-home these dogs when they are debarked. So debarking saves lives. While some people believe you can train any dog not to bark, I know from 40 years of extensive experience with shelties that this is not true. Some dogs just bark to bark. More information at http://www.naiaonline.org/body/articles/archives/debark_qna.htm |
Although
this procedure may keep your pet at least a little quieter, it doesn't
address the main problem -- why the dog is barking in the first place.
The surgery doesn't take away the motivation to bark or address any underlying
behavioral issues.