[bjh]

Originally Posted by lisaly

I've just read through all of the posts that were written while I was writing my reply. While I am opposed to debarking a dog, I certainly think my little Gracie was happier the way she was than if I had medicated her, used a shock collar, or kept her calm all day. She ran and played all day, and she did bark, but the sound wasn't raspy or loud. I don't think it would have been a problem if I lived in an apartment because it was still low enough. I'm not trying to justify anything, just because I had a dog that had been debarked. I wasn't the one who had the surgery done on Gracie, and I wish she hadn't had it. I DO know how happy my little girl was, however, despite the fact that she had been debarked.. In fact, the day before she died, the landscapers were here doing a winter cleanup. My husband said she barked nonstop, and every effort he made to stop her didn't work. I think we were so happy that she could bark, we didn't do the proper training with her to get her to stop when she did. She was as happy as could be that day, running from the front door to the back door barking at them. Her voice was hoarse that night, but I could see a huge sparkle in her eyes due to the fun she had that day. Perhaps she had only one vocal chord cut as Brooklynn said, and that's why her bark wasn't raspy and she had the ability to make a quiet bark.

Your posts brought tears to my eyes. I can tell you loved your baby dearly. Thanks for sharing your story.

I know of several show breeders that debark their pups. I have been around dogs that have been debarked and they seemed very happy. They could still make some noise.