Debarking Hooks

[roxies_mom]

I really can't believe you want to purposely alter your dogs bark for life because of your now current living situation. I have a poor dog that no matter how hard she tries she can't bark. I thought maybe she had been debarked before I got her. The vet checked her out good and said she hadn't been but doesn't know why she can't bark. Most likely it's a result of a respitory infection she had as a puppy. It's really sad. She tries so hard to alarm us that she hears something and at times nothing but a whisper comes out not even her usuall sqeak. Yes it's convient for sneaking her in (rarely do I do that, very rarely) but it's not good if she's into some sort of danger and can't alert us. Therefore I don't take my eyes off of her when we're outside. People think I'm probably a little phsychotic with this dog but when you can't hear them it's really scarey. I just think it's a bad idea...once you take it away you can't put it back. Please don't do this for own personal sneakiness and selfish reasons, think about the dogs well being.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

I'm not really sure how to respond to this, but I find the comment about my neat little list a little snide. Not sure if it was intended that way. I was merely trying to point out that we control almost every aspect of dogs' lives, and some we take for granted, while others seem horrifying. I disagree with some of your points, but I am not in favor of de-barking, so I don't really want to get into a point by point debate.

For the record, I don't believe in tail docking, declawing cats, or debarking. As I said before, there are many training alternatives, so no, it's not something I would do, particularly since it appears to be a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

No it wasn't intending to be snide, I'm sorry, if you took it that way. It was one of those "lists" where people can say, "yes, yes, yes, yes", and think that somehow these ideas support something. It's a form of persuasive arguing, and used by many politicians. (Now that was snide.)

It was almost as if you were saying we do this and this, so why not this? Or perhaps, you were saying if debarking is considered wrong, all the other things should be wrong as well. Either way, I have to disagree.

[Lou]

I'm going to jump in here and say that I don't like the idea of debarking but if it was debark or get rid of one of my babies I for sure would debark them. Having said that I can also tell you that I have lectured young married couples, new graduates and students about NOT getting a pet until they are in a situation that isn't likely to change. I own my house and therefore don't have to worry too much about the problem.

None of our opinions are going to help the OP though. She will keep her dog and will sneak it back into the dorm. What advice can we give her?

I tried the coins in a can trick and it didn't work. What did work was a rolled up newspaper smacked against the kitchen counter or coffee table. (No never the dog.) I would say "Quiet" right after doing it. It worked like a charm on all 4 of my beasts and it worked quickly. If the barking starts again all I have to do is act like I am picking up the newspaper and they scurry - they just hate that sound.

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

No it wasn't intending to be snide, I'm sorry, if you took it that way. It was one of those "lists" where people can say, "yes, yes, yes, yes", and think that somehow these ideas support something. It's a form of persuasive arguing, and used by many politicians. (Now that was snide.)

It was almost as if you were saying we do this and this, so why not this? Or perhaps, you were saying if debarking is considered wrong, all the other things should be wrong as well. Either way, I have to disagree.

Well, thank you for intentionally being snide this time. I said I disagree with de-barking, so I'm not sure how you got I was claiming that someone must agree or disagree with the four other points I listed off the top of my head. Thor is neutered, after all. There are many other ways that we make dogs' lives "artificial". When we control the fate of a species as completely as we do the dog's, we need to challenge ourselves to consider all aspects of how we care for them. I'm sure you agree that we have tremendous responsibility towards our dogs and all dogs. There's nothing wrong with taking a step back and reconsidering our beliefs once in a while.

[makhro]

Originally Posted by Lou

None of our opinions are going to help the OP though. She will keep her dog and will sneak it back into the dorm. What advice can we give her?.

You're completely right Lou. It is just another one of those polarizing issues where our back and forth isn't really helping)

I would tell the OP to try all the training methods and definitely look into shared off campus housing.

[Gizmo Baby]

Please, Please, Please, don't debark your poor baby how would you feel if someone decided to take out your voice box, vocal cords or whatever you want to call it if they felt you spoke too much and got on their nerves? I found this don't know if it really works and they say it's for the outdoors, they have postitive reviews on it and it's not that expensive, possibly less than debarking.Good luck to you and I hope with all my heart that you reconsider before going through with it.

PetSafe Ultrasonic Bark Control Birdhouse

[sarahheartmaddy]

Personally, I think debarking is cruel. To the OP: is there someone who can care for your dogs?

[bchgirl]

To the OP...you may be interested in this article...

NAIA: Debarking* (Bark Softening) - Myths and Facts

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

To the OP...you may be interested in this article...

NAIA: Debarking* (Bark Softening) - Myths and Facts

Here's another view: http://www.cliniciansbrief.com/uploa...llingplace.pdf

[Hooks_Yorkie]

I was in class so I wasn't able to respond. I would first like to say that I respect all of your for your views on animals and your rights to your opinions. I would hope that you would at least respect me enough to not be cruel to me if at all possible.

I made a choice to get my dog because I needed them at the moment and they mean the world to me and I will exhaust every option that I can before giving them away.

As I said before I have read a lot of stuff about it and I have talked to a few vets who say that the only thing that upsets people is the way that it sounds. It doesn't hurt the dog in any way, it simply disturbs our view of what a dog should sound like.

I have tried the pennies and I have tried spray bottle and nothing works. It just makes him afraid of me and that breaks my heart more than hearing him squeak would. I just asked for personal experiences about debarking.

I don't care if I am a college student or a homeless person. I made the decision to have my dogs and I made a commitment to be their owner for the rest of their life. As long as they are not being harmed then I will do anything in my power to see to it that they stay with me. As I said before I am trying to work out other options, but that you so much for the input.

[susan lynn]

I had 2 cairn terriers before I had my yorkie, Tessie. They had an acre of land for their private yard and a huge insulated dog house my husband built. One of the boys had a high pitched bark and was obsessive-compulsive. They built a subdivision behind our 5 acres of land and two of the people complained about his barking,(he could bark for hours). Animal control came to my house and told me I had to keep them quiet or locked up at night. or they would fine me $250.00 and take me to court. (They weighed 15 lbs.) I did this for two days . I talked to my vet and he suggested debarking. I thought it was cruel but is was better than doggie jail. They did great, no side effects. They could bark but sounded like they had laryngitis.It was like taking our tonsils out. They both lived very long (14 years) happy lives. Good luck with your decision.

[nanahas3]

Ok I got through the crying part and was going to be quiet but I just have to say something. I consider my furbabies just like I did my kids (call me silly but I do). I had a have a middle daughter who was born while we lived on a military base in a duplex. She was had colick for the first 6 months of her life and asthma combined. The poor little thing spent 20 hours of every day crying. My neighbors even went so far as calling the MP's on us but to me having her voice box removed would of amounted to the same as having my furbabies debarked. They bark when they play, when they are stressed, when they are in pain, and to warn us. What if your home caught fire while you were sleeping? They couldn't even warn you. Ok I gave MHO and sorry if it offends anyone. Please rehome these little ones.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Lou

I'm going to jump in here and say that I don't like the idea of debarking but if it was debark or get rid of one of my babies I for sure would debark them. Having said that I can also tell you that I have lectured young married couples, new graduates and students about NOT getting a pet until they are in a situation that isn't likely to change. I own my house and therefore don't have to worry too much about the problem.

None of our opinions are going to help the OP though. She will keep her dog and will sneak it back into the dorm. What advice can we give her?

I tried the coins in a can trick and it didn't work. What did work was a rolled up newspaper smacked against the kitchen counter or coffee table. (No never the dog.) I would say "Quiet" right after doing it. It worked like a charm on all 4 of my beasts and it worked quickly. If the barking starts again all I have to do is act like I am picking up the newspaper and they scurry - they just hate that sound.

That sounds like a good idea. I might have to try that myself. Thanks.

[Hooks_Yorkie]

I am literally shaking because I am so upset that some of you would have the nerve to tell me to rehome my dogs and question their quality of life.

They are in their separate bag all of 2 minutes for me to transfer them from my room into the car. They go to a park away from campus and interact with other pets every other day when I do not have lab and for several hours on the weekend. My boss knows all about my puppies and my situation so as long as one other lady who is afraid of dogs isn't there then they are by myside every day and have full range of the office.

They never see the inside of their crate unless they are chasing each other into because I let them have full range of my room. I modify my schedule for their life. I skip class to make sure that I get whatever emergency care or meds that they need. My dogs are my companions and they have helped me through everything and I will not give them up simply because of some annoying habit.

I will work on it as long as possible and I have looked into hiring a trainer, but it never dawned on me that individuals who preach about how many animals are in shelters, the greedy BYB and overpopulation of pets woud encourage me to let my puppy go into the hands of strangers.

Both of them have been together since they were puppies and I saw how my little girl reacted to him being away to get neutered. I can't imagine what would happen if he never came back.

As I said before thank you so much for the advice and I will try other options as much as possible, but I would like for this thread to be closed before things progress.

[makhro]

I am sorry that you feel that way. I anticipated that things would go south with such a sensitive topic. I hope that through it all some new possibilities emerged, either way I am sure you will do right by Hooks.