debarking or bark "softening"

[joeyandtanksmom]

Originally Posted by mommyofsophie

Thank you for sharing your honest perspective. I'm sure living in a house with Joey makes his barking much less of a problem for everyone, but I hope his separation anxiety eases over time. Maybe it's the move?

No problem - I knew there was a way for me to express my feelings without being rude I hope no offense was taken, I didn't mean any. I know that people are different, and so are opinions. Joey has been very anxious since he was a little 12 week old puppy. I was very naive when we bought him from the pet store (I KNOW...terrible!), and I think he was probably a puppy mill dog. I've read that mill dogs have a higher level of anxiety and such. I have tried a lot of things, but he still freaks out whenever we leave. I'm hoping that it gets better over time, but I'm not sure....he's 2 years old. We are constantly working with him, though, so we do have hope

[PenniesMom]

I have to say when i read the OP's post i cringed not because of the debarking issue but because i could just imagine the comments that were going to follow. I pleased to say i was shocked that almost everyone responded with kindness because i was NOT expecting that kudos YT'ers

to the OP ide sell my liver to the black market before i parted with my girls ..if you cant tell by that statement im on your side

[YorkieChick1]

I wish you lived near me, I would dogsit your little Sophie for free in a minute!!! She is a little dollbaby!! She could bark with my whole crew to her hearts content!! I wish you both the best!! Is there maybe an older retired person that you know that would like the companionship of Sophie during the day when you work??

[Reese1]

Personally, I could never do the surgery. I really hope some of the new suggestions will work for you or you can move to a more private home.
I do feel for you and the neighbors actually. Two of our three are barkers & if we lived in an apartment, I know there would be complaints!
It can be extremely annoying to hear a dog bark continuously for hours on end!
I know you have tried numerous solutions & I hope you do exhaust all avenues before doing a drastic surgery.
Best of luck!

[yorkiepuppie]

Originally Posted by MadDeDo

I think there have been some extremely thoughtful and informative responses on this thread, and with the exception of only a few posts everyone has stayed very respectful. That is nice to see here for a change...

i find this statement disrespectful. i didn't know that YT was a place where people didn't write thoughtful, informative, respectful responses.

YT is a VERY informative place and people on it are passionate. i can't begin to tell you how much i learned on YT. just because you might disagree with other's opinion on whatever issue doesn't mean they are disrespectful, non-informative, and thoughtless.

[roseslevi]

Originally Posted by yorkiepuppie

i find this statement disrespectful. i didn't know that YT was a place where people didn't write thoughtful, informative, respectful responses.

YT is a VERY informative place and people on it are passionate. i can't begin to tell you how much i learned on YT. just because you might disagree with other's opinion on whatever issue doesn't mean they are disrespectful, non-informative, and thoughtless.

I believe what she meant is the whole "tone" of this thread has stayed very kind and thoughtful. I think everyone has been passionate and said what they thought but in a sympathetic and nonjudgmental way.

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by Reese1

Personally, I could never do the surgery. I really hope some of the new suggestions will work for you or you can move to a more private home.
I do feel for you and the neighbors actually. Two of our three are barkers & if we lived in an apartment, I know there would be complaints!
It can be extremely annoying to hear a dog bark continuously for hours on end!
I know you have tried numerous solutions & I hope you do exhaust all avenues before doing a drastic surgery.
Best of luck!

We all love dogs and probably have heard at some point in our life a dog that barked endlessly -especially outdoor dogs.....I had a neighbor where I live who use to put her Chi's on the back patio where the poor things were in the heat during the summer and never ever stopped barking. I mean - NEVER. My girls always wanted to make a beeline to her apt when on walks so they could 'talk' to the barking dogs....

I felt so bad for them - she'd be home too

The barking was annoying and I wasn't even close to her place so can't imagine how her neighbors felt but.... my issue when I complained was to the managers office was about her leaving them outside in the Houston summer ... They told me they had numerous complaints and then one day - this woman had moved. Don't know if she was evicted or left on her own but I still think of those dogs out on that hot patio

I can so relate to the OP about barking - I don't have that problem when at work - mine are very quiet when I'm at work because I've ASKED my neighbors - plus my son told me when he lived here they hardly barked -but when I'm home they can be a bit yappy. I think it's being around ME that causes this -

I can't say what I'd do in the same situation. Rehoming is drastic but also - endless barking can get you evicted if not taken care of ....debarking is also drastic so .....wishing you all the best in whatever decision you make and I hope you find a solution that works.

[yorkiepuppie]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

It's very easy to give it advice in a situation such as this.

While I don't advocate such a procedure. I don't think I would say never say never. Especially if it came to a situation where my only option was to debark or rehome. Well my dogs aren't going anywhere.

I do know several breeder/exhibitors that have had their dogs and not all of them. Just those that are chronic, loud barkers that all training has not worked.

It any situation I always say "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" before you pass judgement.

Originally Posted by Brooklynn

Bama I think this is the first time I am going to disagree with you LOL...if I were put in that position and it was either debark or rehome my brooklynn or Radar or Krissy or Tucker or Harvey......ummm I'd debark with no hesitation. They ain't going NO WHERE!

Donna

i am REALLY surprised that reputable breeders are supportive in debarking dogs...it's not a choice between

1)de-barking sophie

2)rehome shopie

there are OTHER options,

one happy option i can think of is moving.

i don't understand why moving is so easily written off as being something that is impossible to do, and debarking the dog is a good option when moving is an option. then i guess you should never sell to anyone who lives in an apartment, because they won't move, they'll just debark dog instead.

i can *understand* the reason why a breeder might de-bark a dog if a barker gets a room/house full of dogs to bark non-stop. but i did not know show breeders would de-barked dogs prior to reading this thread. and even though i can hardly talk to my breeder everytime i call her because her dogs all start barking, now i have a lot more respect for her for not debarking the barky ones that get all dogs to start barking.

please educate me if i am misinformed. if debarking is not so bad, why is it outlawed in some states? and i would like information on the benefits of debarking, and the safety of debarking. thanks.

[yorkiepuppie]

mommyofsophie, i hope you are not offended by my posts. i don't mean to offend. i have no doubt that you are a good mom to sophie, but i really have a problem with de-barking a dog.

if you are willing to share, i would like to know the info. you found about debarking dogs. because you said you found info about how safe the procedure can be.

since you and the reputable breeders on YT are all saying that debarking is not as bad as i am thinking it is. i would like to understand, perhaps i am too extreme and failed to consider some things.

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by PenniesMom

I have to say when i read the OP's post i cringed not because of the debarking issue but because i could just imagine the comments that were going to follow. I pleased to say i was shocked that almost everyone responded with kindness because i was NOT expecting that kudos YT'ers

to the OP ide sell my liver to the black market before i parted with my girls ..if you cant tell by that statement im on your side

she's in a tough spot. I think people can relate even though many people here live in homes or dont work so they can control the behaviour of their pets - I include myself in that statement until my life changed and had to go back to work fulltime AND move into an apartment from a home after my husband died.

The changes in living conditions and them being alone all day bothered me alot. My girls still haven't fully adjusted to apartment living after having the freedom of a yard. They just sit at the door all day waiting for me but are very quiet (as I said earlier - I've asked my neighbors and all have said they never hear them bark)

So ...I can easily relate to her problem....even though I don't have this issue - I don't know what I'd do if I did.

It's kind of a no win situation unless she moves and for many - that just isn't an option.

This thread is so long I can't remember if you have other pets - is this an 'only' dog ?

[terlis]

I feel so bad for you. I can feel that you are agonizing over this. I don't know anything about this surgery so I have no advice in that respect. I also don't know what I would do in your situation.
Perhaps someone on YT could start a thread of willing dogsitters in different areas of your country. Someone mentioned here that if they lived closer to you they would dogsit. Maybe there is someone close to you.
Whatever decision you make I am sure will be well informed. Best wishes.

[Deuce]

Wow, this is a tough decision to make...maybe before getting her debarked, try borrowing a friends dog that is good with small dogs and quiet and see if that keeps her quiet during the day. If so you can always look into adopting another dog to keep her entertained...however this could easily backfire and you wind up with 2 barking dogs. If you do have to "de-bark/soften" go with the soften of the bark, that way she still has the option to alert you in case she hears anything that you might not...
Again, this is difficult and I'm sorry you are put in this situation...as a professor is it possible for you to bring her to work, have her in a pen behind your desk or in your locked office? (long shot, but just trying to come up with things that maybe you haven't thought about yet...)

[chachi]

Originally Posted by yorkiepuppie

i find this statement disrespectful. i didn't know that YT was a place where people didn't write thoughtful, informative, respectful responses.

YT is a VERY informative place and people on it are passionate. i can't begin to tell you how much i learned on YT. just because you might disagree with other's opinion on whatever issue doesn't mean they are disrespectful, non-informative, and thoughtless.

I agree!! I just read through this whole thread. No I didnt see any rude posts at all on this thread. Just some that didnt agree with debarking and gave an alternative solution. I dont know why that is considered rude

[yorkielady06]

Originally Posted by yorkiepuppie

mommyofsophie, i hope you are not offended by my posts. i don't mean to offend. i have no doubt that you are a good mom to sophie, but i really have a problem with de-barking a dog.

if you are willing to share, i would like to know the info. you found about debarking dogs. because you said you found info about how safe the procedure can be.

since you and the reputable breeders on YT are all saying that debarking is not as bad as i am thinking it is. i would like to understand, perhaps i am too extreme and failed to consider some things.

Ok now I consider myself a reputable breeder and I am against debarking at all costs. I feel that there are too many other options not attempted...trainer, collars, voice prompts, moving, finding an older person or stay at home doggy family to watch over her, or last resort rehoming. I have seen debarking that was done in the 80s and 90s while a vet tech and I am completely against it. I feel that it is outlawed in states because it is inhumane. But that is my opinion and I do feel for the OP as she is in a hard place. I hope she makes the right decision by her Sophie.

[jencar98]

Originally Posted by yorkiepuppie

i find this statement disrespectful. i didn't know that YT was a place where people didn't write thoughtful, informative, respectful responses.

YT is a VERY informative place and people on it are passionate. i can't begin to tell you how much i learned on YT. just because you might disagree with other's opinion on whatever issue doesn't mean they are disrespectful, non-informative, and thoughtless.

Originally Posted by chachi

I agree!! I just read through this whole thread. No I didnt see any rude posts at all on this thread. Just some that didnt agree with debarking and gave an alternative solution. I dont know why that is considered rude

No offense intended and sorry to go OT but, I took it that MaDeDo's post only meant that it is nice to see a *controversial topic* be discussed on YT without disrespectful/rude posts. I am aware most of the threads/posts on YT are respectful, kind, thoughtful, informative and even fun but, when it comes to controversial topics things in the past have had a way of turning ugly.....it's refreshing to see this thread be different.