debarking or bark "softening"

[yorkiepuppie]

Originally Posted by mommyofsophie

This has turned out to be the trick!!! (I think-- fingers are crossed.) I closed the door to my home office, which is off the kitchen where Sophie's gated in during the day. This way, Sophie can have her bed in the kitchen, food, water, potty pad, etc., but she can't see out a window. The snotty neighbor won't talk to me still, but she did tell my apt. manager that for the last week Sophie's barking has been almost nonexistent when I'm gone during the day. I think that with the radio left on to NPR and no window access, outdoor sounds and sights don't get Sophie all excited and she's keeping quiet. I pray, pray, PRAY that this isn't just temporary, but that it's the solution to our problem. If it doesn't work, I'll contact a professional trainer. My vet gave me a referral for a woman in my area who just earned her Ph.D. in animal behavior and is looking to establish herself with clients... meaning, she won't charge me a fortune yet, lol.

I'm going ahead with Sophie's spay surgery tomorrow. (She's 16 mos, but I waited at the advice of my vet because she was underweight. Now she's holding steady at 2 1/2 lbs.) Tomorrow she'll also get a couple teeth pulled and be micro-chipped, but I am NOT having her bark softened.

I can't thank everyone here enough for your opinions, perspectives, and suggestions. What an amazing community!!

Originally Posted by mommyofsophie

Awww-- you're so sweet! I did find a woman in my large apt. complex who works part-time as a paralegal and walks dogs. She's only charging me $10 per day to come over and walk/play with Sophie for 30 minutes each visit when I'm at work. The dog walker already came over a few times and played with Sophie when I was there because I wanted Sophie to know she's a safe person. She plays really sweetly with Sophie and I think they're going to have fun together.

wow! i am so glad things are starting to work out for you and sophie.

so the office window is where sophie can detect your neighbor walking by and that is why she is barking? it does seem like if you can close that door or any other areas where sophie will notice other people moving around, she will not bark while you are away.

i will keep my fingers crossed that sophie will be a good little girl and not bark while you are away with the new set up.

good luck with the surgery tmw. you can sleep with her blanket tonight and bring it with her to the vet tmw, so she can smell you on the blanket when she is at the vet. i usually do this with my dogs, i think maybe this helps them feel better while they are at the vet because i think they are probably a little scared to be there without their mommy.

[jenn1381]

Both of mine are barkers... Oliver mostly inside the house, and Mya out. Mya's favorite thing to do is bark at the neighbors, and their dogs. It's a territorial bark, she has that "I own the world, and I didn't tell you you could be in it!" frame of mind. Fun. I can tell the neighbors on the one side are annoyed. She gets brought in the minute she starts barking (and I can catch her, lol) and often times if I know they are outside I will just take her out on a leash to avoid the hassle altogether. She is sloooooowly learning that barking means she goes inside - she loves it outside - so she's starting to get the hint.

I share this story because - I can relate. I can imagine being faced with such a decision. I'd like to say I'd never debark, but if it was a decision between letting one or both of them go and debarking, well I just don't know what I'd do. Oliver especially is so attached and has already been through so much (puppy mill rescue) that I don't know if he'd live through being separated from me and yet another rehome.

I haven't read the whole thread, but I did watch the video posted, and it broke my heart - gagging while eating or drinking or exercising for life? Yikes. I know it doesn't always happen and it's just one of those "surgical risks", but it's still something to keep in mind while making a decision.

I truly hope you're able to get a house you can rent so you both can rest a little easier. I have a lot of student debt and my living situation is not what I want it to be and I have no power to change it until some of my debt is paid down, so I can relate in that sometimes moving isn't always an option. Hopefully something opens up and it becomes one for you

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by jenn1381

Both of mine are barkers... Oliver mostly inside the house, and Mya out. Mya's favorite thing to do is bark at the neighbors, and their dogs. It's a territorial bark, she has that "I own the world, and I didn't tell you you could be in it!" frame of mind. Fun. I can tell the neighbors on the one side are annoyed. She gets brought in the minute she starts barking (and I can catch her, lol) and often times if I know they are outside I will just take her out on a leash to avoid the hassle altogether. She is sloooooowly learning that barking means she goes inside - she loves it outside - so she's starting to get the hint.

I share this story because - I can relate. I can imagine being faced with such a decision. I'd like to say I'd never debark, but if it was a decision between letting one or both of them go and debarking, well I just don't know what I'd do. Oliver especially is so attached and has already been through so much (puppy mill rescue) that I don't know if he'd live through being separated from me and yet another rehome.

I haven't read the whole thread, but I did watch the video posted, and it broke my heart - gagging while eating or drinking or exercising for life? Yikes. I know it doesn't always happen and it's just one of those "surgical risks", but it's still something to keep in mind while making a decision.

I truly hope you're able to get a house you can rent so you both can rest a little easier. I have a lot of student debt and my living situation is not what I want it to be and I have no power to change it until some of my debt is paid down, so I can relate in that sometimes moving isn't always an option. Hopefully something opens up and it becomes one for you

I saw the video too, and we don't know if the dogs originally had the debarking done by a professional vet. There are still many states that allow a breeder to do-it-yourself and it's being done by jamming a metal pipe down a dog's throat, and other barbaric methods. I just read a law recently trying to get it banned in some state, and only vets would be allowed to do it. Even then I don't think you'd want just any vet. The dog in the video with the surgical incision was the dog who had his throat repaired, and it's always more difficult to repair bad surgery then do the surgery right in the first place.

I'm really hopeful training can help, I really love the fact that Joey can alert me should someone try to break in.

[Ringo1]

Wow! I'm so glad that things seem to be turning around for you and Sophie! Knock on Wood and all.

Sounds like you have got some great things going on with the radio; the dog walker; the right room . . .

I'm impressed!

[Roccosmommy]

Prayers for a safe spay surgery tomorrow and speedy recovery for sweet little Sophie. (And big hugs and puppy kisses from Rocco! )

[MaddiesMommie]

I will pray for little Sophoe's spay tomorrow. I am glad things have gotten a little quieter around there while you are gone and Sophie has a new playmate.

[lisaly]

I am so happy to hear that things are going better for you and Sophie. The two of you will be in my heart and prayers tomorrow. I know how much you love your baby girl. I can't wait until you can hold her and tell her that over and over again and that it brings you happiness..

I am very sorry about the loss of your father. I hope Sophie can help you heal from the pain you are feeling. I know it doesn't go away, but being around someone you love helps. I really hope that you can put all of the stress you were feeling with your neighbors out of your mind and that you can just love and enjoy your little Sophie..