Cutting vocal cords
 

I'm at work right now (shhhh...) and listening to the radio, I believe they were talking about what is going to be on tonight's news, I was half listening until I heard them say that one of the topics is the controversial topic of cutting a dogs vocal cords to stop them from barking?!? Wow, has anyone else heard of this? That's cruel!

Woo! That is cruel and very scary. :(

One of my neighbor have had his Yorkie debarked . When the dog bark it sounds like he have a cough . I am not for that method . Fortunately , mine have learned the word NO and they obey . It took me a very long time before they understand , little ones can be extremely stubborn . Sometimes I was really discourage . Repeat , repeat and repeat may be the secret .

Are you talking about debarking. I've seem some dogs that were surgically debarked. They still can bark but very very low sound. The people that I've meet had no choice, their dogs were barking so much and they have tried everything in their power to stop it with no avail. It was the last choice before either eviction or getting rid of the dog(which is not a option for these people.).


However, I heard that puppymill practice debarking also. Okay, people this is going to get graphic so stop reading if you are weak of heart.


The way they do it is by ramming a rod down the dog's throat distroying the vocal cord. However, it's not an exact science and jaws are broken and sometimes the dog dies. But puppymills don't really care about that. :mad:

My mom has told me about this. She heard it from someone that has had their dog debarked. Is that the way the vets do it. I think its cruel because no matter how stubborn Toto is when it comes to barking i wouldn't do that to him because how am i suppose to know if someone breaks in or if he's hurt. What Channel is that coming on tonight?

Could you give us a few pointers on how you taught your dog to stop barking by commanding the word NO. My dog just keeps going even when you tell her no. I try looking right at her and sternly say no but does not work. Give us some of your expert advise please.

Please give us some advice because no matter how many times i say "no" to Toto he just seems to get more upset. I tell him no in a stern way and he just barks at me like he's saying whatever mommy. Practically arguing with me. Its driving me insane. Eventually i just give up, because he gets louder. Please give us some advice.

My pup Diesel had a really bad barking problem. It seemed like my telling him no! only made him bark louder and he never got tired of barking. I read on another forum that putting pennies in a can and shaking it will stop the barking. I decided to try it with a water bottle instead. It really does work! When Diesel gets into one of his barking moods I shake my bottle and he stops. I can even make him stop barking when someone is at the door now by making the ssshhhh! sound also. He has gotten so much better and I have started using the bottle as a way of distracting him from any negative behavior. I hope this helps.

:) Reagan :)

I did the pennies in a can thing (actually I have 3 marbles in a coffee can) and it works wonderfully! I keep it handy whenever I am expecting someone to come over because I know that Biddy barks like crazy when the doorbell rings. I just shake it a few times & she quiets right down...

Yippity Yippers
 

Maybe a basic dog obedience course would help you get started. I'm certian Simon gets barking when I'm at work, but is very obediant when I'm home, as he also responds to a verbal reprimand.

It's hard to get control when the little guys really get riled up, but with work I'm sure you could get a handle on it.

Best of luck.

Jeni

April
 

I believe it is going to be on one of my local news channels...I was half listening to the radio until I heard what the subject was. If I hear it again on the radio and it actually is a story on a national show, I'll let you know.

Hmmm...I don't think I could do it even if my dog constantly barked but then again, I've never had to deal with a constant barking dog.

Bailey was VERY bad abt barking at EVERYONE that walked by the house,, so I started leaving his leash on in the house ( he is much more attentive when he has the leash on) Anyhow, when he would start the barking I would get him off the couch or chair, wherever, he was looking out the window, and I would bring him to me and look at him and say NO BARKING! he would continue and be all figgity and distracted but I would keep doing it,, after about 2-3 nights of doing this,, he doesnt react to people going by, he will look at them and then look at me,, and I say NO BARKING and he doesnt... belive it or not! He kinda does this low mumbled voice growl/ bark, but I can handle that,, its much better! Its like he knows hes not allowed but he has to let me know that someone is out there! ha :D

I am a frequent watcher of the show "Barking Mad" on Animal Planet, this is an animal training ahow and they deal with barking all the time. They really stress positive reinforcement, for example:
They recomend having a training clicker (Available at pet stores like Petco) and treats, when the dog is behaving (not barking reward with a treat while clicking the clicker. This helps relate the sound to the reward. When the dog is barking you ignore it and wait for a break in the barking (when he is quiet for a minute) to reward the silence.

This method may be hard to understand in a written post but it has been effective with my Max. For a better idea of wht the technique involves I would recommend watching "Barking Mad" on Animal Planet, here is the website (the listings are on here) Animal Planet

Good Luck!

thanks for all the great advice. I think I might try the pennies in the can thing. What the heck, give it a shot I guess.

I tried the clicker,,, he wants to attack it , try to bite my hand when I have it, and Barks when I make it click,,, didnt work for me,, but maybe with some, maybe I should have started it when he was younger? :confused:

It wasn't easy as I told you . When Zsa Zsa was barking , I said a loud No .
I always had a treat ready because dog do things by association . The minute the dog stop barking , you give the treat and tell him or her how you are proud . It took me 5 months before Zsa Zsa really catch the world .

As for Jade , I only heard her bark when someone is at the door , I say No and she return to what she was doing .

There is lots of great training advice on the web. I think yiu have to first figure out "why" they are barking and then correct it with the methods that work for your dog. Here is one link:

http://www.perfectpaws.com/bark.html

Hi- second try- lets see if I can type. At Sharper Image they have an ultrasonic box for about $39 that humans can't hear. Plu it in, and it will stop them from excessive barking, quickly.

=-)

I took my girls for some training when they were young, and the way we stopped any bad behavior (like barking) was: we each bought a piece of heavy chain, about a foot long, and hold it in our hand so they can't see it. Then, when they start barking, throw it on the ground, at the same time say "no"! Don't let them see it, and pick it up right away. The noise scares them and they immediately stop. I only had to do it a few times, and now I just say, "do you want the chain", and then she stops, and does the low growling, throaty thing. It's too cute! But when I'm out, I can just clap my hands loudly and say no and she stops! :rolleyes:

I used the squirt bottle on my chihauhua....I knew when I got her I was going to have a barker.

If I 'yelled....NO' it seems she barked more.....it was explained to me if I yelled out while she was barking she just thought I was agreeing and barking WITH HER.....So I got the squirt bottle....I will let her bark when someone comes to the door..(we live in the country so not alot of foot traffic just passing by)....but on other occasions or when the barking went on too long I just gave her a good squirt and she STOPPED immediately! I never was smart enough for her not to see me or the bottle...now...when she is barking she will stopp if she sees me reach for the bottle.

P.S. Since the chihuahua did not bark much Lil Bit never has been a barker.... but on a few occasions I have had to give her a squirt also. Works great!

I do like the jar/pennies idea....might try that for a while.

I could never imagine debarking a dog! Misty (RIP) scared away a potential intruder once! They kicked in the door, she started barking up a storm, and they ran away. The police asked my parents if we had a burgler alarm, and my dad said "If you count the four-legged, furry kind." The officer replied that those are the best kind to have, because they rarely fail!

Hurray for the yorkie! She saved the day! How scary for you!

pennys are a great idea...do you think it would work on a big dog to :embarasse My Isis barks up a storm and scares the people at the door to death, of course she wouldnt hurt a fly unless that fly were hurting my kids if you know what I mean.

I friend of mine uses this on her Sharpei (not a great big dog - but bigger than ours!) and it worked wonders. I think it's just enough to startle them and the forget what they were barking about to begin with!

Actually, Misty was a collie/beagle mix. I guess a 65lb dog with a big booming bark would scare anyone...

Small ones can be very surprizing too . You should hear Kelly's voice . The other day , she scared a lady by saying hello to her . We laugh when she told me , she impressed her . She is 5 pounds but have a big strong bark .

I found out about Debarking when I did a google search on help to help control barking. I really was going nuts but my little girl was a tiny puppy.
She does bark but not early in the morning and she wont bark in her kennel during the entire night. I could not judge a person if they had their dog debarked if they had no choice. If it came to being evicted or worse ,neighbors have been known to poison neighbor's dogs because of barking. I found an article on how vet's do it and it's NOT by ramming a rod down their throat. They give anesthesia and surgically cut or remove the cords. I dont really remember. It depends on the dog what sound they will make after this is done. Some sound like a squeek noise or a cough.Even though they make this sound ,it's not actually hurting them at all. It was not something I would personally do until I tried everything else. My little furball is only a little over 4 months old and she has had tremendous progress Another thing I would NOT buy for my dog. Its called a no bark collar. The collar transmits electricity and zaps the dog's neck everytime it barks 2-3 times. The dog is startled and it stops. After a while the dog will not bark once the bark is on even if it doesnt get zapped. I could not do that to my little one .
Genie

This is the first time I read about debarking. I wouldnt do that to my baby. Gucci barks, sometimes she wont stop even after spraying her with the water bottle and saying no. I do notice she listens to my husband, when he says NO, she stops at least for a little while. Im going to give the pennies/jar solution a try. :aimeeyork

That is so bad cruelty to animals and must hurt.:(:( :mad: :thumbdown