To Bark or Debark? That is the Question!

[JUDY's2yorkies]

When I got my first yorkie,she had already been debarked,she was a retired show dog,and she was happy,hers was done by a great vet,and her bark was a softer sweeter bark,she did not know that she was not making alot of noise,and she was a joy to live with,she has sence gone on to the rainbow bridge at 15 years,a happy loved sweet girl, now my male has a soft bark and I would not ever think of changing him,yet my female has a shrill loud voice and I have asked my vet about the debark surgery,he said he could and would do it if she had to have surgary for any other reason,teeth cleaning or such,but not to knock her out for just that,its too risky,knocking her out,the debarking is not the issue,he cuts a small piece of tissue...I saw a dog that he had just debarked,and it was fine,it did try to bark,but it came out soft,the dog didn't seem to notice,no pain or discomfort was noticed eather,I really don't see what the issue is here,if done by you own vet that you trust,then so be it,but then I wouldn't take mine to a drive in van type vet eather ,nor do I go to a park or parkinglot for shots by the masses like some people do,YES,we are all differant in how we look at issues..sorry this is so long,but there are always two sides to every issue

[Hickey007]

Originally Posted by BabyFidgette

Sorry to get off topic, but I HAD to say this...3rd language? You write/speak great!

That's exactly what I was thinking. English is my first and only language and you're doing better than me.

----
Ok now on to the topic. I didn't vote because I don't know what I would do. At first I thought no not for me but I have a dog(my sister's actually) and when I lived with my parents we were in a neighborhood and he barked. The neighbor turned us in and a man came out and said very politely that he suggested we get a collar for him. There would be fines and eventually loss of our dog if we didn't get him to hush. Now its easy to say find a new home for him but we couldn't. He had food issues and would snap at you if you got near him while he was eating. We were comfortable with this because we were all adults and feed him twice a day and he ate while we were there watching him so he wasn't going to snap at any kids. However we had no family around to give him to and if the animal control people or whoever would've taken him he would've been put down. So I ask this putting a dog down, who has now lived an additional 4 years and still going strong and happy as can be, or putting a collar on him every now and then just to remind him to quite down, which one is worse? He doesn't have to wear it all the time we can put it on him for a day or so and he will be quite for at least few good weeks. Now I know the question was about debarking but I thought to myself if I can put a collar on my dog to quite down then I should be ok with debarking. I'm sure the surgery itself isn't risky, maybe putting the dog under, but not the actually debarking, so the issue isn't so much my dog having surgery its am I ok with my dog not barking 24/7 or barking more quietly, do I think that is wrong? No I don't. So while I would try all the other possible paths first (moving and what not, but its really not always possible to move) if it came down to this was my only option I would do it. I don't know that I could give up my dog, it would be very tough I can say that.

[Katys mom]

As annoying as Katy can be when she is barking. I would move first.

[Dan & Corinne]

And by "Rehome", I mean I go with her!

[Kathryn_V]

I am still unsure how I feel about it all.

After reading everyones responses I am still quite mixed! I can see both sides of the fence... I agree that its a very simple surgery and its really not as cruel as it has been made out to be... I even talked to my vet about it... He does it... and really has feelings either way on it...

But I also love my girl for everything that she is and would not want to change anything about her! I see how many of you would never want to do this to your babies!!! I so can see that!

I can only hope that she will grow out of this barking thing.... At over 7 months... it's not looking so good!

I just wanted to check in and say thank you to everyone who replied.... the good and the bad...... Thanks! It really gave me a good perspective on the subject!

[GeorgiesMomma]

I wouldn't take away Georgie's bark that's his form of communication. I tell him to bark sometimes when I say talk to Momma tell me how your day was and he barks and whines to me My Aunt had a dog when I was a kid and he barked a lot, well the neighbors complained so much she got him debarked and then 2 months later the a**holes moved!

[vainchick5]

Ok so I'm confused by everyone's statements of "I WOULD MOVE" Well if your dog is constantly barking, no matter where you move, unless it's in the middle of nowhere on a deserted ranch, people will still complain. So that doesn't really solve anything. Moving will only cause annoyance by the new neighbors around you

[KellyV]

If I had tried EVERY other method and failed.... I think if it came down to it, I would. I'm not exactly in a position that I could just up and move, and if I could it would be into an apartment... And not every apartment accepts dogs and more than likely the barking there would cause a bigger problem than it would in my current home. Like vainchick said "unless it's in the middle of nowhere on a deserted ranch, people will still complain"... and there's no way I could afford to do that!!

I couldn't rehome Pixie. She's my baby... Plus, who knows who would be getting her? Who's to say that she wouldn't end up in a shelter or tied up outside all time by the new owners?

My MIL had a Beagle she had to give up and gave it to a woman she worked with. Knew the lady pretty well and figured he'd have a good home... Not so. Poor Joey now spends ALL his time either tied up outside or stuck in his kennel in a room no one really spends time with. He gets no attention from the family and is pretty much neglected.... If she could take him back, she would, but circumstances don't allow it..

I couldn't let that happen to Pixie. I would much rather she bark a bit quieter (most of the time debarking does not remove the bark all together) and know that she's still getting all the love, attention and spoiling she deserves!!

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by dezertblu

Personally I would never look at living somewhere i couldn't have my pets as they are....I just don't do that, I mean I took them on and they come first, I mean would you take and move to a no childrens place knowing you had kids? Would you take the kids voice away to apease the place you lived? don't be silly of course not, you would look into a child friendly area, same goes for pets.Thats just my oppinion of course.

I agree.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by vainchick5

Ok so I'm confused by everyone's statements of "I WOULD MOVE" Well if your dog is constantly barking, no matter where you move, unless it's in the middle of nowhere on a deserted ranch, people will still complain. So that doesn't really solve anything. Moving will only cause annoyance by the new neighbors around you

Good point. Moving isn't always the solution. I would invest in a good dog trainer.

Giving my dogs away would NEVER be an option for me -- it's simply out of the question. My dogs are with me like in a marriage, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part. They will ONLY ever leave me when the times comes and they're called to the Rainbow Bridge.

[Jenn218]

There is no way I would ever do that - EVER - to any animal!!!
I would move, before I would even think about doing that or giving up my furbaby!
Neither one of those are an option with me....period!

To debark (to me) is like taking away someone's ability to talk and communicate. I know with my Yorkie, he normally only barks to tell or alert me about something. In my opinion, that is just cruel.

Okay, moving may not always solve the problem, because the barking my continue, but to me, that is a sign of some sort of underlying problem or issue and I would therefore start getting it under control in a more humane manner (vet, trainer, etc).

Dogs bark - just has a cow will mow or a bird sings. I am ever so glad that I live in the country!!!

[Jenn218]

Originally Posted by dezertblu
Personally I would never look at living somewhere i couldn't have my pets as they are....I just don't do that, I mean I took them on and they come first, I mean would you take and move to a no childrens place knowing you had kids? Would you take the kids voice away to apease the place you lived? don't be silly of course not, you would look into a child friendly area, same goes for pets.Thats just my oppinion of course.

I AGREE!!!

[Hickey007]

Originally Posted by Jenn218

[B]Okay, moving may not always solve the problem, because the barking my continue, but to me, that is a sign of some sort of underlying problem or issue and I would therefore start getting it under control in a more humane manner (vet, trainer, etc).

Its not always an underlying problem. Our dog barked at the deer that we had around our house that was in a neighborhood. He didn't bark out of boredom, frustration, anxiety, or anything else. He was barking at something, something that we couldn't get rid of. Just throwing that out there.

[Jenn218]

Originally Posted by Hickey007

Its not always an underlying problem. Our dog barked at the deer that we had around our house that was in a neighborhood. He didn't bark out of boredom, frustration, anxiety, or anything else. He was barking at something, something that we couldn't get rid of. Just throwing that out there.

True and I agree! I am just saying that I would check and cover all the bases before I took away my beloved pets way of communication. Most small breed dog owners (or if like me, any animal), you spend weeks, months and even years worry and deciding whether or not a surgery is needed - not just out of worry, but out of fear of what might happen. (reaction to gas, surgery gone wrong, infection, etc).

After reading an earlier post, I didn't realize that the dogs could still "bark". So, I guess they could still communicate - that was my biggest problem with this topic. If they are still able to communicate with their owners and the owner has taken all the other steps to make sure it isn't some underlying problem or moved or whatever, then go for it. You are that babies parent, you know what is best for you and your little one. Just weigh all the options before leaping into something that you may regret later.

I understand about deer and other outside nuisance that may cause a dog to bark! I live on over 30 acres which most of our land borders national park land. We have fields, bluffs, high points and deep valley, 2 acre pond, 2 creeks, thick forest, etc - you can imagine what crosses our path from time to time. We have had everything from coyotes, bear, "run away" donkey and horses, deer galore, screech owls, and other animals, lost hikers, etc. Mojo will bark to let us know that something is there, that he thinks shouldn't be there. That is great - That is what we want! He is a better watch dog then our 100+ pound German Shepard. This barking does not bother us and we would never take that away from him - he is doing a good thing!

He does bark at various things - when he wants his blanket, attention, a toy that fell behind the couch, etc. These are good things and we need him to be able to do that for us. He also barks when he sees something/someone that shouldn't be outside, when he wants us to look at something he has found or when he is hurt. These are all awesome ways that dogs communicate with their owners. Maybe debarkind doesn't affect their ability to do these things? I don't know - I have never known anyone who has had this done and I have never even thought about having it done.

These are just my thoughts and opinions on this topic. I just personally would not have this done. We are all different though and what is right for one is not for another.

[Jenn218]

Originally Posted by GeorgiesMomma

I wouldn't take away Georgie's bark that's his form of communication. I tell him to bark sometimes when I say talk to Momma tell me how your day was and he barks and whines to me My Aunt had a dog when I was a kid and he barked a lot, well the neighbors complained so much she got him debarked and then 2 months later the a**holes moved!

That is horrible!! I would be so extremely POed, if that was me! Another reason not to debark because of complaints from someone about her dog!

We visited a sheep farm with a school group trip a few weeks ago. This lady raised ducks, sheep, garden, flowers, etc. She has a "guard" donkey that actually helps with the sheep and two German Shepards. She lives in the middle of no where (really - farther out in the sticks than I live). Anyway, she had a "neighbor" that complained about her dogs roaming around all the time. This neighbor knew the dogs and where they belonged, knew they were friendly and even fed the dogs when they came around (no wonder why they wondered to her house). Anyway, this neighbor decided that this was a nuisance and filed complaints, police were involved on numerous ocassions, etc. Did this lady give up her pets? NO! Even after all the complaints, the harrassing calls, the frequent police visits, etc. she kept her beloved pets. She spent tons of money on installing a massive iron fence around their land (all of it), installed an electronic gate with camera and intercom, etc. - Just to please her neighbor and to safeguard her pets from harm. After all of this (the time, the money spent, the stress) the neighbors moved. Imagine if she had given up her pets and then the neighbors moved? You know she woudl have been devastated!

Getting to the point, I think some people complain just to have something to complain about and do. Maybe its a mental thing? I don't know? So, I would NEVER give up or DEBARK my beloved pet because of someone complaining!

I have lived in the country all my life. I have heard every kind of dog barking about something and barking at all hours of the day - ever sit through days and nights of a coonhound that is on the trail of something, that is tough, but that is part of living in the country! You learn to deal with it! Why complain? This dog is doing what it is bred and trained to do. Just as any household dog is trained and bred to bark to alert and communicate with its owner. Just as Yorkies are considered "yappers" - if you don't want to deal with barking or someone complaining about your dog barking, maybe the answer is don't get a dog?! I don't know? All dogs are different though, so you never know how they will turn out? I wonder if it is their history, their owners, their training? I don't know?

To be honest, I would rather listen to a barking/howling dog any day over the constant mowing of the cattle in the field or the buzzing of the flies or bumble bees or the rooster across the way that crows at all hours of the day and night or the guy on the other road that is always mowing, working on his tractor or car at all hours of the day and night. Or dealing with the "run away" donkey from a near by farm, that eats my plants and flowers, craps in the yard, brings more flies around and drives the dogs nuts!

Okay, sorry for another long post. I guess we all have different views of what we can handle before it becomes annoying. I think I will ask my vet about debarking and the pros/cons and what she thinks about it.