This is not my own pet. However the circumstances are such that 'debarking' may be an only option.

This is an elderly woman's dear pet who is going into assisted housing. Please refrain from judgemental "I hate debarking" comments. I already know that.


We will be exhausting all alternatives to keep her much loved pet with her. Consistent behavioral modification is not always feasible when the handler is incapacitated.

Thanks,
Joy

This is a very sad situation. I feel so sorry for this poor woman.

All I know is Sadie barks when she is happy...She runs and barks as she plays.
I would hate to take her voice away. But I understand the reason for this persons dilemma. How big is her dog? My neighbor has a 11 pound yorkie. She uses the collar with the spray. She never has to use it any more, just pick it up and put it out where her dog can see it. he stops barking right away! But I think the dog needs to be 5 pounds or more.

We tried a citronella collar. The problem was it went off for other noises, including play growling. The dog was starting to hide and become withdrawn. Her owner couldn't bear to see the personality change in her.:(

And her owner isn't in a position to put the collar on and off several times a day, which is what would prevent that.

Thanks!

Amen!

Personally I feel an older Yorkie is better off with her owner and for certain the elderly lady NEEDS her dog. She is going through enough life changes. I understand the bark volume is reduced, the dog after recovery isn't really handicapped in anyway-they can still voice and make their needs known. I would personally have the dog evaluated prior to the surgery by a vet to make certain she can tolerate the procedure and any additional scar tissue that may develop. I applaud you for considering every possible solution, even if it isn't a popular one. Life doesn't always present us with easy choices and you shouldn't be made to feel like you were abusing the dog by finding a way for it to stay with its loving owner.

:thumbup: Well Said. I, too, would not consider this an option FOR ME.. but, in certain circumstances such as this one, its definitely worth exploring.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I hope that I am never put in a position like this, because I would never want to do such a thing. However, I have never been in that position to know exactly how I would handle it.
For the person that said that they would not do that to a child, well I would never have my child neutered either, as people do their pets. So I guess its all in how you look at it.

It is a well-known fact that pets keep the elderly, or anyone for that matter, mentally healthier which often affects the physical. If I was in the position as this elderly lady and was told that the only way I could have my beloved Yorkie with me was to debark, I'm not so sure that I wouldn't choose debark. After being put into some tough, embarrassing situations I have learned to not say "never." It came back to bite me. Children have a way of humbling us.:embarasse
Joanne :aimeeyork :aimeeyork :aimeeyork :dog:

Same here - I know someone who shows her dogs and she had all three debarked and it was aweful..they all had that raspy bark and I felt so sorry for them and I would rather have a dog who barks normally than that. :( Just my opinion I wouldn't have that procedure done as there are tons of other methods to get a dog to lesson the barking. But then again if this is the last resort to keep the dog you might have to go this route.

Agree or disagree...maybe instead we could all help give ideas on how to train the dog to stop barking with positive rewards.

I am sorry you and your friend are going through this...I wish you the best.

I have to say my little girl Mia is the WORST with barking. I have just started working with her on the "quiet" command and a hand signal. When she does it, it is followed by a super yummy treat like chicken or fish. She only gets it right after she quits barking and after my command. My husband and I did this all day last weekend on Saturday. He sat outside and knocked on the door and I worked with her inside when she would bark at him. After a while she got it and she is doing better. She is not perfect but we are going to keep working on it every weekend till we see some more improvement. Maybe this could help....I hope it does.

HUGS!

Love that!!!

If you don't want your dog to bark...buy a cat!!

Good point - never thought of it this way....it really doesn't stop them from barking and if you have ever heard a dog that has had this procedure done you would think twice for sure.

Many here have tried the coins in the empty soda can taped up and when the dog barks you shake the can and say a command such as "no bark".
When the dog is quiet then you give them a super treat.

What I have done with Izzy is during the day when she is quiet I will tell her she's such a good girl for being quiet and give a little treat...need to tell them too when they are doing something right.

http://www.petronic.com/spraytrain.htm
With this, all the lady would have to do is push a button instead of removing the collar all the time.
It would have to be refilled though.

I think this is an extremely hard situation.. this girl asking about this procedure is not asking for herself. We should all think of this as number one.

Second.. if this is an elderly lady that may not cope well without her dog. but she is in a position that she cannot have a barking dog.. what do you do.. if this was a puppy it would be far easier to train.. obviously this elderly woman having a barking dog, has not annoyed her in her own home.. so now has come a time with both being older.. hard to teach an old dog new tricks.. is that not a saying..
I am coming from the heart right now, not my head.. I am thinking if it were me that was old, I am thinking if it was my mother that was old..

What oh what could we do. Will this woman go down hill without the love of her live, maybe her best friend.. Lets all think about this..

I personally would not do this.. BUT I have not been in a position to have to consider something so drastic neither.. Now this girl is trying to help an old lady keep her dog.. lets all think about this while we are posting.

I actually give her credit for coming on YT for help in a matter such as this..not an easy one for her to begin with..

with that said.. I would like some of you to think hard... and yes I did see this done, and if done the right way, and the dog is sedated properly long enough to heal,, they do not have the strange bark some have spoken of..

And please don't shoot this messenger.. I lost a sister I loved.. had a yorkie been able to keep her alive,, what would I have done.