Debarking Your Dog, Really?
Obviously, I have very strong opinions about this practice. When you add a dog to your family you must understand that dogs bark. That is what they do to protect their turf and ultimately warn you of approaching danger.
I have met quite a few dog owners over the years who did it to stop neighbors from complaining or just for their own āconvenienceā. I personally find it very cruel to take away a dogās voice.
My Ringo (who went over the rainbow bridge in February 2021) lost his voice due to age. He still could bark but it was muffled, and I could tell it was not feeling great when he used his vocal cords.
I did a bit more research on what happens when vocal cords get cut and what it does to a dog. I attached a flier distributed by the āHumane Society Veterinary Medical Associationā that gives you the real deal.
You can read in the flyer that this is a serious surgery and can lead to far-reaching problems for the dog. It goes beyond just my feelings that this is unnecessary and cruel. There is so much more to it.
Here is the thing: Expect a dog to bark when you bring one home. Dogs bark for many reasons besides protecting territory. It can be fear, worries, etc. Train your dog to channel the barking if you feel he barks excessively. With every training remember it can take lots of time and effort to train a dog. There is no fast fix ā¦ persistence, repetitions, consistency ā¦ all will help to eventually eliminate unwanted behavior. If you canāt do it work with a professional trainer. It is well worth the investment!
What are your thoughts on this?
Christina ā Donāt Shop, Adopt
Categories: dog health dog rescue dogs
