A top dog trainer might cringe at the thought of putting a dog through debarking, devolcalization, bark softening, ventriculocordectomy, or vocal cordectomy surgery. For a number of reasons, this procedure is considered to be inhumane by many, and unnecessary by others.
Debarking surgery is accomplished when a surgeon removes a portion of a dog’s vocal cords with a scissors, cauterizing tool, or laser.
Devocalization of dogs has been outlawed in the UK, along with ear cropping and tail docking. The declawing of cats is also prohibited. Debarking standpoints in the US are more diverse, with laws varying among states.
The American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Animal Hospital Association both agree that vocal cordectomy surgery should only be used as a last resort, after all behavior modification attempts have failed. The ASPCA only endorses the procedure if an animal is at risk of losing his home or his life because of barking that cannot be quieted.
Ideally, all dog owners would grasp the concept that debarking surgeries are only meant for the most severe cases, in which owners have identified the causes of the barking, removed stimuli, and employed positive reinforcement dog training techniques. This would eliminate the cruelty of devocalization surgeries that are performed on small puppies before they’re adopted out, and debarking procedures that are performed for owners’ conveniences, without any dog training consideration.
Dogs bark for a variety of reasons: communication, aggression, boredom, self identification, and fear. When a procedure eliminates or reduces a dog’s bark, it does not remove the reason for the dog’s barking. The dog will still be inclined to bark, but will be disabled, adding to her frustration. Removing a dog’s bark also renders her helpless in warning her owners of fire, intruders, and her own entrapment or danger.
Humans often inadvertently reinforce dog barking. For instance, if your dog barks while engrossed in play, and you continue to play with her, her barking is reinforced. If she barks for attention, and you let her out of her crate, play ball with her, or even yell at her, you solidify the effectiveness of that bark in her mind. Or, if she barks at strangers, and you stroke her and talk softly to her, in an attempt to comfort her, she will view your actions as dog barking approval.
To curb dog barking, the stimulus for the dog barking must first be removed. Your dog should be rewarded when she is quiet. Positive reinforcement can be fast, easy, and effective when the correct dog obedience training techniques are used.
Personally, I believe that devocalization surgery is unnecessary in a majority of cases. It should only be considered after a dog obedience training program from a top dog trainer has been completed, and all barking stimuli have been removed. When the proper channels are utilized, there will rarely be a situation in which a dog’s nuisance barking will persist. You do have the power to keep your neighbors at peace and your dog away from devocalization surgery; that power is held within dog obedience training.
Want to find out more about dog training, then visit Dr. Nortey Omaboe’s site on how to choose the best dog obedience training for your needs.









