I just want to make sure that I'm not going crazy and that YES - debarking dogs is incredibly inhumane. There seems to be so much support for it out there. Dogs are not dumb animals - they bark to express their emotion and to attract attention. If a dog barks incessently, you do your best to train it not to. There are so many obedience schools out there just dying for clients. Why couldn't the lazy arses who have a hole punched in their dog's vocal cords have thought of this first? what is wrong with people that debarking is even considered as an option? I think it would be heart-breaking to hear my dog bark in a whispery, hoarse little voice - I LOVE his bark - screw the neighbours!!!
2006-11-22 06:41:31 · 35 answers · asked by confused 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Chetco: I appreciate this point but there are new drugs available to treat this disorder in dogs as well as cognitive-behavioural therapy which should alleviate the actions associated with OCD. I think there is ALWAYS an alternative to debarking.
2006-11-22 07:30:11 · update #1
I think that the problem often stems from a lack of foresight on the part of the owner. Many owners do not research the type of dog that they are going to buy. Some dogs are naturally more hyper than others. If, for example, someone lives in an apartment block, they should not go about getting a yappy little dog that is going to cause trouble with its constant barking. Also, many people go to shelters and dog homes looking to rescue a dog without maybe being aware that these dogs often have behavioural problems and could be very difficult to train. In this case, adopting a dog like this should be recognised for the large commitment that it is and potential owners will benefit if they have alot of space for the animal, alot of patience and maybe neighbours living further away than just over the fence....
2006-11-22 07:53:38 · update #2
Some dogs actually do have an OCD.( obsessive-compulsive disorder) .and can't be trained to not bark.. I believe it is an option ONLY of it makes a difference in the dog being put down or not.. a dog that barks as OCD, won't even have a chance of finding a forever home through the SPCA or a shelter..So, if it is a lifesaving procedure, it may be worth it..
At dog shows, I see so many dogs that have been de-barked..and I am with you on this..it is usually just plain laziness, and if it IS ocd, those dogs should not even be at shows, as they are not suitable for breeding..
2006-11-22 06:48:50 · answer #1 · answered by Chetco 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Debarking is the last resort to a chronic problem. There are tons of other, more humane methods to train a dog not to bark, but for some stubborn dogs, these don't work. If it was a choice between taking the dog to a shelter and getting the dog debarked, then the obvious choice is to debark the dog. I've read lots of good studies that state the dog doesn't really notice the difference. If obedience training doesn't work (and sometimes it doesn't), if a training collar doesn't work, and if the neighbors are at their wit's end, then I think that debarking is definitely an option.
It sure beats surrendering the dog to an animal shelter, where it will most likely be euthanized. It's wrong to "humanize" animals. Sure, we would hate it if someone changed our voice to a whisper, but if the dog doesn't notice the difference, and if that's what it takes to keep a dog in a good home, then what's the harm? If my dog's barking became an issue for the neighbors, and if all my training ideas failed, then I would definitely get my dog debarked, because I love my dog too much to rehome her.
I think that if she had a choice, she would rather lose most of her voice than lose me.
Hope this helps you get a different perspective on the issue.
2006-11-22 13:35:27 · answer #2 · answered by rita_alabama 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can answer this because I do actually OWN a debarked dog!! She is a Beagle mix that was debarked at about a year by the former owners, due to a OCD like disorder...although they did try training much. She still thinks she is barking. She has no clue she is not. She has had no ill effects and is now 12. I think I would rather do that to a dog that have it spend it's life on Prozac or some of the other drugs out there. Is a life of medication a good choice either????????
2006-11-22 09:00:19 · answer #3 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Some dogs cannot be trained to stop barking. While I do not like debarking, I think that as a last resort it is better than getting rid of the dog (statistically, dogs that lose their first home usually do not live long), or constantly being irritated at the dog and yelling at it to shut up.
I've known dogs that were debarked, they don't seem to notice, they bark to their heart's content and they don't make enough noise to be a problem.
2006-11-22 07:35:43 · answer #4 · answered by DaBasset - BYBs kill dogs 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Dogs can be trained to limit excessive barking. I had one that did not seem to be able to stop his serious excessive barking and I found him a good home in the country where he could yap to his heart's content and he needed the room to run as well. He was severely hyperactive. I like finding the right environment for a dog with problems more than altering their problems that can't be corrected with training. I don't like debarking. People that want to make sure their dog doesn't bark at all should check out getting a Basenji. They are "barkless" dogs, naturally. I think it is as wrong to alter dogs by debarking as it is to over prescribe Ritalin to children that are hyper but their quality of life is not affected gravely.
2006-11-22 07:21:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Debarking dog will make your house quieter, but if you have a type of dog that has a past of being a guard dog, its going to want to bark!! But if the dog barks alot debark it!!
2006-11-22 16:22:35 · answer #6 · answered by Shelby S 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This sounds an AWFUL lot like Animal cruelty to me. Poor dogs, I've never heard of this before but I think it is appalling. You can Always train your dog not to bark all the time. AND if you are TOO LAZY to do that then you should not have a dog in the first place. I think the Humane society should be notified to see if there is any way to stop this from being done to defenseless dogs.
2006-11-22 07:04:16 · answer #7 · answered by Penny Mae 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Another thing people don't realize is there are different procedures to debarking and most choose the cheaper. The cheaper is the one where they end up barking about a year later. People need to research what they are doing to their pets.
2006-11-22 07:20:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
i personally believe debarking is cruel.it should not be done just cause you don't like it when your dogs bark.for me its never going to be an option. i would not go to that extreme. On the other hand-if you are being faced with the law "debark it or put it down!" i understand debarking to save the animal's life.while the law steps in rarely,it does happen.faced with that choice,that is the only time im okay (a little) with debarking. otherwise, detalk yourself and see if you like it!!
2006-11-22 06:49:36 · answer #9 · answered by Rose Wallace Goldaline 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
i agree with all that you said...it is totally cruel and inhumane...someone i know had to get this done to their dog because the neighbor kept complaining and finally they called the cops of someone with authority which took the dog to the vet to get it debarked... ya and dogs bark to warn people of intruders ....my neighbors used to complain about my dog barking all the time ( and my dog only barked when people came which is her duty) so finally we had to build a fence to keep her away from that side of the bedroom ...ya and i'd rather hear their bark then like a horse whispery bark type thing.... the barks blood hounds make are soooo awesome lol
2006-11-22 07:35:21 · answer #10 · answered by pianoplayer4life 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋