Is there a surgery that keeps dogs from barking? Is that considered cruel and unusual?

Question

Ey guys! So judgemental... I was just wondering because someone said a dog they found never barked. Thanks for the info though.

Answer 1

There are actually a couple of procedures. The cheaper one doesn't always completely stop it and within a year they often have full bark capacity.

I have one foster Im afraid she may hurt herself she barks so much so I don't think it would be cruel to do it to her. I go theour several dogs and sh e seems to have an OCD of barking??

Answer 2

Oh for crying out loud! I cannot believe the almost total lack of knowledge here about anything relating to dogs! WHY do people answer when they do not understand the topic???

It is not a big deal! They do not remove a "voice box". They snip the vocal cords. The dog can STILL bark, it is just muted.

What is better. An owner who is always yelling at their dog and making it miserable....or a little snip. Or a person kicked out of their apartment....or a little snip. Or more dogs relinquished to shelters....or a little snip. Or a neighbor complains and AC seizes your animals...or a little snip.

I agree that the owners should try to train first. But debarking is REALLY not a big deal. I think it is hilarious how people think something like docking, debarking, or dewclaw removal is SO terrible, but an ELECTIVE, MAJOR surgery to spay/neuter is just great!


PEOPLE - It is NOT a risky surgery, it is MINOR and they don't even make an incison. And coathangers??? WHERE do you people GET this stuff??? LOL!!!

Answer 3

No, it is not cruel. if the choice is between being able to keep your dog or having to give it up because of barking, the choice is clear that debarking is the answer. ideally it would not be the owner's first choice but certainly given that most dogs will not make it into a new home if given up to a local humane society, debarking is a better choice.
keep in mind that the 'de barked' dog can still bark but the bark is softened so he can still alert the owner and do other things with his voice. it's just harder for him to annoy the neighbors.

Answer 4

There is a surgery, it is not cruel or unusual but it is a last resort, when everything else has failed and you are faced with the option of surgery or get rid of the dog.

However, it doesn't stop the dog from barking, it just makes it so you can't hear it much.

Answer 5

Yeah there is a surgery but it makes them kind of squeak instead of actually bark and it is a risky surgery to do. The Basenji is a dog that doesnt bark like normal does do. It kind of "yodels" I think. Well hope this helps and sorry for the rude comments from people who jump to conclusions.
Have a good Holiday season.

Answer 6

Yes there is a surgery that will stop a dog from barking but the best thing for your pet would be training! A dog will bark for many reasons, one main reason is a warning to you and to others. They do have no bark collars that can be use for a short period of time to train them not to bark. I would speak to your vet. There is a reason why dogs bark allot. The first thing would be to figure out what the reason it. Lack of attention, not enough excises, being alone to much. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Yes, there is a surgery that can sever the vocal cords and will prevent barking. Most animal groups oppose this 100%.

If your friend has a barkless dog, it could just be a quiet dog. The dogs who have had the surgery often sound like they are doing a super quiet raspy bark. You'd know if this was happening.

Answer 8

You can get their voice box taken out, but that's cruel. Take it to get it trained instead. Also you can get an electronic device that goes around the dog's neck that will give it a small electric shock every time it barks. Pretty soon they get the message... no bark and no shock.

Answer 9

Dogs bark because we humans want our dogs to bark. For years our domestication process and selective breeding has allowed our dogs to develop their barking abilities. Wolves don't bark, so through genetic engineering and the selective breeding process, dogs these days have the ability to retain juvenile characteristics. This is through the process known as neoteny.

Humans have chosen to retain the infantile traits of wolves like large heads, flat faces, large eyes and of course the ability to communicate, barking. Barking was further developed in dogs in order to scare intruders or to help the master out (i.e. on farms to assist in gathering the sheep).

Most dogs simply bark to communicate, to get attention, or simply to show their excitement. Training and lifestyle are important factors in teaching the dog how to communicate with its master.

Dogs are extremely social animals. Wolves themselves always travel in packs are usually never alone. Bringing a dog into your family is basically like bringing a wolf into a pack. It becomes a part of the family. Try not to leave it alone otherwise it will feel as if it was abandoned by the pack. Dogs are like having a baby in the house. They need love, attention, and someone to be there to take care of them. Like people they need a companion to blossom. Meeting your dog's emotional need for companionship and play will allow the two of you to form a strong bond together.

Sometimes having a second dog in the house can minimize the barking and minimize the loneliness. Although this may be rewarding at some


times, it can also be a pain. Your best bet would be to maximize training of your dog when it decides to bark. Sometimes having two dogs may cause havoc because they may teach each other to bark more. From the example above, dogs who bark at people are trained in a specific way. Everything boils down to how the owner trains their dog. If you reward the dog for barking, then the dog will understand that it's a good thing to bark. If you don't reward the dog for barking, the dog will understand that it's a bad thing to bark. If you are training your dog to become a watchdog, sometimes their barking can be very selective and discriminating with certain people. Sometimes they may just bark at anything they see. It is important to train these dogs by developing their intelligence level and how they interpret various events.

Dogs who simply bark because of activity or excitement are relatively hard to eliminate. Most of the time these dogs are unaware of their barking and in turn becomes a process that is hard to eliminate. You must turn to a dog trainer who teaches the dog to debark.

Debarking can be somewhat inhumane because the dog is trained to let out a low, raspy bark which cannot be heard from more than a few feet away. If you consider the process of debarking your dog you must weigh the pros and cons. It can be beneficial in the sense that your dog will no longer be the irritating dog on the block who barks at anything he sees but may be a problem if the dog is in danger. As an owner you would want to know where the location of your dog was if it was in danger.

Answer 10

Why would you wanna stop a dog from barking? That his/her way of communication. For your benifit as well as theirs. My dog barks to alert me someone is coming over. He barks to tell me when he wants to go out, or back inside. I feel safe around my dog.

That is like finding a surgery to make you stop talking 'cause you mom is tired of you talking.

Yes, it's cruel.