Has anyone ever had their dogs vocal cords removed.?

Question

My Husband and I are going to retire in one year. I have a 7 year old female American Eskimo. She is wonderful, but she has one severe problem. She barks loud. She doesn't bark at night but she barks at anyone going by the house or near. The reason for my question is we are going to buy a RV and travel for three months before we settle down in South Carolina in a lake community. The houses are close together like in a resort.

I don't want to bother my neighbors. Where we live now we have never had anyone complain about her. But I know That she will bark and I also would like to have friends over. Even my Son says when he comes over that it does get on his nerves.

I have disciplined her, but she is very strong willed. She is not aggressive or ever bitten anyone. Help please.

Answer 1

I would consider getting a remote training collar and train your dog with this to learn appropriate barking over the excessive. Remote trainers allow you to control when the correction is given. You can allow your dog to bark a few times, then correct with a "zap" when it becomes excessive. I wouldn't eliminate the barking all together as this is a way for your dog to let you know when someone is approaching your home and such.

I know how you feel, have an American Eskimo myself and she is a bit of a barker, but I think using an electronic remote collar is far more humane than removing vocal cords.

Answer 2

1.) first off dressing up ur dog on occasion is fine as long as you make sure the clothes are not too tight. Although I would refrain for dressing him or her up everyday. And keep in mind dressing up your dog only benefits you not your dog and for the most part dogs don't particularly like it. Dressing up your dog is only really nececary in cold weather.( I've also never hear of UGGs for dogs that's pretty interesting:) 2.) second I wasnt even aware that they had vocal cord removal surgery available for dogs. And my opinion quite frankly is that it is absolutely absurd and should never be done unless the dogs life is at stake. There is no reason for this. If you don't want to hear your dog bark don't get a dog! I know this sounds harsh but imagin if someone took your vocal cords out just for their benefit? Tail docking ear cropping and declawing are bad enough but this is terrible. I understand that Pomeranians are quite yappy dogs but that is their nature training can help but only to some extent. So please be reasonable wih yourself and your dog dressing up is find but don't take your dogs voice away. By the way promeranians barks are oh so adorable:)

Answer 3

l think what l am about to say may get some people mad. but here goes. the dog should never be made not to bark by taking out their vocal cord [ which is call something else] but at wal-mart they have a shock collar and when your dog barks, you can give her a little shock, there are settings from mild to severe. please do not use the highest setting. that would be cruel also. l hate a barking dog that don't shut up, but my st bernard bark woke me up one night because the hot water heater was on fire. so don't take the bark out of your dog. a bark is better then a bite.

Answer 4

First of all let me thank you for caring about bothering people, most people with dogs could care less. But that is a horrible idea! I've seen dogs on TV that have had that done to them, they can still bark, but it's very sad. Instead, why not get one of those barking collars? It gives a shock whenever she barks. That would be much less severe than what you were thinking. Please don't do the surgery, til you have seen a dog that has had this done, you won't like it!

Answer 5

Actually it is NOT an uncommon practice, and in no way alters the personality of the dog. It is a surgical procedure however, so there are risks involved like with any surgery. Plus it is not always successful, and the dogs bark comes back just as loud as ever.

Answer 6

I got a dog from the pound several years ago. The dog had been debarked. It was the cruelest thing I ever saw. The dog choked a lot and vomited frequently while eating. My vet said it was a shame what some of the dogs after the surgery go through. It doesn't stop the dog from barking it just changes the dogs bark in to a high squeak.

Answer 7

well it is the nature of this dog. they don't remove them, the dr either goes in through the mouth or cuts the throat open and cuts through the vocal cords from there. you should know that this is not 100% and most of the time the dog heals and scar tissue comes in and the dog can bark again, and sometimes it's even higher pitched. most vets don't do this surgery anymore because of the low success rate of it being permanent, and the dangers involved in this area of the body. have you tried i collar, one that will either spray citrus, give her an electric static shock, or emit a high pitched ultrasonic sound? i would call a trainer and have them come out and show you how to work with her, good luck and enjoy!

Answer 8

While I can understand your point of view, having a dog "debarked" is an extremely cruel and unethical procedure. I am now at a feline vet clinic, but at the mixed practices I have worked at, the veterinarians refuse to do the procedure.

You need to take an alternate route like behavior modification courses or as some mentioned, a no-bark collar. Sometimes the collars work and sometimes they do not, it all depends on the dog.

I really hope that you look at other options before putting your dog through such an extreme and unnecessary procedure.

Answer 9

Vets will not do this unless it is an absolute last resort - if you have had so many complaints and Council warnings that you are about to have it put down. I had this situation where it was either putting the dog down or having it debarked. The dog was fine, it was a quick operation and she can still bark - only softly. The vocal cords will heal somewhat so the dog can still bark. It was a much less traumatic operation than de-sexing that's for sure. I hope that helps you.

Answer 10

I think that's unhuman at all, I have a 8 year old miniature schnauzer who barks as if he was a standard one and with the same barking issue for SINCE HE WAS BORN and no way have I ever thought of such thing against him, I think that you must put your dog's needs on top of the list and not others or give that poor fellow on adoption! I'm gonna report you to PETA cause you're just not qualified to own a dog! God can people be more....? I better shut up now!