DEbarked dog?

Question

i know someone, who i clean house for that has a dog that is DEBARKED!!!!! that dog is sooo wonderful, as all are, but just the fact that he can't bark, breaks my heart! i look into her eyes, and they really touch my soul! it just dosen't seem right to me, , i mean dogs bark! it's what they do! and seems so sad that she can't.
what do you think of this? and what's you'r opinion? does it hurt the dag in any way?
thanks. { she even looks sad!}

its a standard sixed poodle, very kind, and gentle. they hae 2 other dogs, and 1 bark ALL the time, it dosent stop, so i dont get it at all! and they have 3 grown kids.

Answer 1

I agree its sad. I have only known 1, and she too appeared sad. It seems to me that it makes the dog feel inferior. After all. your right dogs do bark. I think you have to look at the people who do this to dogs. Do they have children are the children allowed to talk?
I am willing to bet it is a small breed. A lot of smaller breeds are real yappers. I don't know why people don't become acquainted with the breed before getting the dog. I have 3 Vets who are good friends of mine and they will NOT do that to a dog. I guess their just not money hungry!
I guess that person just wants a silent partner and will compromise her "best friend". Poor puppy can't even bark if someone abused her or for that matter can't bark if a stranger entered the home, how could this dog protect her home?
I don't think it hurts the dog, I don't think even a money hungry vet would cause permanent damage. Its just that we know its natural and normal for a dog to bark once in awhile. Think you have to look at the owner, how normal are they? How silent their world must be. Do they allow you to voice your opinion? I personally couldn't trust them.

Answer 2

I had a few dogs debarked decades ago. I lived in a tract home area where there was a 2 dog limit, and I had 5. I worked during the day. Our neighbors had dogs and when they were out in the yard, well, you can imagine the talking back and forth.

Rather than crating my dogs the entire day, or putting shock collars on, I felt the "nicest" thing was a simple de-bark. The dogs were able to live more happily.

To the vet, home again the same day.....out running in the yard and barking right away. Eating right away. They still barked. I could hear them. The other dogs could hear them. They knew they were barking......the sound just did not carry to annoy the neighbors, and they were happy too.

Now that we are in the country, there is no reason to debark our dogs.

But, it isn't "cruel". If it is between having neighbors complain, and having to get rid of your dog...I'll debark.

Answer 3

I think debarking is so cruel. Barking is how dogs communicate. It is the lazy mans way of training a dog not to bark. How would it be if a person had their tongue cut out, and could not talk. You are right. The dog probably is sad. Just give her lots of love when you are there.

Answer 4

I don't agree with debarking unless it is a last resort. It only solves a problem from the noise point of view, and doesn't address why the dog is barking excessively.

In fact, around here, it is permitted ONLY as a last resort, i.e., if the dog's barking is an enormous problem and has not responded to behavioural retraining, rehoming isn't an option, etc., and the dog will otherwise be euthanised.

Answer 5

I have known a de-barked dog before, and I found out that it is a common practice with dogs that bark alot, like Pomeranians (for example). This little Pom was de-barked, but she could still make a squeaky noise, which I found to be more troubling than the barking of the other Poms! I do think it is cruel and unusual punishment for the crime of just being a dog!! Poor dogs! :(

Answer 6

Well, how would you like someone to slice your vocal cords and then sit back and say, "Aww, look, she's trying to talk and she can't. Isn't that precious?"

There is no purpose in the world for this procedure. And I'll laugh the day someone breaks into their house with a gun, and their silent dog watches it go up to their bedroom and shoot them.

If YOU are considering this for your dog- please find your dog a new home asap. This is the worst, cruelest thing you could ever do to an animal.

Answer 7

A dog is debarked doesn't mean he/she cannot bark. It's a surgical procedure to reduce the volume of barking. Dogs still can bark, just that the sound is softer. Debark happens a lot on those breeds which love to talk.

Answer 8

Most vets won't even do the surgery anymore.. It's mean. Dogs are meant to bark. Plus it can grow back and then what, the dog needs the surgery again?

Answer 9

It sounds like a really cruel thing to do to a dog. It's natural for a dog to bark, and I can't think of any reason for them to do it to their dog.

Answer 10

A vet can cut the vocal cords. Places like "puppy mills" , debark using a pcv pipe & a hammer. Debarking is something, I will never do. Personally, I think its cruel.