Dog Training Saves Dogs From Debarking Surgeries
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.
Devocalization of a dog involves a surgeon gaining access to the dog’s vocal chords, either via the mouth or through an incision in the throat, and using a cauterizing tool, scissors, or a laser to remove a portion of the vocal mechanism.
In the United Kingdom, devocalization surgeries have been outlawed, along with tail docking, ear cropping, and cat declawing. But in the United States, the controversy is heated, with debarking laws varying from state to state.
Associations within the United States, including the AVMS, AAHA, and ASPCA all assert that the devocalization of dogs should only be considered if all avenues of dog training have been explored in efforts to stop dog barking. The ASPCA says that the procedure should only be considered if the dog is threatened with the loss of her life or home due to nuisance barking.
If all dog owners were to employ dog obedience training techniques that start by identifying the sources of their dogs’ barking, only a minuscule percentage of dogs would ever have to face the possibility of a debarking procedure. If the approach that many veterinary associations embrace would be generally adopted, it would eliminate puppy debarking procedures, in which breeders have the surgery performed on breeds that are more likely to bark because of their nature. It would also eliminate convenience debarking procedures, in which dog owners have the surgery performed before other dog training techniques have been implemented.
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.
Many times, the key to stop your dog from barking is to cut out the unintentional reinforcements that dog owners are often guilty of. For example, if your dog is fearful of visitors, and you comfort him while he’s barking at your great aunt, he’ll think that you’re approving of his vocal display. Or, if your dog barks when he wants attention, and you stop what you’re doing to either yell at him or pet him, his attention barking may never stop; you have reinforced it in his mind.
The first step in eliminating annoying dog barking is to remove the motivation for that barking. When quiet times are achieved, and that quiet time is rewarded, dog barking can be quickly and easily eliminated.
In conclusion, I believe that devocalization surgery should only be performed after you have used the dog obedience training techniques outlined by a top dog trainer to stop your dog from barking. There will rarely be any case in which these methods are not effective; and there will rarely be a case in which you don’t have the power to rescue your best friend from the prospect of a debarking procedure, with effective dog 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.
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