While the benefit of debarking surgery is the muffled-sounding bark, there are still numerous complications that could arise and definitely should not be overlooked. “Debarking surgery carries various risks,” said Thieman. “During the debarking procedure itself, risks could include bleeding, swelling (preventing air flow), infection, and anesthetic complications.” Scarring of the larynx can also occur after the surgery, and in some cases may be severe enough to restrict airflow. This would require yet another surgical procedure to remove the scar tissue so the dog could breathe, bringing with it more unnecessary risk.

Though tiresome when heard for hours on end, barking is an important way for our dogs to communicate with us. Excessive barking can often be Fido alerting us that there is a stranger nearby or even that he is in pain. Surgically disabling him from barking, though it might provide you with some relief, may not be appropriate when barking can also be controlled with a similarly effective alternative.
~~[Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine]

As much as I would dislike losing my voice, I would hate being forcibly sterilized even more.
Yet almost no one objects to spaying and neutering our dogs.
If it’s all right to remove parts of their genitals, how could it be worse to remove part of their vocal cords?

(I’m not objecting to spaying/neutering of dogs, I’m just making a comparison).

I would hate to lose my voice, but if it was a choice between my voice and my life, I would keep my life and get rid of my voice-without hesitation.

There are very good people who are very proactive with their pets, work with trainers and vets and still have dogs that just love to bark. These dogs can be the most amazing furkids but under X circumstance just bark and bark. If this has gotten the owners barking dog fines (and you do need to remember not all laws are equal – where I lived before the law was worded “No animal shall disturb the quiet peaceful repose of any person” a nice ambiguous law to pounce on pretty much any barking) repeatedly and/or caused problems with landlords, debarking should be an option available to them as a last resort.

For the folks that think their dog would be embarrassed and traumatized, they would only be if you, their owner, whimpered and bemoaned every time they barked. With that sort of reasoning would you put your dog to sleep rather than have a limb or tail amputated on the basis (s)he would be too embarrassed? Dogs do amazingly well with medical issues, losing a limb, going blind, going deaf etc, because they don’t sit and feel sorry for themselves and bemoan what has been lost. They adapt.

I love my dog and will do everything and anything in my power to keep her happy, healthy and with me. I would never debark a dog because it was quicker and easier than getting training (though some out there might) and it would be a very ‘last resort’ sort of option for me. But it would happen long before I gave up my dog for a less barky breed or gave her up because some one with a barking dog shouldn’t have one.

I am sorry if I come across as antagonistic. I worked in an SPCA and the things people say to justify giving up their animals would make any sane person angry. Some one taking the stance “it should be illegal” either has been fortunate enough to never have a dog that loves his own voice (and it can happen to an individual of ANY breed) and/or anthropomorphizes the animal world a bit too much (this coming from some one who calls her dog a ‘furkid’ and lavishes more money/time on her pets than on herself 🙂 )

Though I do want to mention that i have had her bark at me because of play and a milk jug. Very funny and cute with the milk jug.

Hello Amanda,
I have never used a Husher collar before, so I do not know how effective it is. From what I can tell, it seems to be an elastic muzzle used to prevent the dog from barking. My concern would be that like the muzzle, it is just a temporary prevention tool. It can stop the barking or biting in the short term – but does not actually do anything to fix the root of the barking behavior.

This is not to say that it can’t be useful. I sometimes use a muzzle on my Shiba Inu, for example, during vet visits. Muzzles can also be useful to ensure safety when retraining an aggressive dog. Similarly, I imagine the Husher can be useful, but only when paired with behavior modification training for the barking behavior.

Other questions/concerns about the Husher –
1. Can the dog still pant?
2. How long can it be put on at a time?
3. Will it result in more stress?

Since Harry was neglected by his previous owners, he has probably practiced this barking behavior a lot in his old home and it has become an ingrained habit. As a result, fixing it will require a lot of patience and time (many, many months).

Does Harry bark inside the house? or just outside? Does he only bark for particular types of sounds? Does he bark because he is stressed?

Some things that may help –
1. Try to mask out sounds from outside with music, or something on television.
2. When he barks, tell him thank you for alerting you to the possible intruder, and interrupt him by getting him away from the location where he is barking. I have a drag lead on my Shiba Inu which makes it easy for me to move him away from areas that I don’t want him to be in.
3. Once you get him away, try and get him engaged in something else – something positive. For example what does Harry really like other than barking? Does he enjoy playing tug? Are there particular types of food that he truly enjoys? Get him involved in a game or playing with an interactive food toy, or doing something else that he truly enjoys.

Most of the time, dogs bark from stress. I feel that debarking and other similar techniques just prevent the symptoms – the stress is still there. For a long-term solution, that will also improve the dog’s quality of life, behavior training and desensitization, I feel, may be our best solution.

Very interesting. This got me to thinking that Dayla’s confidence may be contextual based. For example, she is very confident during shows because it is a very structured setting and she knows what is expected of her and enjoys it. The same goes for walks, or when you put the leash on and it is work time. It could be that when things are less structured, e.g. roaming freely in the backyard; she loses some of her confidence, and so starts barking. This is similar to cases where the dogs are very confident when their owners are around, but are totally different on their own. Just a thought.

Hugs and kisses to Dayla.