How is debarking any more cruel than spaying or neutering? You are taking away something that comes "naturally" to the dog when you spay or neuter, just as you are lessening a bark that comes naturally when you "debark". I'm going to have to debark a dog of mine-he barks at everything.

Sorry debarking is such a barbaric and lazy solution to a problem for the owners. You buy a breed known to bark a lot -- what do you expect? Why would any sane person even consider it? It's a quick fix solution for the owners who can't be bothered to address their dogs real problems. Dogs don't bark for the hell of it, they bark for a reason.

How bizzare people think this is ok? Do people not think there is something wrong with it as it's banned in most countries and numerous US states.

Stop your whining and train your animals!

'My dog barks!' - Solution? Cut its vocal cords! Seriously? You really think that's right?

'My cat scratches my furniture!' - Solution? Declaw the cat! Really? Cats climb and defend with their claws, but it's all right as long as your precious sofa isn't damaged!

What's next? 'My dog won't stop biting! Solution? Remove its teeth! Can guarantee some idiot will try it.

All are quick fix solutions for the owners' comfort and unwillingness to train their animals properly! No one said dog ownership was easy and it does take a lot of work. My two dogs don't bark unless threatened and both have their vocal cords intact. I have well behaved dogs without feeling the need to mutilate them. Put the effort in and you'll succeed. Don't put it in and you end up annoying yourself and neighbours and your poor animal gets mutilated as a result! Well done -- you must be so proud!

I have tried training, medication, citronella collars and shock collars, but nothing works with my Beanie. It has gotten to the point that I cannot leave my house because she barks the entire time and drives my new neighbors crazy. I have put up with this in two different homes and I cannot shut my life away for my pups anymore. I refuse to give her away, so right now, debarking seems to be the only solution. I need my life back, but my dog needs to be in it. How is this cruel? She is not in pain, she is not alone and she is very loved. She would think it crueler to be placed back in the pound.

I am a small Sheltie breeder and have had my more "vocal" Shelties debarked for years and have never had a problem. The dogs come home and act like nothing happened. Once in a while I have one that comes back but my vet will re-do at no charge if that happens. Most of the time the bark is softened for life. We can still hear the dogs, but the sound doesn't carry across the neighborhood! I have never had any problems with the procedure over the years and it doesn't seem to faze the dogs at all. In my opinion it's much more humane than shocking the dog or yelling at it every time it starts barking. My Shelties can happily chase and bark at those squirrels all they want! The problem is there are too many people putting human emotions on dogs. Done properly this procedure is a blessing! More simple than a spay or neuter. I agree training should be a first option for pet owners, but "play barking" is not something that you can just train out of a dog.

I adopted a lab mix from a shelter and it became immediately apparent why she was given up in the first place-incessant barking. We tried everything-the collars, training, plenty of exercise to no avail. Not only were my neighbors up in arms, but it was nerve- wracking in our own home and yard. To avoid having to send her back to the shelter and an unknown fate, I had her debarked. She still had a voice and a quiet bark which was not offensive to anyone, and she lived an astounding 19 and a half years, happy as a clam. It is far more cruel to take an already once-abandoned dog out of a loving home and place them back in a shelter than to have a simple out-patient procedure performed. Hard to imagine that anyone cannot see the irony in calling this cruel, when the alternatives are far more agoninzing.

Debarking a beloved pet is one of the most cruel thing I've ever heard! Take him to training class instead!

I think you bleeding hearts are pathetic...anyone who would think debarking is inhumane and a lazy last resort, obviously hasn't had to deal with the frustrations that come with a screaming dog. Debarking is a last resort that only comes when every factor of the dogs well-being is being jeopardized...for instance, I have four huskies, all working dogs, we race dog sleds, yet, all four live inside, eat with me, sleep with me, dog parks, the whole bit. One of my younger males doesn't just bark...he screams. And at the top of his lungs to boot. I have neighbors and roommates and though I may be able to tolerate it, they cannot. So what's more humane, I'd like to ask you ppl, that I take a young pup away from his 'pack' because the country is going to take him to be euthanized...or do i simply muttle the shrillness of his voice, in order to keep him where he belongs and keep him happy?

*Thank you*! To all dog owners who have taken responsibility for their canine companions and had them de-barked. First of all, I love dogs.

We moved into a house where you cannot go anywhere in the house to escape a consistent beagle barking.

The first 2 years in this house were hard with no peace, don’t even think about going in the back yard, watching TV, eating in your kitchen or getting a dog of our own! There were other neighbors that this bothered and had tried talking to the owner with no success. I finally had to write a 2 page letter how this effected our life and they finally tried the citronella collar which seemed to work although you have to remember to refill. I think the dog has been de-barked because I can still hear him bark, but in a much lower tone, not a deafening, maddening bark. In which case, I am glad they do not have to remember to put the collar on and spend money all the time. People who think it's cruel have not been to the pound, or lived behind a dog stuck in the backyard all day to bark.

I have litter mates, brother and sister. They are mastiff Husky mix. Both started barking incessantly at the littlest things! One would set the other off and no amount of calming them down worked. I tried training them to only bark at certain things and rewarded them when they stopped. This has worked to an extent but only with the girl. So we invested in a set of electric collars. The girl does not even need hers on now. She hardly ever barks anymore.

As for the boy! I am at my wits end with him. He is not responding to the collar at all. He just barks right through it. He is costing me a fortune in batteries. I love him to bits and I could not separate them or choose between them. I found this article about debarking and I am seriously considering it. I live in Spain and do not know if our local Vet knows about debarking or if he would even do it?

De-barking removes a very small piece of the vocal cord, (not the entire vocal cord) which in turn makes the bark softer. It doesn't eliminate the bark, and it does not change their personalities at all.

Get educated. Make decisions based on fact, not emotion. What really is cruel, is repeatedly spraying your dog in the face, repeated shocking or even worse, your dog being taken away from you to fend for itself in the shelter (where you know it will bark--loudly!) and then get euthanized.

I have had a dog for about 3 years who was passed onto us from a previous owner who could not stand his constant barking. It finally got to the point my husband had enough too and said we needed to do something with him. We tried a shock collar which ended up making raw marks on his neck ($300) then we tried the citronella collar ($300)and after about a week he got used to it and barked all day and night we finally rang a dog training company and got him trained ($450) after a few months of less barking he fell back into his old ways and was annoying the new neighbors that had just moved in all hours of the night. Debarking i wasn't sure about but now i know its the right thing to do. I am getting my dog done this monday and i am hoping although some people say its cruel it is better than giving your dog away the relationship between everyone will be better as there will be no tension over my dog barking. I get to keep my friend and i don't make any enemies

Most behavior problems like excessive barking are taking care by giving your dog enough exercise, training activities, and daily walks. To the comment comparing debarking and fixing a dog is not accurate. You fix a dog so they don't breed not to fix their behavior problems. If you get a dog fixed and still don't care for the dog properly, you will still have problems. If a trainer can't help you with your dog's behavioral problems, either you are not listening to the trainer or your trainer doesn't know what they are talking about.

I have 5 dogs and 2 have been debarked as a last resort rather than have my HOA require me to get rid of them. Those who think it's cruel or inhumane just don't get it. They still bark to greet us, as well as warn us, it's just at a lower volume level. But when I want to play ball in the yard, my neighbors don't call the police. It's general anesthesia through the mouth with no incisions, up in a short time and back home just being themselves by the end of the day. Those that argue about the risks of surgery are the same that advocate spay/neuter (which is, of course, a good thing). Apparently, however, you'll support that because it's easier on you not to have a dog in heat, not to mess your carpet, not to produce unwanted litters. If you were a proper owner, one could argue you're too lazy to keep an eye on your dog running lose, so just spay it to keep it from getting pregnant. I know that is hopefully not the case, but it's the same argument you make against debarking. The argument regarding spay/neuter reducing cancer is somewhat silly since dogs have been around for thousands of years and all of sudden, cancer runs rampant?!? That is probably more to do with feeding processed kibble and table food than it has to do with their reproductive organs. 4 million dogs euthanized in shelters over the last year, and you're arguing about a simple outpatient surgery to keep a dog in it's home with a family that loves it enough to take the steps necessary to keep him there.

We have 2 German Shepherds, litter mates, 4 yrs old, male & female and both are fixed. He barks! He barks when he is in the house while we are gone, he barks the entire time we are gone, and he has company. With the doors and windows closed our neighbors can hear him and you can hear him from across the street. Anytime someone comes near the door, or the front side walk he barks and barks.. we try to distract, we tell him to Leave It, which works with chasing the cats and jumping on the furniture. We have used bark collars, expensive ones too... even if left on for about 6 hours he gets raw.

So if we want it tight enough to work he ends up raw and if it's loose it doesn't work. We have even had a trainer.. nothing has worked. I can't keep having my neighbors telling me that he barked all day if we go to the zoo or visit family. And his bark is deep and loud. And another neighbor, who is shut in has considered calling the cops. A nuisance dog in our county gets 3 warnings and then it's gone. Do I really have a choice with him at this point?

His sister doesn't bark at all..not at the turkeys that came in our yard, the cats that come through or the neighbors when they are in their own yards.

I tried the spray bottle but my dog would stop barking to take catch the spray for a drink and then he'd bark some more!

To the person who asked about citronella collars:

I have a Pomeranian and I love him to pieces. Pomeranians are a very, very vocal breed. I have tried citronella collars to curb his barking. He figured out that if he barked long enough the citronella ran out and then he could bark to his hearts content. He didn't like the citronella - the first few times the collar sprayed it surprised him enough to stop his barking for a moment. Then he learned it wasnt going to hurt him and the collar was useless.

I also tried a shock collar. They don't work on dogs with long, thick hair since the electrodes didn't touch his skin.

He's getting a lot better about not barking in the house. When he's trying to get my attention he uses what I call a 'whisper bark' (he looks like he's barking but no sound comes out)a very quiet bark, or he growls under his breath. If someone walks by he will bark like he weighs 5000 pounds whether he is inside or outside, but usually stops or quiets down when I tell him "No Bark!" This isn't always successful but I keep on him.

It has been a constant process getting him to stop barking as much as he has. I could retire if I got a dollar for everytime I've told him 'No Bark'. I just hope that none of the neighbors complain to the landlord about his barking.

It has taken 6 months to get him partially trained not to bark. If it came to the point of debarking him or being evicted, I would debark him. I'm not in a financial situation to buy my own home out in the country and most apartments in my area do not allow dogs.

I think dogs are more adaptable than people give them credit for. Look at all the dogs who have lost legs, tails, ears, and eye, and they just fine. My mom has a pug with ine eye and she is the same happy dog as she was before.

This is a difficult subject with a lot of emotional weight behind it. But I think most people who have their dogs undergo this, do so because they have neighbors that complain. The comments seem to evidence this. They're not doing it because it bothers them, but because their hands are forced to it.

I also noted a lot of mention of shock collars, but none of citronella collars. These create a bit of a spray that is shocking but not mean. Many don't like the smell. The only thing I have heard is that these only work sometimes and if there are 2 dogs in the home, the barking of one dog can set off the collar on another dog, so they might not be the appropriate reinforcement.

Has anyone had luck with or tried citronella collars? I'd be interested to hear what people thought of them.

The other thing that could be tried in lieu of debarking is a few week's consistent training with a spray bottle. Any time the dog barks, give them a quick spray of water. Most dogs don't care for it, and they begin to quickly associate a squirt of water with barking behavior.

From what I have heard, one of the main arguments for debarking is that it would be even more cruel to send the dog away or have it subjected to euthanasia because of its bark. I ask you, is the person who would be willing to kill off their dog because it was "bothering" them the sort of person suitable for owning a dog in the first place? If you are really preparing to weigh your personal enjoyment against a canine's life, then you are selfish! I have siblings who are annoying. should I dump them in a pound? Perhaps I should degrade myself so that I get rid of everything that conflicts with my personal, selfish enjoyment.

debarking is cruel. you would never remove the vocal chords of a baby that cried all the time. if you want a non barking dog buy a Basenji.

I have Collies and they tend to be barkers. When I had complaints about my dogs barking, I had them debarked. Their behavior did not change. They "barked" as much as they had before the surgery. If anything, they were more relaxed as I didn't have to be constantly correcting them for their barking. A friend of mine had a Collie that had major separation anxiety whenever she left her condo. After he was debarked, he became much more relaxed and less anxious. It seems like his anxiety would escalate when he heard the panic in his voice. The debarking resulted in that not occurring and he became more relaxed. Debarking saved his life as I am sure she would have either had to move or give up the dog. Any new owner would have had the same problem and ultimately he would have been euthanized. Most people resort to debarking only after they have tried everything else to correct the barking problem.

I am an animal lover through and through; I've had my dog Mikki since she was 7 months old, and she'll be 8 this year. I was forced to move into an apartment, and am forced to debark her or give her away. I don't think shock collars are anything more than painful, and training her has not done anything, except lessen the barking, which is still very loud.

I don't believe it's cruel if it is done as a last resort where the only alternative is a new home, or the pound. However, I do not believe it should be done on dogs under a year, no way.

I also am considering debarking my dogs. I have Westies who bark at everything under the sun....heck, they bark at the sun! I have done everything that I can to reduce the amount. I have tried to teach them to only bark when necessary. None of this worked. I then went to bark collars which also has failed to work. These collars are more cruel than debarking my opinion because in order for these to work, they have to be very tight, almost too tight. Then if you have a stubborn dog like we do, they will bark, get zapped, whine, get zapped more...and so on. At least if they are debarked they will ultimately be happier because we will be happier and they will get reprimanded less.

So, I guess you could say that I am cruel. Is it more cruel to lock your dog up in order to keep it from barking at the wind? How about the constant scolding of her/him for their non stop barking? How about that bark collar that constantly shocks them because they just refuse to "get it". Some dogs refuse to minimize the amount they bark no matter how much positive or negative training that we do.

It has been proven that wild dogs do not bark. They manage to survive very nicely in the wild without barking. So barking is not necessary for survival. Only captive dogs, or dog "pets" bark. It is an ugly sound because it is an abnormal, unnatural sound. I love dogs, but i wouldn't put up with a barking dog for two minutes.

my dog is a very yippy and somewhat annoying dog. But I love her to death. the reason why i am debarking her is due to our neighbors complaining constantly. before you jump to any conclusions that i am a cruel, unjust, and just plain lazy person, I would like you to know that I have tried various methods to try and quiet her. Since there is no other option, besides giving her away which to me is not an option, i have decided to go through with this. i do, however, think it is not fair to any puppies that may be debarked before a proper owner is found. if that makes me seem any less "cruel"

crueler would be sending the dog to the pound and possibly its 4th owners at less than 18 months old, possibly being put down because we would be honest enough to say that he is a constant and stupendously loud barker. Cruel were early owners not training the dog to bark only in warning. Cruel were the owners who gave him up when he stopped being cute. Cruel were the owners who took him from a 30 acre farm and tied him up in a suburban yard and let him bark. Cruel would be continually punishing either with voice, hand, rolled newspaper, water spray, citronella collar (he likes it), electric collar (he doesn't care). Our dog has a bark still, it can be heard quite a distance away, however it is not LOUD, it is not piercing, it is not teeth grindingly fingernails on a chalkboard constantly loud. He can still growl loudly. He still 'barks' at the birds, the sun, the wind, life in general, tail wagging, running around as usual - in fact, not a single even slight change in pre and post bark behavior.

Debarking should be banned. It is cruel and it does not change the behavior. People should be told that and any Vet that would do it should be shunned.

i truly think debarking a dog is cruel! not inhumane, just cruel, it's what dogs do, and ppl. need to ask about these habits in different breeds before they get one!

i know of a dog that i think is debarked, she makes NO SOUND what so ever, and when she looks into my eyes, i see pain, it breaks my heart, i could never do something like that, or condone it!

but thats just my opinion!

Can debarking of a dog be reversed?

We just purchased a dog & were not told she was debarked. We love her & want her voice back!