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Dog Obedience Training Rescues Dogs From Debarking Procedures

Debarking surgeries, also called ventriculocordectomies, bark softenings, devolcalizations, or vocal cordectomies, might be met with some opposition from a top dog trainer. These procedures are thought to be unnecessary by some, and inhumane 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.

The American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Animal Hospital Association both agree that vocal cordectomy surgery should only be used as a last resort, after all behavior modification attempts have failed. The ASPCA only endorses the procedure if an animal is at risk of losing his home or his life because of barking that cannot be quieted.

Ideally, all dog owners would grasp the concept that debarking surgeries are only meant for the most severe cases, in which owners have identified the causes of the barking, removed stimuli, and employed positive reinforcement dog training techniques. This would eliminate the cruelty of devocalization surgeries that are performed on small puppies before they’re adopted out, and debarking procedures that are performed for owners’ conveniences, without any dog training consideration.

Dogs bark for many different reasons, including excitement, communication, fear, boredom, aggression, and self identification. When a dog owner removes a dog’s ability to bark, it doesn’t remove the dog’s desire to bark. Instead, it further frustrates the dog because he cannot voice his excitement, fear, etc. Additionally, a dog needs his voice to warn his owner of fire, danger, intruders, and to alert people of his own distress or entrapment.

Often, nuisance dog barking is exacerbated by misplaced human reinforcement. If your dog is barking for attention, and you play with him, you reinforce his barking. If your dog is barking at a person whom he fears, and you pet and comfort him, you reinforce his barking. If your dog barks while playing, and you continue to play, you again, reinforce the barking.

To curb dog barking, the stimulus for the dog barking must first be removed. Your dog should be rewarded when she is quiet. Positive reinforcement can be fast, easy, and effective when the correct dog obedience training techniques are used.

My professional opinion? Ventriculocordectomies should be reserved for rare, extreme cases in which a top dog trainer has been consulted, and all dog obedience training avenues have been explored. The vast majority of dog barking cases will be remedied with positive dog obedience training. Do your best to save your dog from the scalpel; with the positive effects of clicker 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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