De-barking show dogs - Page 3

Many years ago I owned a few dogs that seemed to bark alot, but we lived on 3 acres in the country so it didn't ever bother me.  On the other hand, my neighbor hated dogs and was constantly calling animal control on me about them,  so after 2 years of being constantly harassed by my next door neighbor and the animal control, I finally had them debarked by a vet who specialized in the procedure.  It was very simple/easy, the dogs were up and acting completely normal within 30 min's of the simple surgury, and I even had a male who bred a bitch within an hour of having it done, so it obviously didn't hurt too bad!  It was either debark them or get rid of them, and I wasn't interested in doing that.  so I personally don't see any difference in doing that or any other simple minor surgury, the dogs didn't notice it a bit, but the neighbors sure did.

After showing in the breed ring for awhile, I can appreciate debarked dogs. Getting back the original example with the yorkies, as many of us know conformation dogs go to handlers who have dogs from several homes. They just don't replace them because they bark. Other than be out of a job, thats not an option. I have no problem if someone wants to debark a dog. I'm anal however that any of my dogs overbark so I wouldn't get a breed that likes to hear them self talk. I had a bitch, that I bought when she was 2ish, barked the minute I put her outside and didnt stop until I brought her back inside. I considered debarking her as she drove me INSANE. I placed her instead. But had it been cheaper, I would have debarked her. She was really nice other than the constant yapping.

There are some things that I personally oppose but as long as it doesn't cause permanent pain, then to each his own. Until you have lived with a dog that barks 24/7 and killing the dog actually crosses your mind, then it's hard to say what you would really do.

If you have problems with the neighbours because you can't stop your dogs from barking then you shouldn't have a dog in that neighbourhood.
People should make up their minds before they get animals. If you can't keep your cat from destroying your furniture you probably should re-home it to a place where your cat can stay outside.
It seems to be necessary to spay and neuter many dogs and cats because lots of people are just too stupid to keep their dogs supervised or just don't care.
I think it's necessary sometimes to spay female dogs before you sell them to prevent them from being bred soley for profit.

I've never declawed a cat either, but I know of many  happy cats that are declawed happily living inside, happier than being stuck outside I'd wager.
Are you folks also against docking tails and ears too?
Just curious.

I guess my reaction was 'anthropomorphosized', but I've gotta say that these dogs sounded terrible; the de-barking didn't silence them us much as give them a horribly hoarse croaking that they were continuing with gay abandon. I have got a Maltese which drives me nuts on occassion with her yapping, but I knew that I was getting an 'engine starter' when I bought her and I suck it up - I've never entertained the thought of re-homing her, although in fairness we've got really cool neighbours whose dogs bark just as much. I see spaying (neutering not so much) as necessary to prevent unwanted babies if you don't plan on breeding. I must say, I'm also not too keen on docking tails and ears either - I understand why the tail docking was done when, for instance, the JRT or Westie breed was first created as a working dog (e.g. a handy method of pulling the dog out of rabbit holes, I believe), but I really don't believe that an animal should be subject to any medical procedure to meet a breed standard.

Oh yes, and I'm a vegetarian

Regards,
VanessaT

I personally would not de-bark a dog, but I guess I can see why it may be necessary for some people.  I have a friend whose dog was de-barked and it is a very healthy and happy gsd.

Anybody who doesn't understand why people do it, go to an agility trial and wait for the shelties to run.

I guess in the event that a dog would have to be 'got rid of' because of nuisance barking it may be a different issue. 

However, here in the UK we cannot de-bark a dog, it's illegal and I doubt we have many more come into rescue because of it. In fact that is not often the reason (given) for surrendering a dog, but then we don't have adopters later ringing up saying I can't keep this dog because it barks it's head off either. But we don't have the option of debarking, so people have to find another way.

Many years ago I did have a neighbour who complained to environmental health about our dog barking if we were out (a rescue, who did have sep anxiety) we resolved it to a sufficient degree by getting her a companion in the end. Could have been doubling the trouble, but it worked well....though she always did love a bark once she started. Not a yapper though like some yorkies.

But the original thread was about people who de bark show dogs because 'it annoys them'. To my mind that's a whole different issue, especially if you *know* the breed and what they are like vocally.

I wouldn't debark a dog, but I wouldn't own a yappy breed either.  There are a few homes near here with yappy little dogs that I would not mind one bit if they were debarked.  The dogs never shut up, they even bark at their owners.......all stinking day.   My breed doesn't bark, they talk, and they howl like a pack of wolves.  I'd take that any day over yappie Yorkies.

Here, sue, since you and I go way back on this board, I'll clear it up for you.

De-barking: Cruel, inhumane, and unnecessary
Spay/Neuter: Cruel, inhumane, and unnecessary
Adding pregnancy to list of of concerns for a bitch with ear/foot breakouts due to chronic allergies: Perfectly fine!