Train the Dog Blog

The mention of devocalization surgery, also known as debarking surgery, bark softening, vocal cordectomy surgery, or ventriculocordectomy, might make any top dog trainer want to tout the effectiveness of positive dog training tips.

When a veterinary surgeon performs these procedures, he or she accesses the dog’s vocal cords through an incision in the throat, or by way of the oral cavity. Tissue is then removed from the vocal mechanism, lessening the volume of the dog’s bark.

Devocalization of dogs has been outlawed in the UK, along with ear cropping and tail docking. The declawing of cats is also prohibited. Debarking standpoints in the US are more diverse, with laws varying among states.

In the U.S., the ASPCA advocates debarking surgeries only in severe cases, when all dog obedience training techniques have been employed, and the dog is faced with losing his home or his life because of the barking. Additionally, the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association both agree that vocal cordectomies should only be used when they are the only remaining option, as determined by a professional.

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.

Whether a dog is barking out of boredom, fear, aggression, playfulness, self identification, or communication, removing the dog’s voice will never remove the reason for which he barks. Reducing or eliminating a dog’s bark might only add to his frustration, and remove an integral part of his nature; which, by the way, when properly controlled, can warn his owners of intruders, fire, impending danger, and the dog’s own entrapment or distress.

Humans often inadvertently reinforce dog barking. For instance, if your dog barks while engrossed in play, and you continue to play with her, her barking is reinforced. If she barks for attention, and you let her out of her crate, play ball with her, or even yell at her, you solidify the effectiveness of that bark in her mind. Or, if she barks at strangers, and you stroke her and talk softly to her, in an attempt to comfort her, she will view your actions as dog barking approval.

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.

Personally, I believe that devocalization surgery is unnecessary in a majority of cases. It should only be considered after a dog obedience training program from a top dog trainer has been completed, and all barking stimuli have been removed. When the proper channels are utilized, there will rarely be a situation in which a dog’s nuisance barking will persist. You do have the power to keep your neighbors at peace and your dog away from devocalization surgery; that power is held within dog obedience training.

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No one is sure why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and others don’t but, separation anxiety can become a real problem for both you and your dog especially if that problem is compounded by excitable urination upon your return.

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The first step in dealing with separation anxiety in your dog is knowing what is occurring when you are gone. If your dog is howling, barking or continually whining when he is left alone, he tends to be destructive when you are gone but not destructive when you are close by then he probably suffers from separation anxiety. In the simplest terms this means that when left alone your pet becomes lonely, miserable and even fearful. This is made worse in some dogs when you come home. They are so glad to see you that they get so excited that they lose control of their bladder leaving a smelly puddle on your floor. They can’t help this type of urination it is simply their body’s response to this extreme excitement.

You can solve both problems with some simple training of your dog. To begin helping your dog overcome his separation anxiety start by sitting in a room with him quietly while he plays with some of his favorite toys. Once he has gotten used to playing while you sit quietly get up and leave the room for just a minute and then return and once again sit quietly. Continue doing this, extending the time you are gone until you can leave the room for a half an hour or more without the dog feeling uncomfortable.

The next step is to start making short trips out of doors. If your dog barks or howls remain outside until he has quieted and then return and again sit quietly in a chair. Eventually, you can increase your time out of door and then even leave the property without causing any anxiety in your dog.

No Fan Fair

One of the important things to remember is that dogs are sensitive to the feelings and actions of their owners. If you make a big production of your leaving and returning, your dog will see these actions as an important event in which he should feel anxious or excited. If you handle your going and comings with matter of factness your dog will attach less importance to these events as well.

By training your dog to accept your goings and comings as a natural order of things, the problem of excitable urination will most often resolve itself. If you leave and then return without paying any special attention to your dog on your arrival he will accept your return with calmness over time and the problem will simply cease to exist.

However, make sure that you do give your dog the attention he needs and craves at other times, spending quality time with him during the course of the day will teach him that you value his companionship and he will be less likely to suffer when he is not the center of attention or when he is left alone.

Making sure your dog has fresh water and food and plenty of toys to play with will also help to keep him engaged and entertained while you are gone.

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