Dog Obedience Training For Your Pet Dog

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.

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.

Associations within the United States, including the AVMS, AAHA, and ASPCA all assert that the devocalization of dogs should only be considered if all avenues of dog training have been explored in efforts to stop dog barking. The ASPCA says that the procedure should only be considered if the dog is threatened with the loss of her life or home due to nuisance barking.

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 a variety of reasons: communication, aggression, boredom, self identification, and fear. When a procedure eliminates or reduces a dog’s bark, it does not remove the reason for the dog’s barking. The dog will still be inclined to bark, but will be disabled, adding to her frustration. Removing a dog’s bark also renders her helpless in warning her owners of fire, intruders, and her own entrapment or danger.

Many times, the key to stop your dog from barking is to cut out the unintentional reinforcements that dog owners are often guilty of. For example, if your dog is fearful of visitors, and you comfort him while he’s barking at your great aunt, he’ll think that you’re approving of his vocal display. Or, if your dog barks when he wants attention, and you stop what you’re doing to either yell at him or pet him, his attention barking may never stop; you have reinforced it in his mind.

The stimulus for your dog’s barking habit must be removed. Then, quiet times must be rewarded. Eliminating dog barking can be fast and easy with the right dog training program.

In conclusion, I believe that devocalization surgery should only be performed after you have used the dog obedience training techniques outlined by a top dog trainer to stop your dog from barking. There will rarely be any case in which these methods are not effective; and there will rarely be a case in which you don’t have the power to rescue your best friend from the prospect of a debarking procedure, with effective dog training.

Learn more about house training. Stop by Dr. Nortey Omaboe’s site where you can find out all about dog training tips and what it can do for you.