Debarked Dogs

[Mikos_Mom]

so I try to be respectful and not let Megan bark the entire time a person is doing yard work by our fence .

It's such a fine line isn't it?

We have neighbours on all 3 sides of our backyard. To the west is a quiet, single man with no pets. To the east is an elderly lady with an Airedale Terrier that barks sometimes (usually just a couple of barks when he's ready to be let back inside). To the south is a family of 3 with a cat.

Luckily, the fences on the east and west side of the yard are at least 6' high (higher in some parts) and are solid, so Miko and the Airedale have never laid eyes on each other and can't run the fence together.

Unfortunately, the fence across the back of the yard (the south) is only 4' high and can be seen through a bit. Those poor people can't do anything in their yard without Miko barking his fool head off at them.

During the summer, we'd be out working our yard and they'd be in their yard and we'd end up having to put Miko inside because his barking was getting embarassing. They were always very gracious and tried to make friends with Miko and said the barking wasn't a problem... but it was still horribly embarassing to me.

If the tables were turned and I couldn't be in my yard without the neighbours' dog barking it's head off at me... I'd be very inclined to complain. I don't pay astranomical mortgage payments to not be able to use my yard because of someone elses's dog!!!

So this is why debarking/bark-softening is somewhere in my consciousness and is a possible consideration. Not because any complaints have come in ... YET... but because I have enough respect and consideration for my neighbours to understand that regardless of what time of the day it is, no one wants to listen to a dog barking non-stop.

At the same time... Miko doesn't want to spend all day everyday locked in the house. He wants to enjoy his yard too. So what's the solution?

Bark-softening is NOT mutilation any more than a tonsilectomy is mutilation in a human. You could leave the tonsils in and the person would continue to suffer from tonsilitis on a regular basis and their life would be miserable. OR you can remove them and let the person enjoy life without the pain and inconvenience of painful tonsils.

The same goes for the dog. You can soften the dog's bark and let him go about life doing what comes naturally to him (and keep the neighbours happy at the same time) OR you can keep him locked up and/or punish him for barking.

 

[Boos-dad]

It's such a fine line isn't it?

We have neighbours on all 3 sides of our backyard. To the west is a quiet, single man with no pets. To the east is an elderly lady with an Airedale Terrier that barks sometimes (usually just a couple of barks when he's ready to be let back inside). To the south is a family of 3 with a cat.

Luckily, the fences on the east and west side of the yard are at least 6' high (higher in some parts) and are solid, so Miko and the Airedale have never laid eyes on each other and can't run the fence together.

Unfortunately, the fence across the back of the yard (the south) is only 4' high and can be seen through a bit. Those poor people can't do anything in their yard without Miko barking his fool head off at them.

During the summer, we'd be out working our yard and they'd be in their yard and we'd end up having to put Miko inside because his barking was getting embarassing. They were always very gracious and tried to make friends with Miko and said the barking wasn't a problem... but it was still horribly embarassing to me.

If the tables were turned and I couldn't be in my yard without the neighbours' dog barking it's head off at me... I'd be very inclined to complain. I don't pay astranomical mortgage payments to not be able to use my yard because of someone elses's dog!!!

So this is why debarking/bark-softening is somewhere in my consciousness and is a possible consideration. Not because any complaints have come in ... YET... but because I have enough respect and consideration for my neighbours to understand that regardless of what time of the day it is, no one wants to listen to a dog barking non-stop.

At the same time... Miko doesn't want to spend all day everyday locked in the house. He wants to enjoy his yard too. So what's the solution?

Bark-softening is NOT mutilation any more than a tonsilectomy is mutilation in a human. You could leave the tonsils in and the person would continue to suffer from tonsilitis on a regular basis and their life would be miserable. OR you can remove them and let the person enjoy life without the pain and inconvenience of painful tonsils.

The same goes for the dog. You can soften the dog's bark and let him go about life doing what comes naturally to him (and keep the neighbours happy at the same time) OR you can keep him locked up and/or punish him for barking.

First, getting your tonsils out is not the same as taking your voice away..not even close.

If your kid was always screaming and raising heck and your neighbors complained would you take away his voice? No...you would tell your neighbors to drop dead or move. I've learned a lot from this forum but I've also learned that there are many people who claim that their animals are their children but in reality they are still second class children. I stumbled through this world for over 40 years without my sight and three dogs helped guide me through life, the last being Boo and there is no way that I would ever do anything like this to him..neighbors or not.

 

[Boos-dad]

Spaying and neutering is also a convenience surgery, so avoid using that as an example.

My dogs are outside with me at all times. I don't leave them outside to bark like crazy. But sometimes I get up for a dog show or for work, and we are out at 4 AM. Or I put them out at midnight or 1 AM before I go to bed. Depending on the time of year, they might be out for a quick pee because it's too cold or hot to do much else. Sometimes it's lovely out, and we spend half an hour doing combat weaves and playing ball in the night lights.

If my dogs were limited to only playing noisily during "business hours" when no complaints can be made, then we would be up a creek, since I also happen to work during those same hours.

No, spaying & neutering is not for convience,,,it's to control the animal population so that not so many are executed.
And I did not say only leave your dogs out during business hours...I basically said to check your noise control hours and the complains don't matter. I can bet that you would have plenty of hours for your dogs to play outside.

 

[take4roll10]

First, getting your tonsils out is not the same as taking your voice away..not even close.

If your kid was always screaming and raising heck and your neighbors complained would you take away his voice? No...you would tell your neighbors to drop dead or move. I've learned a lot from this forum but I've also learned that there are many people who claim that their animals are their children but in reality they are still second class children. I stumbled through this world for over 40 years without my sight and three dogs helped guide me through life, the last being Boo and there is no way that I would ever do anything like this to him..neighbors or not.

Debarking or barking softening does not take away your dog's voice. They still have vocal cords and can still bark. It just softens their bark, so that it is not as loud or as high pitch.

I wouldn't tell my neighbors to drop dead because my child is being obnoxious. My child would have to learn the rules and that includes respecting the neighbors and not driving them crazy. In my opinion, a screaming child is completely different than a dog. It much easier to explain to a child that they have to be quiet and respect your neighbors. Unfortunately, your dog cannot comprehend this concept like a child can. Plus, your child does not have to go outside to go to the bathroom.

 

[Lightplum]

First, getting your tonsils out is not the same as taking your voice away..not even close.

If your kid was always screaming and raising heck and your neighbors complained would you take away his voice? No...you would tell your neighbors to drop dead or move. I've learned a lot from this forum but I've also learned that there are many people who claim that their animals are their children but in reality they are still second class children. I stumbled through this world for over 40 years without my sight and three dogs helped guide me through life, the last being Boo and there is no way that I would ever do anything like this to him..neighbors or not.

OK first of all, you are not taking their voice away. You are simply altering the pitch of the bark. Second and this is very important, Animals are NOT Children, THEY are NOT kids with fur coats or what ever the "new" terminology is! THEY ARE Animals plain and simple!

Does this mean I love my animals any less NO! But they are two entirely separate entities and should NOT be put in the same class! It is apples and oranges when you start equating the same rights to humans and animals it just doesnt work!

 

[Boos-dad]

They are the "Know It All's".I also had a girl telling a bunch of people at the park oh that is the girl who had her dogs voice boxed removed and it was loud enough for me to hear.I turned to her and said think about what you just said.If I had their voice boxes removed there would be no sound.Shut her up quick and made her look like an idiot in the process.

I agree...there's alot of know it all's on here too. I'm amazed.

 

[Boos-dad]

Debarking or barking softening does not take away your dog's voice. They still have vocal cords and can still bark. It just softens their bark, so that it is not as loud or as high pitch.

I wouldn't tell my neighbors to drop dead because my child is being obnoxious. My child would have to learn the rules and that includes respecting the neighbors and not driving them crazy. In my opinion, a screaming child is completely different than a dog. It much easier to explain to a child that they have to be quiet and respect your neighbors. Unfortunately, your dog cannot comprehend this concept like a child can. Plus, your child does not have to go outside to go to the bathroom.

Really? So your saying you have time to train your kid but not your dogs.

 

[Lightplum]

I agree...there's alot of know it all's on here too. I'm amazed.

Yes its nice when people are educated isnt it?!

 

[Boos-dad]

OK first of all, you are not taking their voice away. You are simply altering the pitch of the bark. Second and this is very important, Animals are NOT Children, THEY are NOT kids with fur coats or what ever the "new" terminology is! THEY ARE Animals plain and simple!

Does this mean I love my animals any less NO! But they are two entirely separate entities and should NOT be put in the same class! It is apples and oranges when you start equating the same rights to humans and animals it just doesnt work!

Oh yeah it does....it means you care less about them...those second class creatures. You don't think the same rights apply to animals as to people? Then it's okay to beat a dog, to starve a dog,to abuse a dog but not a human. We have more right or better rights.....you can stop commenting on my posts...I see where you are coming from

 

[Boos-dad]

Yes its nice when people are educated isnt it?!

Don't pat yourself on the back.....your not at that point