The Decision to Bark Soften

[Chris]

As I write this, Bonnie is healing from a bark softening procedure performed four days ago. We went to Richmond, VA, where a friend from my Sheltie club who is also an outstanding veterinary surgeon did Bonnie's surgery. She came through with flying colors and will be fully recovered in six more days.

I didn't make this decision lightly. All Shelties bark, and some are more strident than others. Bonnie was possessed of a shrill, piercing bark that she let fly at the drop of a hat. SheltieDad, as some of you know, suffered a traumatic brain injury several years ago. Bonnie's constant reactive bark pretty much put him on the ceiling. We decided that the best thing to do would be to soften Bonnie's bark so she could be herself, dispense with bark collars, and live in a peaceful home. Asher's bark is low pitched, and he's not reactive. Penny sounds like Bea Arthur in Golden Girls.

 

[Ann]

Good for you, Chris, making a responsible decision for your family and for Bonnie. All six of mine are bark softened, and believe me, they all still bark. Lots. And it's not that soft! The whole "debarking" thing is such a misnomer...a simple nick to the vocal chords with a laser still leaves them with plenty of voice. I couldn't have mine and have neighbors too. I'd have to live in a hut in the woods!

 

[Sharon7]

I agree. I think it's much worse to constantly correct a barking Sheltie, or use bark collars (we tried the citronella ones years ago) and that shrill high pitch some of them have just can pierce your ears. Brooke, Faith and Eli all came to us bark-softened and what a god-send. As Ann said, they all still bark. Meadow is not a reactive barker. She really only barks when she's playing, or someone knocks on the door, but she stops quickly, so we haven't had to have the procedure for her.

 

[Margi]

With you 100%. If Benson was bark softened his life would be sheer misery. Mine too.

 

[Sandy in CT]

We have talked throughout the years of bark softening Brodie. In fact, we made the decision to do it, then Covid happened. Now the vet that does is is not accepting new patients - I have to call every 3 months - Covid ended ages ago. Brodie has a seriously shrill bark and he's reactive. I don't just get complaints from the neighbors, and we don't live close nor are the dogs ever outdoors by themselves, I also get complaints from my classmates in agility. He barks when he is happy, when he is excited - so he barks throughout runs and it stresses me out big time. I've considered quitting cuz sometimes I can't deal with them being annoyed. A world where he could bark away and not fizz anyone would be a darn good world in my opinion. I think you did good - you are letting Bonnie be happy and be herself and taking care of your husband's health as well.

 

[Ron Atkinson]

Brodie,
You and your humans can come be our neighbors and can bark till cows come home and me and my humans wouldn't say a word.Plus we could be playmates.
Many tail wags
Teddy

 

[Margi]

Geez i meant WASNT bark softened...LOL Proofread Proofread!
Fil didn't get done, and since he isn't a big big talker its never been an issue. Mackie and Cal were relatively quiet for Shelties too But Benny takes after his grampa Koko who could keep up a running commentary on just about anything...

 

[Piper's mom]

I don’t blame you for doing it one bit! I’m so thankful every day that I get along with all my neighbours…with my 3 barking constantly and a few neighbours having dogs it doesn’t take much to get all the neighborhood dogs going! Finnie is the worst of the lot (his barking can raise my anxiety to the roof) and Blueberry has such a high pitched bark it’s like nails on a chalkboard to me.
Bark softening is far from inhumane…it allows dogs to live a normal life and be themselves!

 

[Piper's mom]

Geez i meant WASNT bark softened...LOL Proofread Proofread!
Fil didn't get done, and since he isn't a big big talker its never been an issue. Mackie and Cal were relatively quiet for Shelties too But Benny takes after his grampa Koko who could keep up a running commentary on just about anything...

I understood that that’s what you meant lol!

 

[woof]

I am sympathetic with you as well-- I have a neighbor who lives 80 yd away from me up a small hill thru trees and she has complained about our dogs barking when they play or when people drive up in our driveway- and their barking last about 30sec to a min per episode-- I can't imagine what would happen if we had neighbors like that across the fence. I have considered it and have heard bark soften shelties that sounded like they had a cold to barely muffled barks and they still bark just fine.. Sometime when our get going over some noise on TV and elsewhere in the house sets them off I think hmmmm. But they are now getting out of puppy youngster stage and so are settling in. Our first Sheltie would bark at thunder storms 50 miles away and everytime the phone would ring he was crazy-- most of our others have been reasonable and no back yard fence neighbors so far we will deal with that.. for our current neighbor if our dogs are outside going bonzo we just pull them in to settle them down...