Debarking? Really?

I was walking the dogs yesterday and we passed a house where a dog inside was going crazy barking at us. Brinkley let out his usual whine because he loves to meet other dogs, and Ginger completely ignored it. We kept walking.

A neighbor we were passing asked us if we had our dogs debarked. I said no with a quizzical smile on my face. He said he was surprised my dogs didn't bark back at the other one. I said one of them hardly ever barks and the other we trained to only bark at certain things. He suggested debarking again, for the one that does bark. I said, it's not a problem for us, but do people really do that to dogs? That was the opening he was looking for and he explained to me that his brother's dog was out of control and they had him debarked it was so bad.

I finally told him I would never do that to my dogs and politely excused myself. I was just surprised that he was so adamant, and he did sound a little "off" but do people really do this anymore? This came up a while ago and no one here knew anyone who had done it.

My sister's in-laws got a citronella collar for their barking dog, which I believe was in place of actual training, but at least it's better than surgery.

Re: Debarking? Really?

People truly do this. They clip their vocal chords.

But they can still bark, it just sounds... different. Did you ever see the movie Grown Ups? In it, Kevin James's dog has had his vocal chords clipped. Not sure if that's actually how they sound, but watch it and you'll hear.

Re: Debarking? Really?

I did see it and I was trying not to be an overly sensitive person but it rubbed me the wrong way that they were making fun of such a thing. I chalked it up to a joke, that people don't really do that anymore.

Re: Debarking? Really?

I can't imagine!!!! I would spend $$$$ on training vs. doing that. I can't even conceive.

Re: Debarking? Really?

OMG, that is awful! I didn't know people do this--it shouldn't be allowed.

Re: Debarking? Really?

Ugh...this to me is just an example of ppl being too lazy to take charge of training their animals. They just want the "easy"out. What a horror!

Re: Debarking? Really?

People still do it. Especially on shelties and collies. I have seen shelties with their vocal cords cut but it was years ago. I'll never forget that horrible sound they make.

Re: Debarking? Really?