Devocalization Surgery Avoidable With Dog Obedience Training
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.
In the United Kingdom, devocalization surgeries have been outlawed, along with tail docking, ear cropping, and cat declawing. But in the United States, the controversy is heated, with debarking laws varying from state to state.
The American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Animal Hospital Association both agree that vocal cordectomy surgery should only be used as a last resort, after all behavior modification attempts have failed. The ASPCA only endorses the procedure if an animal is at risk of losing his home or his life because of barking that cannot be quieted.
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.
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.
Often, nuisance dog barking is exacerbated by misplaced human reinforcement. If your dog is barking for attention, and you play with him, you reinforce his barking. If your dog is barking at a person whom he fears, and you pet and comfort him, you reinforce his barking. If your dog barks while playing, and you continue to play, you again, reinforce the barking.
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.
My professional opinion? Ventriculocordectomies should be reserved for rare, extreme cases in which a top dog trainer has been consulted, and all dog obedience training avenues have been explored. The vast majority of dog barking cases will be remedied with positive dog obedience training. Do your best to save your dog from the scalpel; with the positive effects of clicker training.
Want to find out more about dog training, then visit Dr. Nortey Omaboe’s site on how to choose the best dog obedience training for your needs.
Tags: dog training
dog training | Dr. Nortey Omaboe | 06 September 2010 |
