DeBarking Surgery or Soft Bark
- Thread starter Howie
- Start date
tofu pup
Moderator
It's fairly common among Sheltie and Collie breeders. Because of the numbers that we keep (think ten Shelties on a two-acre property), there's a lot of barking. Debarking allows the dogs to bark as much as they like (with ours, it's usually the happy! happy! happy! bark or the feed me! bark) without angering the neighbors.
It's a simple, minimally-invasive surgery, similar in style to a tonsillectomy. While the dog is under general anesthesia, the vet goes down the throat and punches a hole in the vocal chords. Once the dog is awake and alert, barking resumes as normal - it's just a softer sound. As with any surgery, there are risks, but having seen many Shelties through the surgery and through a subsequent lifetime of barking, I can say that it does not seem to adversely affect their quality of life.
It's a simple, minimally-invasive surgery, similar in style to a tonsillectomy. While the dog is under general anesthesia, the vet goes down the throat and punches a hole in the vocal chords. Once the dog is awake and alert, barking resumes as normal - it's just a softer sound. As with any surgery, there are risks, but having seen many Shelties through the surgery and through a subsequent lifetime of barking, I can say that it does not seem to adversely affect their quality of life.
SheepOfBlue
Premium Member
Sca is not debarked but his breeder had hers done for the exact reason at Tofu Pup
I will admit to having taken no real position re debarking a dog, and with the one Sheltie I have had, I was never (fortunately) faced with the decision to opt for any type of surgery except for neutering. However, two things occurred to me when I read the description above:
1). With myself and/or family members, I have always taken the position that the decision to approve any type of surgery should result in the lessening of pain and suffering of the one undergoing the surgery or improving their quality of life; and
2). The description of "minimally invasive" varies depending on one's point of view. By example, many years ago, I called my father and mother to inform them that on the following day, I was going to have "minor surgery", which prompted them to asked if they should drive the 3 hours to my house to be there when the surgery took place. I again informed them that the surgery was "minor" and that the call was simply because in the VERY unlikely event that something would go wrong, they would at least be aware of the circumstances. I can still remember my father's response over 30 years ago, "minor surgery is when they cut someone else, it's major surgery when they cut you".
I don't know where I stand on the surgical debarking issue, but I don't really see it as quite as benign as some other folks do. Poking a hole in a vocal chord doesn't sound "minimally invasive" to me.
tofu pup
Moderator
Well, then you can certainly choose not to have your dogs debarked. Vive la difference.
I happen to think that in the case of our dogs, their quality of life is improved because they can bark all day without being yelled at, are surrounded by neighbors who don't resent them for being noisy, and are in minimal danger of being in trouble with Animal Control.
The OP seemed to be asking for insight into the procedure, given that her dog has already had it, not asking whether or not it was right for her dog.
Margi
Premium Member
Koko had his bark softened by the breeder, and I am thankful every day 
He can "talk" as much as he wants and bothers no one. Should Fillion follow in his father's footsteps and start barking as much I wouldn't hesitate to have it done.
He can "talk" as much as he wants and bothers no one. Should Fillion follow in his father's footsteps and start barking as much I wouldn't hesitate to have it done.Debarking
Hi
Thanks for your replies.
I forgot to ask about the percentage of the bark that is normally lost and was told that the bark would get louder over time.
Right now Howie has about 10 percent of his bark I think.
I understand that having a lot of shelties makes for a very loud environment.
I already love my little guy!!!
Terri
Hi
Thanks for your replies.
I forgot to ask about the percentage of the bark that is normally lost and was told that the bark would get louder over time.
Right now Howie has about 10 percent of his bark I think.
I understand that having a lot of shelties makes for a very loud environment.
I already love my little guy!!!
Terri
tofu pup
Moderator
It really depends on the vet, and the exact technique used (there's a bit of an art to it; different vets will make the puncture slightly differently). I would say that with our vet in CT, there's maybe 50% of the bark left? It's hard for me to figure it in terms of a percentage. It's more like the "sharp" part of the bark is rounded off - so it's not that it's that much less loud, it's that it doesn't carry as much. Does that make sense?
Some debarks sound like a raspy "rah, rah", others will sound like a "woo, woo", or even like a seal's bark in a movie soundtrack. Sometimes you'll get a harsher "arf, arf".
I'll reiterate that the dogs bark just as much, and in the same contexts ("Mailman's here!" "Hi, Mom!" "Faster with the cookies!"); it's just the sound that changes. They will also continue to make other normal vocalizations (gentle woofs, alarm barks, whines, yelps when hurt), which you will be able to recognize as needed. The projected bark just doesn't carry as far as before.
"Regrowth" also depends on the vet, and on the individual dog. I don't know that I can predict whether or how much change you will see. It is entirely likely that the bark he has now is the bark he will have.
The best thing to do would be to ask his breeder. She has probably used this vet for other debarks, and can tell you more about what to expect.
I can say that I have spent the better part of my life around debarked dogs, my own and other people's. I've lived with debarked Shelties, shown debarked Shelties for other people, and assisted handlers with debarked Collies. I know that, on paper, it sounds like a bit of an alarming surgery, but I encourage those who are skeptical to actually spend time with dogs who are debarked, instead of just considering it on theory. They are perfectly-ordinary dogs, who do very ordinary dog-things (aside from, usually, living in a slightly larger dog-household). They aren't depressed or rendered uncommunicative. They just don't bark as loudly.
Last edited:
Interesting topic. I for one in the past was put off by it, the sound of the bark. Enter Zoey- her voice was softned by my breeder and she does it because she like Tofu has lots of shelties and can't have them al barking at the same time as it would drive the neighbors nuts and her too.
Zoey's is a soft bark and it really does not bother me at all. I have a friend that has a sheltie that has different sound to his debarked voice than Zoey's. He like Zoey was to be a show dog but it did not work out- luckily for us.
Zoey's is a soft bark and it really does not bother me at all. I have a friend that has a sheltie that has different sound to his debarked voice than Zoey's. He like Zoey was to be a show dog but it did not work out- luckily for us.
Our very first sheltie was not debarked, the next 2 were, and the last 2 have not been.
For the two that were debarked, it was very much a case of where we lived and the result of them being the first "puppies" I had ever owned. Our first sheltie was already 3 when we adopted her and she was not much of a barker at all, so the thought never crossed my mind. When we got Dallas there were things that just set her off ( doorbell, sneezing, vacuum ...) and I simply wasn't aware how very crucial it is not to encourage behaviors you don't want right from the beginning. When the breeder asked me to take the second sheltie - things just got worse as they fed off each other. She is actually the one who recommended the debarking, as lots of her own dogs were.
Our yard was fenced but it backed onto a green area and walking path and they would set each other off anytime a person or animal went by. That happened alot! Much as my neighbours enjoyed my dogs they did not appreciate the barking. I will admit that it also drove me nuts, so we had them done. They did not stop barking but the volume was turned down about 75% - enough that the sound did not carry very far. Funnily enough I still heard the barking and would call them indoors, but both my neighbours said they were no longer bothered at all. I have very sensitive hearing. The vet I was using did not do the surgery but recommended a vet in another town that was excellent at it - and he was right as the sound pretty much stayed turned down.
Neither Hanna, nor my last sheltie are barkers. I did a much better job training quiet right from the beginning. Hanna still barks a little when playing, and at the broom and the doorbell. It's not very loud and she stops the moment I get up to see what it is. In our present location I could tolerate a whole lot more noise before I would consider it - not likely to ever be necessary with Hanna, but if it were, I would do it again.
For the two that were debarked, it was very much a case of where we lived and the result of them being the first "puppies" I had ever owned. Our first sheltie was already 3 when we adopted her and she was not much of a barker at all, so the thought never crossed my mind. When we got Dallas there were things that just set her off ( doorbell, sneezing, vacuum ...) and I simply wasn't aware how very crucial it is not to encourage behaviors you don't want right from the beginning. When the breeder asked me to take the second sheltie - things just got worse as they fed off each other. She is actually the one who recommended the debarking, as lots of her own dogs were.
Our yard was fenced but it backed onto a green area and walking path and they would set each other off anytime a person or animal went by. That happened alot! Much as my neighbours enjoyed my dogs they did not appreciate the barking. I will admit that it also drove me nuts, so we had them done. They did not stop barking but the volume was turned down about 75% - enough that the sound did not carry very far. Funnily enough I still heard the barking and would call them indoors, but both my neighbours said they were no longer bothered at all. I have very sensitive hearing. The vet I was using did not do the surgery but recommended a vet in another town that was excellent at it - and he was right as the sound pretty much stayed turned down.
Neither Hanna, nor my last sheltie are barkers. I did a much better job training quiet right from the beginning. Hanna still barks a little when playing, and at the broom and the doorbell. It's not very loud and she stops the moment I get up to see what it is. In our present location I could tolerate a whole lot more noise before I would consider it - not likely to ever be necessary with Hanna, but if it were, I would do it again.