One of the most controversial subjects in the field of dog training is the question of debarking surgery. Debarking surgery is a procedure designed to minimize the volume of a dog�s bark. It is generally used by those with dogs who have both a loud bark and a tendency to bark incessantly. The procedure is most commonly used on very loud larger dog breeds. Shetlands and collies, for instance, make up a large percentage of those dogs subjected to the surgery. The procedure generally requires the use of a general anesthesia and involves punching, cutting or otherwise manipulating the tissue around a dog�s vocal chords to soften or significantly reduce his ability to bark. Access the areas targeted during the surgery can come either through the dog�s mouth or via an incision on the dog�s neck.
Debarking does not, usually, complete eliminate dog�s bark. The volume of the bark is decreased substantially by the surgery, but most dogs will still have some bit of �bark� left subsequent to surgery. It is sometimes referred to a bark softening for this reason.
Not surprisingly, debarking is a very contentious issue, with experts having lined up on each side of the argument. Some advocate debarking as a helpful last-resort for incessant barkers while others maintain the process is cruel and unnecessary.
