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The cordectomy is a last resort for the incessant
barker. It shouldn’t be used unless you’ve tried and
failed with training, and less drastic methods. If there
is nothing else to try, and it’s now surgery or the
pound, you may decide to have your dog “de-barked”. With
the dog anaesthetized, the veterinarian removes all or
part of the dog’s vocal cord. There are two methods: in
one,
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the surgeon goes in through the mouth. In the second
method, the surgeon goes in through the voice box
(larynx). The second method costs a bit more but is
preferable because the dog’s airway remains free of scar
tissue. This surgery does not create a totally silent
dog, but one with a modified bark that is softer and
hoarser than it’s original. If your dog’s barking has
been chronic, he may continue to bark. It may not annoy
the neighbors, but you may still find it stressful.
Aside from the irritation factor, the surgery doesn’t
stop your dog from wanting to – and trying to—bark.
Whether your dog barks from anxiety, boredom,
loneliness, and territoriality or because you
unintentionally reinforce the barking, surgery won’t
solve the underlying problem. Another potential problem
is that your dog may regain his bark two or three years
after the surgery, or develop scar tissue that obstructs
his breathing and requires additional surgery. Some vets
estimate that half of dogs who undergo vocal cordectomy
will have problems from the procedure.
Now that we’ve covered your options, you may want to use
the decision tree below to choose your course of action.
It is designed to move from the simplest solutions to
more complex ones, and I encourage you to start with the
earliest techniques, only moving up to more complicated
or intrusive remedies if easier ones fail. Above all, be
patient – learning takes time, and it’s only fair to
give your dog at least as much time to change his habits
as it would for you to stop smoking or swearing or
eating sweets – several weeks of consistent training –an
average of ten minutes every day.
Summary of Drastic Devices
Ultrasonic Collar
Sonic Collar
Bark Free
Citronella, or Stinky Collar
Leash
Pinch Collar
Shock Collar
Surgical Bark Removal: Vocal Cordectomy
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