Re: [PyrNet-L] RE: Chat, Behavior: Barking problems

["Nicola" <roustabout@bluebon.net>]

Hi List-
I had a male aussie that when excited, had an eardrum piercing bark.  I
tolerated the bark for 3 years, as I am not an advocate for debarking...but
boy did it make a difference.  He could still bark when excited, but he made
a low noise instead of a high pitched noise...I don't think this dog could
have ever been taught not to bark with a shock collar, and had a shock
collar eventually worked I think it would have been alot harder on him
(mentally) than the ability to bark whenever he wanted without being
shocked, just quieter.

Having worked as a vet tech, I know that most techs and vets do not like to
debark dogs, but do the surgery to please their clients...but let me tell
you, everyone at my vet got a dose of my aussies excited bark before the
procedure, and they were all very quick to inform me that they fully
understood why I did it and how glad they were that I did it!  I think you
need to look at your situation and see what is really best for your dog and
you...and I'm sorry, but I missed the original post...if this is a pyr,
barking is a very instinctual thing and I think being shocked for barking
would be alot worse mentally on a pyr, than quieting the bark to a tolerable
level for everyone.

Just my opinion,
*****************************************************
Nicola Schaefer
roustabout@bluebon.net
Prairie Lea, Texas
Home of:  Roustabout Australian Shepherds...
Angel, Anya, Magic, Panda, Turk, Kayla and
Casper(Pyr), Otis(Pug), and Terra(BordCollie)
webpg:    www.geocities.com/petsburgh/3178
ICQ#19107028 (just request my authorization)
*****************************************************

-----Original Message-----
From: BCavins303@aol.com <BCavins303@aol.com>
To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org <pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org>
Date: Tuesday, December 22, 1998 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: [PyrNet-L] RE: Chat, Behavior: Barking problems


>I think I would rather have the dog surgically debarked than to use an
>electric collar.  When they are surgically debarked it does not totally
take
>away the bark, it just makes it much quieter.  I've had a long discussion
with
>our vet about the procedure.  Even she feels that debarking would be more
>humane than electric shock.
>Bob
>
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