Dear Barking Up: There is a surgical procedure called Ventriculocordectomy or otherwise known as “debarking” in the dog. A dog must be put under general anesthesia before a veterinarian makes incisions to create an opening in the dog’s vocal chords or voice box to prevent proper use.

Afterwards, when the dog barks, a faint, raspy sounding bark comes out. You can hear it but the neighbors can’t. It is like your dog is whispering his bark. He gets the enjoyment of the barking activity without the noise. It doesn’t change his desire to bark, only lowers the volume. In some cases, scar tissue may form and fill in the incision and volume may return, sometimes worse than before the surgery. Another surgery may be required to hush him again.

Debarking can be controversial or downright illegal depending on which state you live in. For example, earlier this year a Maryland bill was proposed to make surgically debarking a dog a felony, unless it is medically necessary to protect the life or health of the dog. The bill would also require anyone who owns a debarked dog to report it when applying for a dog license. Local dog licensing officials may provide the name and addresses of any person who indicates on a dog license application that they possess a debarked or silenced dog to law enforcement upon request. Fortunately, this bill died in legislative committee. New Jersey lawmakers proposed a similar law last year that would have also made it a crime for vets to perform the procedure. Check your state’s laws before asking a vet to consider this solution to your barking woes.

Treating the underlying problem of the barking would be the best solution. Try to determine whether your dog is bored, over-anxious, or is in need of more exercise or attention to cure his barking. Using more traditional training techniques on the dog to dissuade his barking such as the water squirt bottle, half a lemon twisted on his snout like a juicer, pennies in a coffee can thrown near the dog to distract him or anti-barking collars with citronella or electric shock. Except for the collars, the other techniques require you be there to catch the dog in the act to stop the behavior.

Despite what animal rights activists might preach, debarking isn’t a cruel or painful procedure to the dog. Debarking as a last resort may be necessary if you have multiple breeding dogs of the barking variety, live in tight quarters with your neighbors, and/or are facing criminal prosecution because your best buddy can’t keep his mouth shut. In this case, debarking may save you from having to place him in a shelter or pound, or worse, because you can no longer keep him because of his exuberance.

Lisa’s Pick of the Litter

With Halloween evaporating like the morning frost on a sunny day it’s time to start one of my favorite activities – Christmas shopping for the dog! Topping the list for great toys this holiday shopping season is something called the Humunga Tongue™.

Humunga Tongue™ is a small red rubber ball with a 9-inch long tongue reminiscent of a Rolling Stones logo attached to one side. As illustrated in the J and J Dog Supplies Fall Sale Catalog a Shetland Sheepdog gives his best Mick Jagger impersonation while chopping down on his Humunga Tongue™.

“Your dog will love it and your friends will laugh when they see this hilarious new toy,” according to the catalog and website. Personally I start laughing just when I say Humunga Tongue™!  For just $10.99 you can have a good laugh of your own. Order yours from J and J Dog Supplies at 800-642-2050 or online at www.jjdog.com and Gimme Shelter!

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Send questions to ask@lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.