Debarking, or devocalization, is a controversial procedure that many believe permanently stops a dog from barking by cutting its vocal cords or removing laryngeal tissue. This is not entirely accurate, it merely reduces the volume and pitch of a dog's bark, there are no proven psychological impacts on the dog because from their perspective they are still barking. Many animal rights activists have opposed the debarking procedure believing it to be a shortcut taken to avoid properly training one's dog. While this is almost certainly the case in some rare instances, generally the people who don't care enough to train their dogs also aren't willing to pay a vet to perform this procedure. In most instances it is possible to bark train one's dog, hunting breeds being the exception. Most vets discourage the procedure, but it is favored in instances where the alternative to surgery is getting rid of the dog. A notable instance where surgery would be appropriate is the scenario where somebody residing in an apartment faces eviction or lawsuit due to a dog's barking.

Up to 35% of dog owners report problems with barking, which can be quite a nuisance in populous areas^*.

References

• Debarking, HelpingAnimals.com.
• Landsberg, Gary: Declawing and Debarking: What are the Alternatives?.

Dog health | Dog anatomy