"Debarking is a rare operation," I said to the lady on the phone. "Vets don't encourage it." She had moved to a quiet neighbourhood and her 8-year-old neutered Schnauzer barked shrilly and frequently. "I want to debark my dog to prevent the AVA from coming to see me after neighbours complain. The alternative is to give up this dog but I do not want to give him away."

Barking seemed to be her only solution and she googled for a vet that will do debarking. "Do you need me to consult you first and be counselled for debarking? My vet is at Clementi. Do you mind that?"

"Will scars form after debarking, affecting the dog?" the lady had read somewhere in the internet

"Scars are referred to operations after debarking using the oral approach. As the vocal cords may not be excised by the long forceps 100% unless done by the vet with lots of experience using this approach, the scars will form. Barking sounds will return. But the oral approach can be effective if all vocal cords can be pulled out and snipped off."


ALTERNATIVES
1. Get a dog trainer to train the dog not to bark will need some time and patience. It may or may not work. Why not try this method?

2. Electric collars. It works according to feedback from one owner.

3. Citronella spray collars. Feedback from some owners are not so positive.

Much depends on the age of dog, the personality of the dog, the training and the owner. It is hard to be specific.