APDT POSITION STATEMENT ON ELECTIVE SURGICAL PROCEDURES

The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) supports scientifically based and humane behavioral solutions to barking problems, and is opposed to non-therapeutic surgical debarking. APDT is also opposed to cosmetic surgical procedures such as ear cropping and tail docking.

Debarking

Barking is a normal canine behavior and means of communication. Excessive barking may happen for a number of reasons. For example, the dog may be bored, lonely, frightened, or otherwise distressed.

Debarking (ventriculocordectomy) is an invasive surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia to fully or partially remove the dog’s vocal cords and permanently reduce the volume of the dog’s vocalizations. Just as with all surgical procedures, this procedure is not without serious risks, which can include bleeding, infection, scarring, and other complications. Ventriculocordectomy may have legitimate therapeutic reasons, such as to address airway obstruction or laryngeal paralysis. Debarking is non-therapeutic if it is undertaken solely to decrease the volume, pitch, or intensity of the dog’s bark.i

It is vital to evaluate and address the underlying reason for the excessive barking. APDT encourages a combination of adequate exercise, management, training, and behavior modification to address excessive barking. APDT opposes non-therapeutic debarking, which silences the dog without addressing the underlying issues that are causing the stress and barking.

Declawing

APDT opposes declawing of cats as an inhumane and unnecessary procedure. While our organization focuses on dog training, many people who consult dog trainers also have cats in the household. APDT stands with other organizations, including the American Association of Feline Practitioners, who strongly oppose declawing. This procedure amputates the third bone from the cat's digit (known as the third, or distal, phalanx), including removing the bone and cutting through the attached ligaments and tendon. It might more accurately be called 'de- knuckling’.

Declawing carries the risks of all major surgeries, as well as the risk of acute pain, infection, nerve trauma, lameness, behavior problems, and chronic neuropathic pain.ii Declawing removes a natural form of defense for the cat, which along with the physical and behavioral impact of the procedure, can have a negative impact on the cat’s relationship with canine members of the family.

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Cosmetic Surgical Procedures

Due to impact on behavior, body language and socialization, APDT has grave concerns regarding ear cropping and tail docking of dogs for cosmetic reasons. When performed for cosmetic – i.e. “medically unnecessary” – purposes, these procedures provide no health benefit to the dogs. Moreover, these procedures pose all of the inherent risks of surgery and anesthesia, including pain, blood loss and infection.

APDT applauds organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) that oppose ear cropping and tail docking for cosmetic purposes. In particular, APDT agrees wholeheartedly with the following quote from the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee: “Because the AVMA is an organization that has determined it will create animal welfare policies based on science, committee members believe there is no reasonable basis on which to continue support for these procedures being performed for cosmetic reasons.”iii

Adopted: May 14, 2019 i Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Position Statement on Devocalization of Dogs, April 4, 2016, available at https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/devocalization-of-dogs-position-statement. See also June 2018 Literature Review on Welfare Implications of Canine Devocalization, available at https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/LiteratureReviews/Pages/Canine-Devocalization-Backgrounder.aspx. ii American Association of Feline Practitioners Position Statement on Declawing, adopted in 2017, available at https://catvets.com/guidelines/position-statements/declawing. iii American Veterinary Medical Association Position Statement on Ear Cropping and Tail Docking, available at https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/081215c.aspx.

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