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lj August 12, 2009 4:22 PM

I'm in total agreement with you Jo!! This is cruel and unusual punishment to do to a dog. I swear if people would just train their dogs properly when they're young, they'd not have problems like this dog had. This owner went way beyond what is the norm. In my opinion, she's a lazy owner that didn't do enough to curb the dogs biting problem when it was young enough to matter. She shouldn't be allowed to own a pet. This was mean to do to the dog. What if the dog is attacked by another dog? Or worse, what if she's attacked by someone and needs her dog to protect her? Good Luck lady I hope you know you've done your dog a huge disservice!!

Vicki August 12, 2009 4:24 PM

I am not familiar with this proceedure at all and have never heard of it. I did have a Cocker SPaniel that was a biter and we simply put a nylon muzzle on her. The opening was big enough that she had no trouble eating, or drinking, and it was comfprtable for her. It solved the problem and was a lifesaver for us. I don't know that my pocketbook would allow for this kind of expensive and controversial surgery. I do know that the muzzle worked for my dog.

Diana August 12, 2009 8:08 PM

I can't agree that this procedure is proper. Training and/or a muzzle is much more reasonable. That said, if I had a dog like Cotton and it ended up biting someone, especially a child, I would have to have it put down. I would have many sleepless nights over the decision, and would regret it to my dying day, but I could not live with myself if an animal I was responsible for seriously injured someone and I could have prevented it.

Amy August 13, 2009 5:10 AM

You know just when you think you have heard it all, something else pops up! This is so disgusting it brought my blood pressure right up. The cheapest and least harmful is to muzzle the dog when it is in a situation that might cause it to bite. The least you could do is not expose the dog to something that could trigger this reaction. What this person has done is to expose her dog to future dental, and health problems, you don't mess with what mother nature has made. What is wrong with people, they are supposed to be intelligent.

Ruth from England August 13, 2009 5:23 AM

How many more cruel procedures go on that we know nothing about I wonder ? And for every one of these 'wonderful' ideas to make life easier for the animal's owner,how many other animals suffer being experimented on to perfect them ? There is always a reason a dog or a cat is aggressive, instead of covering up the problem by easy get outs, the owner should look deeper in to how to make the animal happier.
It's sickening that we, the supposed to be most intelligent species, have so many cruel creatures amongst us.

Reno August 13, 2009 7:33 PM

Whatever happened to actually training your dog and socializing him so he doesn't feel threatened by new people?? Muzzles work well, too. And there's always the Prozac route while you work closely with a behavioral medicine veterinarian to modify your dog's behavior then you can wean him off the drugs. But, alas, that all takes a serious committment and ALOT of CONSISTANT WORK. Too much for some owners, evidently.

calmassertiv August 24, 2009 10:11 AM

I watched the Dog Whisperer episode with Cotton and was left with two impressions. One, there is nothing wrong with the dog that simple training wouldn't fix, as was impressively demonstrated by the visit from Cesar Millan. Two, these people are remarkably dense, choosing to not listen to what Cesar showed them, choosing to not learn the lessons he has shown a hundred families over the years on his TV show, instead choosing to continue the psychological abuse that has taught this little fluffball the exact wrong behavior. The husband even has a degree from Harvard, which as Cesar pointed out prophetically in the show, does not mean that he has any idea how to control a dog. Harvard should be embarrassed at this guy and his learning-disabled wife, and the dentist should get over his twisted desire to perform unnecessary procedures simply because the people are willing to pay him and he finds it technically interesting.

It would be a great ending to this twisted tale if Cesar or someone like him would 'rescue' this dog from its miserable life with these close-minded people and then demonstrate for all the world to see that in their absence the cute little doggy's behavior was quickly, easily and permanently rehabilitated.