Just got off the phone with a young mother who has two corgis she needs to place because of fighting, usually over food. I couldn't have rolled all the stereotypic cliched excuses to get rid of one's dog into one conversation IF I tried.
Both are neutered and up to date, male 4 years old, female 3 years old, bought as puppies and she admits to failing in the training area. Now the cliches begin:
Have a two year old daughter and a new born.
(Toddler and baby issues - just don't have time for the dogs anymore.)
Dogs scrap whenever daughter gives one of them food or drops something on the floor. Yes this is a danger to the child's safety. Male is standoffish around toddler, but has never offered to harm her. Female adores and plays with toddler.
Homeowner's Association won't allow for fences, and with the toddler and new baby, not enough time to for them to get any exercise with their afore regular walks.
(Time issues - only want what is best for the dogs.)
Moving in the near future into M-I-L suite of grandmother's house. Dogs won't be allowed but the two cats will be going. No issues about the cats, although they were used to show how "full" this couples life was.
(Moving, can't take the dogs with them.)
The husband is the primary motivator behind getting rid of the dogs. This was not a day I could couch my language with placating euphemisms. I point blank asked, "so getting rid of the corgis is a matter of convenience and he sees them as disposable?" She answered yes.
(Dogs/pets are disposable.)
They have crates which she uses when she has to leave the house. After several but, but, but and my reiterating numerous times - use your crates! She finally got the point. Rotate the dogs throughout the day and that will give each of them some out and family time in the interm.
(Mind's made up, don't want to change the way they've done things or to explore options to make a situation work.)
As is my usual custom, my initial questions and advice was about contacting the breeder (with whom they were evidently very good friends and she even boarded the dogs for them). Whether the breeder will take responsibility or not is another question, but I have bought a week's time to perhaps find a new home for one of the corgis at least, maybe both.
I requested they not get another dog in the future as this a prime example of why shelters are full - owner retention issue and responsibility issue. She admitted they (the husband especially) didn't want to be bothered with future responsibility of owning dogs.
So IF at times I might come across as less than enthusiastic about all those who join thinking they might want a corgi, this is a good example of why I can't share the glee. After about 8 years of this 24/7, 365, it wears on one and I can come pretty close to predicting which homes are going to work and which ones aren't. It isn't fun being right either.
And just for the records, I have known young couples wearing these same shoes and have made the situation work, some having much worse issues than this couple is facing. They didn't give up their dogs and that only adds to the frustration.
Debbie