A few questions have come up in private e-mails and I thought I would address them here on the forum.
One was about debarking and it was asked with a tone that was disapproving and the implication it was cruel.
For the record, I am not in favor of debarking as a matter of convenience to avoid putting in training work that might correct the problem. Sometimes though, things aren't that easy or that simple.
Debarking, like with docking or dewclaw removal is not necessarily something harsh or cruel or evil. The dogs don't know, they still make noise and carry on as happy as little clams, just on a lower noise level. I've been around some debarked corgis and I would dare anyone to call their owners cruel or abusive. In fact, one of them is one of the best training and behavioral mentors I have.
Sometimes there are dogs that no behavioral training is going to correct the barking. Bark collars - those that spray when a dog barks don't always work and in multiple dog homes, a dog in close proximity can set them off with a bark when the wearer isn't even barking.
Corgis aren't necessarily known for
NOT expressing their opinion or alerting their owners to trash being picked up two streets over.
For those who live in townhome communities or condominium complexes or apartments, this need to "mention" the neighbor's are doing laundry can cause strife. Having a neighbor who doesn't like dogs, then there can be real trouble.
Several years ago someone on a corgi list faced eviction from her home due to her corgi's barking. She was given something like four to six week to resolve the problem, either find a new place to live, find a solution to the barking or get rid of her corgi. IF she didn't find a solution and kept her dog, then she risked it being seized as a nuisance and possibly put down.
Now this wasn't a case of an inconsiderate owner who just let their dog do whatever, attempts at training to stifle her talkative nature had been tried. Given the limited amount of time she had, she did try some more extreme training options such as a shock collar I believe. (Even these have a place and time such as teaching snake aversion in the desert - a case of life and death for one's dog.) The choice eventually came to lose her home or lose her dog, neither of which she wished to do and she did debark her. No more complaint problems.
So while debarking should not be the first thing one turns to for a barker, there are times and instances where it can keep one's dog in their home and even save its life.
Just some food for thought.
Debbie