New Corgi Owner - Updated Advice Request

Hi there, i posted a blog a few days ago looking for some advice on our unaffectionate, timid new corgi. So since then things havn't progressed and if anything he's regressed in his potty training. My breeder thinks we should return our puppy to her because she thinks it's not a good fit and that the temperament test just didn't pan out. She is the rescue coordinator for new england so he won't be going to some shelter or anything. She'll most likely keep him or give him to another breeder. He's not very inquisitive, overly friendly, or confident either. He generally seems unhappy most of the time with the exception for an hour or so of happiness with us. A lot of people are saying this is just a puppy fear stage and him adjusting to his new surroundings, his separation anxiety from his litter mates, mother, etc. But it has been two full weeks i took all of last week off to spend with him and my girlfriend has been home most of the time off as well, so its been an accelerated 2 weeks. To boot, his socialization with strangers were very often as we would run into at least 2-3 sets of people everyitme we went to take him out to the bathroom because we live in a dog friendly apartment. It seems like he should have adjust by now. We were certainly expecting to see some slow progressoin but in the stranger dept, zero has been made. The breeder is concerned about his fear and (what will become aggression issues) and thinks we should return him to her and she'll refund our money. Is this the right thing to do? Are we giving up too quickly? We really don't feel too bonded with him because he rarely wants to be around us when we're laying around and when we're outside he's just sniffing and eating stuff so we don't get a ton of the walking bonding either. She seems to think he'll be happier in another situation. Is it the best thing for the dog to just return him and have her keep him?

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Comment by Beth on August 17, 2012 at 6:32pm: I just noticed you said she is the rescue coordinator. If she is any of the people listed on the Mayflower Corgi Club, I would most definitely take her advice... Most of the club members are very committed to placing the right dog in the right home and if they see a reason for concern, then they are basing that on having evaluated dozens of dogs over as many years with the breed. She will get you the right puppy eventually, even if you have to wait. Better than spending the next 14 years miserable with the wrong dog who is also unhappy. Socialization can only build on the personality you've got; you can't create an outgoing confident dog out of a shy one, only learn to manage the behavior and improve upon what you start with. At his age, the stress over leaving his littermates should be virtually gone in anywhere from a few hours to maybe 5 days, tops.

Comment by Beth on August 17, 2012 at 6:24pm: Will she be able to get you another puppy? Honestly I'd follow the breeder's advice. When Jack was a puppy, we put him down in the yard after a long car trip home and he promptly set off up the street to explore. He was thrilled to see everyone from the second we brought him home. We requested an outgoing, confident pup who would be happy with a busy environment and that's the temperament we saw from day 1. He had a slight "fear" period at about 5 months or so when he would bark at new objects, but he was still running up to them to see what they were.

Is this an experienced breeder? If it is, I would absolutely follow her advice. The pup is still young and will have time to adjust. If she is planning on sending him to another breeder or keeping him (I hope she does not breed him!!!) that tells me she is concerned enough to keep him in an experienced home.

I am sorry this happened. I know it must be disappointing.