Corgi – Everything You Need To Know

Corgi Breed Overview 

Corgis, both Pembrokeshire Corgis and Cardiganshire Corgis belong to the herding group. These breeds are short, active, intelligent, with great tenacity to lead. These breeds are small in size but can herd large groups of sheep, cattle and protect the livestock if given that responsibility. 

Corgis come in red, sable, black, and tan with or without white markings. The coat is double layered and water-resistant. Corgis, to be honest, can be deceptive by their look; they are photogenic, kind that does not mean they will sleep and be lazy rather than the opposite. However, it is not a joke to be liked by the most famous , Queen Elizabeth II, that by itself speaks a lot about its popularity. They are ranked 13th in popularity by the American Kennel Club. 

Corgi Pros and Cons

1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi Pros and Cons

2. Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Corgi Highlights

1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi Pros and Cons

• Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s strong herding instinct may cause them to nip at the heels of children when they are playing.
• Pembroke Welsh Corgis bark a lot
• Pembrokes are intelligent but stubborn
• Pembroke Welsh Corgis are prone to being overweight, so proper monitoring of your dog’s food intake is necessary. 
• Even though Pembrokes are small dogs, daily exercise is recommended as these Corgis possess lots of energy

2. Cardigan Welsh Corgi

• Cardigan Welsh Corgis bark a lot
• Cardigan Welsh Corgi’s strong herding instinct may cause them to nip at the heels of children when they are playing.
• Cardigans are intelligent but stubborn
• Cardigan Welsh Corgis are prone to being overweight, so proper monitoring of your dog’s food intake is necessary. 
• Daily exercise is recommended as these Corgis possess lots of energy

Corgi Basic Information

• Name: Corgi 
• Size: Small 
• Height: Male Cardigan: 11-13 inches; Female Cardigan: 11-13 inches // Male Pembroke: 9.8 – 11.8 inches; Female Pembroke: 9.8-11.8 inches. 
• Weight: Male Cardigan: 31- 38 pounds; Female Cardigan: 31-38 pounds //  Male Pembroke: 31 pounds; Female Pembroke: 24 pounds 
• Coat: Medium; Double Coated 
• Lifespan: 12 to 13 years 
• Color: Red, sable, fawn, black and tan with or without white markings
• Energy: High 
• Origin: Welsh 
• Hypoallergenic: No
• Activities: Agility, Herding, Obedience, Tracking, Conformation. 
• Barking Level: Frequent 
• Shedding Level: Medium to High 
• Litter Size: 6 to 10 puppies 
• Group: Herding Group
• Other Names: Pembroke Corgi, Cardigan Corgi, Welsh Corgis

Different Types of Corgis 

1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi belongs to Spitz and Finnish families. The body is short, has erect ears with a pointed and slightly rounded end, feet oval in shape pointing straight forward,  docked or without a tail. They come in various colors ranging from red, sable, fawn, black and tan with or without white markings. They are intelligent herd dogs but, at times, can be mischievous. 

2. Cardigan Welsh Corgi

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi belongs to the Terkel family. The body is long with slightly heavier bones than Pembroke, has large and rounded ears at the tip, feet round in shape pointing outwards, and a tail. They come in various colors ranging from red, sable, fawn, black and  tan with or without white markings. They are friendly and intelligent herd dogs. 

Corgi History 

The Welsh corgi belongs to the Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire counties of Southwestern  Wales. The corgis were not distinguished and were considered a single breed. However, in 1934, after years of lobbying, corgis were accepted and registered by the kennel club as a separate breed.

The origin of the corgis, however, is fascinating. The medieval kings of Europe liked to showcase their possessions to the subjects and visiting emissaries. The best weaver at that time lived in Flander, modern-day Belgium. To acquire the talent of these master craftsmen, Henry I, the king of England, back in 1107, invited them to work and live in  Southwestern Welsh. 

These agricultural and herd communities, along with their belongings, brought the dogs to herd the cattle and sheep. It is believed that this is the foundation of the modern-day Welsh corgi. 

Corgi Personality

Welsh corgis belong to the herding group and like to work, but they can also be good family pets. They are known for being loving, happy, and intelligent, but they want to be independent and think for themselves. 

They can be trained easily but do not like to be subservient. Corgis love to eat, and if not exercised and trained well, they can become obese. Corgis are suspicious and will be quick to bark if they feel someone or something is threatening their home and family. Corgis need early socialization exposure to different sights, people, sounds, and experiences at a young age.

Friendliness Overview

Adaptability Overview

Trainability Overview

Corgi Physical Features

Head
The head is fox-like, both in shape and appearance. Skull is broad and flat between the ears; the cheek is slightly rounder with a tapered muzzle. Eyes are oval and medium-sized, varying in brown color in sync with the color of the coat. The rims of the eye are black and dark. Ears are medium in size, sensitive, firm, erect, and tapering with a rounded point.  The nose is black and pigmented. Mouth – The bite is Scissors like the inner side of the upper incisors touching the outer side of the lower incisors. The lips are Black, tight with little or no fullness. 

Neck, Topline, Body
Neck is long, arched, clean, and sufficient to provide the dog’s overall balance. Topline – It is firm and level, neither up nor falling away from the croup. Body – Rib cage is egg-shaped, well sprung, and moderately long. The chest is well let down between the forelegs and deep. When viewed from above, the body should taper slightly at the end of the loin. Tail – It is short and docked without any indention in Pembroke and longer in Cardigan. 

Forequarters
Legs – Short, forearms slightly turned inward, with the distance between wrists less than the shoulder joints. The presence of bone is right down into the feet. The pasterns are firm and nearly straight when viewed from the side. Shoulder blades are well laid back along the rib cage, longer, and equal in length with the upper arms. 

Elbows are parallel to the body, less prominent, and nearly perpendicular to the ground. Feet – It is oval, arched with two center toes slightly larger than the two outer ones. 

Hindquarters
It is strong, flexible, has ample bone, and is moderately angulated at the hock and stifle. Thighs are well muscled. Hocks are parallel, short and perpendicular to the ground. 

Coat
It is short, straight, medium length, coarser, weather-resistant undercoat, and a longer outer coat. The coat is slightly thicker and longer ruff around the chest, neck, and shoulders. The coat sheds and the breed may lack seasonal undercoats, which should not be penalized. 

Color
The outer coat is red, sable, fawn, black and tan with or without white markings. White color is acceptable on chest, legs, neck, muzzle, as a narrow blaze on neck and underpants. 

Gait
It is smooth and free; forelegs should reach well forward without much effort and lift,  in unison with the movement of hind legs. These breeds belong to the herding group, so short and choppy movement is incorrect, and the action should depict agility, endurance,  and freedom of movement. 

Corgi Temperament

Corgis are bold, intelligent, active, and outgoing. Being shy and vicious is not their type. If properly trained, the corgis can be loyal, trustworthy and good companions. However, as dogs with farming instincts, Corgis are always alert to pick up even the slightest sounds or notice a minor change to their environment and usually react by barking. So proper training is necessary for the Corgi breed to restrict them from excessive barkers that could become quite the nuisance.

Corgi Exercise

Most Corgis love to go for walks and are fairly energetic. Since Corgis belong to the herding group, exercising them is necessary to keep them fit and agile. In addition, socialization and crate training in the early years can prevent separation anxiety.

Exercise Needs Overview 

Corgi Grooming

Corgis shed daily and increase in the early spring/summer seasons. Although brushing once daily would wash away the shed hair, bathing it during heavy shedding would keep them tidy. In addition, trim the Corgi nails regularly, and ears should be kept clean by wiping them with a neat cloth. 

Grooming Overview 

Corgi Health 

Welsh Corgi is a healthy breed, but they suffer from various health conditions that a dog owner should know. Check the health clearances from Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and von Willebrand’s  disease; from Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) for eyes before buying the puppy. 

Health Overview

• Hip Dysplasia: It is hereditary and occurs when the thigh bone does not fit into the hip joint.  Symptoms include limp and pain. X-ray is the best way to diagnose the disease. It is advisable not to breed dogs with hip dysplasia. 
• Cataracts: The eye’s lens becomes opaque. Symptoms include poor vision, cloudy appearance. 
• Cutaneous Asthenia: The connective tissues of the skin become defective, fragile, loose,  and stretchy. Symptoms include excessive bruising and blood blisters. It is also known as  Ehlers- Danlos Syndrome or dominant collagen dysplasia. 
• Cystinuria: It is a condition in which high levels of cystine, a type of protein, are released through urine. It occurs mainly in male dogs. Symptoms include stone formation. 
• Degenerative Myelopathy: The nervous and supportive tissue of the spinal cord in the lower back region progressively degenerates. Symptoms include a Lame rear leg and eventual paralysis. 
• Epilepsy: It is an inherited neurological condition that causes mild or severe seizures. Symptoms include running frantically as being chased, staggering, or hiding. 
• Intervertebral Disk Disease: It causes ruptures in a spinal disk. Symptoms include weakness, paralysis, and instability. 
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) with Pulmonary Hypertension: The congenital disability in the vascular system causes deoxygenated blood to bypass the lungs. It can be corrected surgically. 
• Pulmonary Hypertension: The blood pressure in the lungs becomes high. 
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): It causes the gradual deterioration of the retina.  Symptoms include night blindness, loss of sight. 
• Retinal Dysplasia: The retina becomes abnormal, detached, causing blindness. 
• Von Willebrand’s Disease: It is a blood disorder that affects the clotting process. Symptoms include bleeding gums, nosebleeds, and occasional blood in the stool and prolonged bleeding from the surgery. The disease affects the age group between three to five years. This disease cannot be cured, but certain treatments such as suturing or cauterizing injuries and transfusions before surgery can be helpful. 

Corgi Diet and Nutrition

Welsh Corgi is a small breed with a high metabolic rate and burns more energy.  Therefore, the calorie requirement to their body weight may be higher. However, since it is a low-maintenance dog with fewer energy needs, a regular diet balanced with necessary protein, fat, and limited carbohydrate would be enough. 

The following type of food is considered:  

• A Kibble made with a quality animal protein as the first ingredient
• A product that is rich in animal fats like chicken fat and fish oil
• A dog food supplemented with beneficial additives like probiotics and chelated minerals. 

The amount of calorie intake can be calculated using the general formula. 70+30xBody Weight(kgs)= Daily Calorie Intake 

Corgi Living Condition

Welsh Corgi is small and can live in apartments as well as in an average-sized yard that is properly fenced. The waterproof coat helps them to bear the cold as well as hot climate. However, these dogs, who like to be independent, would not do well if left alone for a longer time. 

Did You Know?

1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

• Pembroke Welsh Corgi is the younger one among the two Corgi breeds
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi is distinct and different from Cardigan
• The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the Pembroke Welsh Corgi in 1934
• Pembroke Welsh Corgis are more popular than the Cardigans
• Being the younger one out of two Corgis, Pembrokes have their origin back in 1107 AD

2. Cardigan Welsh Corgi

• Cardigan Welsh Corgi is the older one among the two Corgi breeds
• The Cardigan Welsh Corgi has a tail unlike Pembrokes
• The Cardigans origin from the same line of dogs as the Dachshunds
• The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the Cardigan Welsh Corgi in 1934

Corgi Club Recognition

• ACA = American Canine Association Inc. 
• ACR = American Canine Registry 
• AKC = American Kennel Club 
• ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club 
• APRI = American Pet Registry, Inc. 
• CCR = Canadian Canine Registry 
• CKC = Canadian Kennel Club 
• CKC = Continental Kennel Club 
• DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc. 
• FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale 
• KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain 
• NAPR = North American Purebred Registry, Inc. 
• NKC = National Kennel Club
• NZKC = New Zealand Kennel Club 
• UKC = United Kennel Club 

Adding a Corgi to Your Family

Corgi Rescue Groups

There are countless Corgis in need of adoption and/or nursing, and there are several breed-specific rescue associations across the country that are listed below:

1. PWC – Rescue Network
2. Rescue Me! – Corgi Rescue
3. South East Corgi Rescue
4. Corgi Aid
5. East Coast Corgi Rescue

To Buy a Corgi Online

• PuppySpot
• Adopt a Pet