ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CARING FOR MY WELSH CORGI
Originally bred as a herding dog to organize cattle, sheep, and horses, the Welsh Corgi is a highly active and immensely intelligent breed. They are easy to train, eager to learn, and friendly to be around, making them a great addition to houses with children and other pets. They’re cute, cuddly, and fun to be around, making them a smart and desirable companion.
Personality
Although Welsh Corgis are still often used as working dogs, they are much more commonly seen as family and house pets these days. Welsh Corgis are well known for being happy, loving, and intelligent, though it is common to encounter a stubborn or independent streak at times. Since they are so intelligent and hard working, they are incredibly easy to train–but be sure you don’t expect them to be subservient! Corgis like to think for themselves, and while they enjoy and desire pleasing their owners, food is a remarkably helpful tool in the training process. Use treats and extra food lightly, however, since Corgis love eating and have a tendency toward obesity if their food intake is not controlled. They can be wary of strangers and subsequently quick to bark at something they consider to be a threat to their home, family, or herd. They require early socialization and exposure to different sights, sounds, people, and experiences to ensure that they grow up to be a well-rounded pet.
Energy Level
Even though they are a relatively small dog, Welsh Corgis tend to have an abundance of energy and require a consistent amount of exercise daily in order to maintain their optimal health.
Good With Children
Welsh Corgi’s make wonderful family pets, even in homes with small children. They get along well with most people, but thanks to their herding instincts, they often have a tendency to nip at feet or ankles when excited, playing, or running. Since they are eager learners, however, this habit is easy to break at a young age and proper behavior can easily be restored. Children should always be taught how to properly approach dogs of any breed, and the Welsh Corgi is no exception. As with any breed, proper supervision is encouraged during interactions between children and dogs in order to prevent any unwanted biting, ear pulling, tail tugging, or otherwise aggravating behavior–from either party. Proper training, teaching, and supervision is the key to having a calm, friendly home environment.
Good With Other Dogs
As with any dog, Welsh Corgis require early socialization in order to maintain proper manners with other dogs. Since Corgis tend to be friendly and good natured, they normally get along perfectly well with other dogs as long as they’ve been trained to behave properly and any unwanted behavior is quickly corrected.
Shedding
Welsh Corgis have a double-coat, which means they not only have a thick undercoat but also a long topcoat of fur. They shed every day of the year, though they do have a heavier shedding season at least twice a year. Their coat can be a variety of colors, ranging from red to sable to black to tri-colored to fawn, and usually they have white markings. Their coats can be fluffy or more straight, sometimes with excessive fur around their ears, chest, legs, and feet. Welsh Corgis often have a unique marking on their back called a “fairy saddle” which is caused by change of the thickness and direction of their hair. According to an old legend, fairies rode along the backs of the Welsh Corgis in their home country of Wales, which is how the marking gets its name.
Grooming Needs
Welsh Corgis are very easy to groom and don’t require a lot, though their shedding can get out of hand if you forget to keep up with brushing. During heavy seasons of shedding when Corgis are shedding the most, they need to be brushed every day so their fur doesn’t get out of hand. They only need to be bathed when they get extremely dirty (or if they smell), which tends to be on an as-needed basis, though many have found that regular baths help control the heavy shedding.
Corgis teeth also require attention and should be brushed at least two to three times a week in order to maintain their optimal health. Removing the tartar, plaque, and bacteria buildup inside their mouths is vital to keeping up their health.
Trimming their nails once or twice per month is also important in order to prevent painful tears or injured toes. A general rule is if you can hear your Corgis nails clicking on the floor, they need to be trimmed. Thanks to all the blood vessels in your dog’s toenails, you want to be sure not to trim too far. But you also want to be sure not to let them get too long, or your Corgi might catch them on carpet and rip a nail out.
Checking your Welsh Corgis ears should also be part of their grooming routine. You should check for redness, bad odors, or debris within the ear which all could indicate an ear infection. Don’t insert anything into your pup’s ear canal, but try wiping it with a cotton ball wet with a gentle ear-cleaner. Cleaning your dog’s ears once a week can help prevent infections, but you should be sure to only clean the outer ear and not insert anything into the canal.
Barking Level
Welsh Corgis tend to bark at potentially dangerous situations or persons, but don’t tend to be barking dogs otherwise.
Trainability/Tips For Training
Welsh Corgis love to learn and are relatively easy to train! Remain consistent, confident, and patient in your training routines. Using food as a reward system is an excellent way to gain results, though as previously mentioned, you want to be sure you don’t over-feed your Corgi because obesity is common.
How To Feed My Welsh Corgi
You want to be sure not to overfeed your Corgi because of their tendency toward obesity, and you also want to be sure you’re feeding them good nutrients! Consider Raw dog food as an option, as it contains the precise ingredients necessary for your Corgi to get nutrients they need.
Feeding Your Puppy
You want to be sure to feed your puppy actual puppy food, since puppy dog food tends to be higher in protein, enriched with vitamins, and filled with essential fats and minerals essential to your puppy’s growth. Your puppy should be eating three to four small meals, spread out throughout the day, and given plenty of water. This means they’ll need to be taken outside every twenty to forty minutes in order to get their potty training started, but a consistent supply of food and water throughout the day is necessary to your puppy’s health.
Feeding Your Adult
While the recommended amount of food for a Corgi tends to be between ¾ to 1.5 cups of high-quality food daily (divided into two meals), you want to be sure you consider your adult dog’s size, age, build, metabolism, and activity rate. Every dog is unique and requires a specific amount of food. Bigger dogs and more active dogs require more food, while older, smaller, and lazier dogs don’t need nearly as much to be healthy. Additionally, the better the dog food, the more nourishing it will be for your pet and the less they’ll need in their dog bowl. Always make sure to test if your Corgi is overweight and be sure to feed him accordingly.
If you need help figuring out exactly how much food your dog needs, check out this calculator.
Health Concerns For Welsh Corgis
Like any and every breed, Corgis have their list of health problems they tend to contract. If given the proper diet and offered a healthy exercise routine, Corgis will live long and healthy lives, but the following is a list of a few problems they tend to face:
Frequently Asked Questions About Welsh Corgis
Q. How much are Welsh Corgi puppies?
A. $600-1000, though some have been known to be sold for as much as $2000
Q. Where is the pembroke Welsh Corgi from?
A. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi originated as a cattle dog in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Q. What is a Welsh Corgi cardigan mix?
A. Both Corgis–the Pembroke and Cardigan–were originally thought to be the same until researchers found a few differences. Namely, one was developed in Cardiganshire and the other in Pembrokeshire. The Pembroke’s tail is docked while the Cardigan’s is not.
Conclusion
Corgis are a fun addition to any home! They are easy to train, playful, and good around families, other pets, and in varying situations. They do shed a lot and are eager to play and learn, but they make for a loving and loyal companion.