Corgi Puppies: Everything You Need to Know

Low to the ground with ears up to the heavens, corgis are a sight to behold! These animated little dogs are a great companion to a wide variety of people. Bold from birth, corgi puppies love to wrestle with their puppy pals and yearn for affection and guidance from their owners.

Medieval times in Europe was a place for kings, countrymen…and corgis? In the 1100s, craftsmen from Belgium were invited to live in the king’s court to create beautiful textiles. Bringing some of their homeland with them, along came a short and stout dog renowned for herding sheep and cattle. These sturdy pups were the beginnings of what we know now as the Pembroke Welsh corgi.

Both the Cardigan Welsh corgi and the Pembroke Welsh corgi are recognised by the Kennel Club as official breeds. They look strikingly similar, have nearly the same origin story along with nearly identical stats and personality. Two noticeable differences are the Cardigan has rounded ears while the Pembroke has pointed ones, and the tails are different lengths.

The number one fan of a Pembroke Welsh corgi is of course Queen Elizabeth II. Here first corgi Dookie arrived on the scene in 1933, and she has had many more since.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CAPTAIN & TONY (@captainandtony)

Corgi puppy facts

With their big ears cocked to one side to listen, full-grown corgis are mighty adorable while corgi puppies are overwhelmingly cute. Here are some facts to consider before getting a corgi puppy:

Size	Small. Height reaches up to 25-35cm (10 to 12 inches) and males weigh up to 13.5kg (30 pounds) while females weigh up to 12.5kg (28 pounds).
Breed Characteristics	The corgi is a strong and stout dog known for their large ears and comical like features. They have short legs with muscular thighs. Much like the dachshund, they are built long and low to the ground. With thick fur, they come in a variety of colours ranging from red, fawn, sable, black and tan combination, and some come with white markings.
Temperament	Corgis are well-known for their lovely combination of personality traits. Affectionate without being needy, a “big dog” bark without being aggressive, this breed is a wonderful balance for many households. Due to their herding past, sometimes they may try to boldly corral you into playing with them. They are also surprisingly fearless, perhaps knowing that they are the cutest creature in the room.
Grooming and Health Needs	Corgis have a thick double coat, and due to this, they shed on a daily basis. A daily combing or brushing will remove some of the ever-present hair you will find all over your house. In the late spring they shed even more, so giving them a bath during this time would be an excellent way to loosen up hair ahead of time. As with most breeds, a corgi’s nails should be trimmed when needed and their large ears need to be checked quite regularly to make sure they’re clean to avoid infections. The Pembroke and Cardigan corgis are a generally a healthy breed, but because of their long and low bodies they should be checked for the following: elbow and hip dysplasia, eye disorders, cardiac issues, degenerative myelopathy, and a bleeding disorder called the von Willebrand’s disease.
Training	A corgi puppy knows no bounds. They are born with boldness, and should definitely be signed up for early socialisation and training classes to ensure a bright future for this lovable pup. During puppyhood, it’s very important to slowly expose them to a wide variety of situations so they aren’t overwhelmed. Bring people and dogs over to meet your corgi, and let your corgi figure out how to interact with them. Corgis respond well to rewards based training. They are highly sensitive, so harsh reactions will only frighten this breed and not get the desired outcome you’re looking for so make sure you stick to positive reinforcement training.
Energy Level	Their history of wide open spaces and herding cattle means a corgi loves physical activity. Daily exercise is essential for this breed, but due to their short stature, it’s not recommended to do long distance running or bike rides. Their thick coat can corgis overheat, so after exercise, provide them with water ASAP. They can easily become experts in agility, obedience, herding and tracking classes, groups and events. And if you can’t be around as much as you’d like to be, you can find a local sitter on Rover.com who offers dog boarding and can give your dog all the attention they deserve while you’re gone.
Life Span	Corgis live between 12 – 13 years on average.

Welsh corgi

Who is the best human for a corgi?

Surprisingly protective with their big dog bark, corgis are excellent for families that love to give affection and have the time needed to teach a corgi puppy skills they need to grow.

Corgis are fairly active dogs, and as long as they get daily exercise, they don’t necessarily need a large garden to play in. These pups are sensitive, so loud noises might frighten them easily.

Getting a corgi puppy

Choosing to adopt or go through a breeder for your new corgi puppy is a personal choice that requires research. Thankfully, there are many resources out there to help you find a rescue or breeder that offers healthy, ethically sourced corgi puppies.

Knowing what you’re in for when you get a corgi puppy is an important step in being a responsible pet owner. Whether you find a responsible breeder or are planning on adopting, it’s up to you to be prepared for an energetic and friendly addition to your household.

Adopting corgi puppies

It may be surprising to know, but adopting a corgi puppy is possible. Most breed rescues report that a majority of their rescue dogs come from individual owner surrender, with the most common reasons being a change in lifestyle or the breed not being right for them. This means that there may be many dogs and puppies out that that are looking for a new forever home.

The main difference between a breeder and a rescue is that a rescue may not always have young puppies to choose from. The benefit, however, is that most are mandated to only adopt out dogs that have been microchipped and spayed/neutered. This means you may end up with a dog that’s already been housebroken, and doesn’t need these common medical procedures. You may also find a corgi mix that has all the traits you want from the breed, but with a little extra thrown in.

Finding a corgi rescue can be as simple as searching the internet. The Kennel Club also has an excellent list of corgi rescues on their site.

Finding a corgi breeder

The first step is to do your research. Sadly, there are many puppy mills posing as reputable breeders along with many online scams. Be aware, and reach out to different online forums for conversations about getting your future furry family member.

Be sure to ask questions, make arrangements to meet the parent dogs or mother, and follow your gut. If something seems wrong at a breeder you visit, or the corgi puppy seems to good to be true, there’s likely something going on. The Kennel Club also offers resources for finding a breeder, with fairly strict guidelines on who they let participate.