Welsh Corgis are one of the most popular pet dog breeds in the world right now. In fact, thanks to Instagram, Corgis have developed sort of a celebrity status of late, with the hashtag #corgibutts. Needless to say, Corgis and their butts are super cute and they have a very fun and spirited personality. They come in a whole range of colors including Fawn, Black, Tan and Red and they were bred mainly as herding dogs in the Pembrokeshire region of Wales. For the same reason they have an inherent herding instinct and they are quite fearless when it comes to the external stimuli. They are also intelligent as they have the ability to move and herd cattle while being vigilant about their surroundings.
If you are considering getting a pet Corgi for your household, it would be worthwhile for you to know some Corgi pros and cons, so that you can prep yourself to raise this athletic and energetic breed smoothly. While it may seem like it would be easy to raise an intelligent dog, it also comes with a list of things you should pay extra attention to. In this article, we’re going to examine an extensive list of good things and bad things about a Corgi.
For the record there are two types of Corgis – the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Corgi. Both of them share similar character traits and hence these pros and cons apply to both. The most notable differences between the two are the tail and the ears.
Table of Contents
Corgi Pros and Cons (For Those Short On Time)
In case you are too lazy or too short on time to read the entire article, here is a quick list of Corgi pros and cons for you to skim through.
Pros
Corgis are exceptionally intelligent
They are affectionate and sociable
They have a comparatively long life span
They are quick learners and can be trained easily
They have a fluffy coat that is easy to care for
They have unique physical features that make them a very popular dog
They are extremely loyal
They carry some of the best qualities of German Shepherds
They are owned and loved by royalty
They make perfect companions for your family
They will keep you active
They are easily driven by food
They are good herders
Cons
They can be high maintenance as they need high quality dog food
They shed a lot
They love to bark a lot
They are very prone to becoming overweight or obese
They are stubborn by nature
They are not good with other small animals
A lack of proper training can make them dominant, even over you
They are prone to a number of health issues owing to their short legs
They can be aggressive
They need a lot of exercise to feed their energy
They cannot be left alone for too long and they need attention
They can be deceptively smart
Now let’s delve into the details.
What Are the Pros of Having a Corgi?
Here’s why you should consider getting a Corgi.
Corgis Are Exceptionally Intelligent
If there’s one trait that stands out in both types of Corgis, it’s the fact that they are exceptionally smart. Their intelligent instincts can be attributed to the fact that they were bred as herders early on. They developed a range of clever instincts from dealing with livestock larger than them and from keeping an eye out on external stimuli as well. If you start training them from their puppy stage using the right tactics you can easily get them to do anything you want.
They Are Affectionate and Sociable
Corgis are very affectionate and social animals and they love to be around their humans. Hence they will pretty much follow you around the house and be your shadow, looking to see if they’ll get a head scratch or some treats along the way. They also love having other dogs around the house and they serve to be loving and caring companions for them. Because they are brimming with energy, and because of their herding instincts they also love a good chase. Don’t be surprised if you see them chasing down other dogs and cats in the house if there are any.
Under proper care conditions and given that your Corgi is living a happy healthy life; he or she will accompany you for 15 years or even more. The average life of a Corgi is 12 to 14 years as such. Make sure you are giving them all the love you can and training them efficiently. They will be quick to learn things. If at times they are a bit stubborn, don’t be too discouraged. If you continue to give them your love and keep them happy, they’ll not only reciprocate the love tenfold, but they’ll also stay with you for a longer time.
They Are Quick Learners and Can Be Trained Easily
As mentioned before, they are quite smart and are quick learners because of that. You can make use of their intelligence and use clever moves to teach them different things. Start training them right from when they are young and use rewards to induce action from them. Use simple one syllable commands that they can quickly grasp, and they’ll easily catch up.
Interested In Training Your Corgi The Right Way?
If you haven’t trained your corgi properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether it’s barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
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So instead of worrying about whether they’re going to be well-behaved or not, you’ll only have to worry about how much fun you’ll have with them!
And in most cases it’s still going to be:
Cheaper than hiring a professional.
Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
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They Have a Fluffy Coat That Is Easy to Care For
A Corgi’s coat is super cute and fluffy, but also short. This makes it fairly easy to care for. They do have a double coat, meaning they have a denser undercoat and a lighter overcoat. This will make them shed almost year-round and especially during the start of the Summer and Winter seasons. But as long as you do some light brushing on a daily basis, it is going to be fine and well-managed. This will keep their shedding under control and also make the fur more manageable.
They Have Unique Physical Features That Make Them a Very Popular Dog
A Corgi’s physical features are probably the most talked about in the whole community of dog lovers. There is even a very popular hashtag that says #corgibutts where you can find the most adorable butts of Corgis on social media. Both types of Crogis are pretty short with long bodies and muscular thighs. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi doesn’t usually have a tail while the Cardigan Corgi usually has a long bushy tail. Both features are adored and admired by dog lovers all over the world!
They Are Extremely Loyal
Corgis, having been bred as herders, are extremely loyal to their families. They will stick by their families and take care of their people like a herd of livestock. As long as they are trained well and taken care of with love, they will forever be loyal to their caretakers. They can also adapt well with multiple caretakers and they are pretty okay with a lot of people around. Most dogs exhibit a certain level of loyalty of course, but Corgis are very particular about protecting and sticking by the family they are with.
They Carry Some of the Best Qualities of German Shepherds
Corgis are often known as miniature German Shepherds. That’s partly because of their appearance as they do have a lot of physical features similar to German Shepherds or any herding dog for that matter. Other than that, they also have a number of personality traits often found in German Shepherds, loyalty being the most notable one. They also make for excellent guard dogs, and amazing companions just like their bigger counterparts.
They Are Owned and Loved by Royalty
Corgis have the special reputation of being owned and loved by the Royal family of England. History has it that Queen Elizabeth was gifted a Corgi for her 18th birthday and since then she has been reported to have had at least 30 more dogs of the same breed throughout her life. That is how much she loved the dog. Apparently she also breeds Corgis and has experimented crossbreeding with a Dachshund. According to the latest information, her last Corgi dog passed away in the year 2018 at the age of 14 and that was when the Queen was 92 years old. Once again, this proves that Corgis are great companions for people of any age and at any stage of life.
As mentioned in the previous point, a Corgi’s companionship quality is out of this world. They love their human beings and they love taking instructions from their favorite people. They are always quite eager to please their people which means, you will always have a cute and fluffy friend waiting for you to say something to them so that they can follow through with it. They basically love accompanying their people, and that is why they make the best companions for life!
They Will Keep You Active
Corgis, being high on energy levels, need a lot of movement and exercise. They are dogs that absolutely need their walks, their playtimes, and their runs in the park every now and then. On days that you may tend to slack out or feel lazy, your little Corgi will nudge you with his nose, push you out of that chair and make you take him for a walk or a run. They will never fail to keep you up and on your feet. Their energy is also contagious in that they will play with other animals in the house as well and keep a happy vibe going. They can instantly lift your spirits if you are feeling down too.
They Are Easily Driven by Food
Offering food is a very effective way to train Corgis. You can use treats here and there to teach them new things, team them to be disciplined and basically get them to please you. This is something that can come in handy while they are growing up as you absolutely need to set some boundaries for them and teach them how to behave. You don’t have to try hard and look for other methods to induce certain behaviour from them as they have this unique drive for food.
(Check out the 15 pros and cons of owning a husky.)
They Are Good Herders
Last but not least, Corgis have this unique trait of being able to herd other animals, even if they are twice the size. You can use this quality to take care of livestock in your house if you are running a farm or herd other dogs back into the house etc. You can basically appoint them as the leader and put them in charge of getting other animals back to their respective places at the end of the day.
What Are The Cons Of Having A Corgi?
Now let’s get in to the less desirable traits of a Corgi.
They Can Be High Maintenance as They Need High Quality Dog Food
As they are very high on energy, they need food that has high amounts of protein and carbs. They also have a short and small build which means you should be careful about feeding them too much fat. For all these reasons, Corgis require the best quality dog food that is specifically meant for high energy dogs to keep them healthy. So you could call them high maintenance.
They Shed a Lot
Corgis have a double coat. This is to give them extra protection from seasonal changes. However, being double coated means that they will be shedding almost year round. They will shed even more during the start of the summer and winter seasons, as they will need to adjust their coat texture with the climatic changes. But this is not something that a bit of light brushing everyday can’t control. If you spend 15 minutes a day grooming, this problem can be better managed.
(Find out the pros and cons of owning a golden retriever.)
They Love to Bark a Lot
Corgis love barking! We can attribute it to their high energy and to their herding instincts as they used to bark to alert their owners of any unusual activity out in the farm. For the same reason, they may bark at the slightest movement in and around the house, even if it is a falling leaf. It may seem a little irritating if you are someone who likes it quiet.
They Are Very Prone to Becoming Overweight or Obese
Owing to their short frame and small legs, Corgis can easily become obese or overweight if they are not given ample exercise. Being high on energy, play time or quality movement is extremely important for Corgis. If they become obese, it can lead to a host of other health problems as well, as they may not have the joint and muscle strength to carry the mass.
They Are Stubborn by Nature
Being high on intelligence Corgis also have a mind of their own. They have a stubborn streak to them that can sometimes go out of control if you don’t train them well. They do like to do things to please their human most of the time, but sometimes when they get too interested and focused on any other task, they may tend to ignore your commands. Consistent and strict training right from when they are young with food based rewards will work most of the time though.
They Are Not Good With Other Small Animals
Corgis are usually pretty good with other dogs and even cats. Especially when raised together, Corgis enjoy the company of other animals and happily co-exist. However, if you have other tiny animals at home like hamsters, guinea pigs and bunnies, then your Corgi’s herding instincts will quickly take over and they will start getting aggressive towards the other animals. You might want to train your Corgi and supervise his interactions lest anything bad happens.
A Lack of Proper Training Can Make Them Dominant, Even Over You
Once again, owing to their herding nature, Corgis have a tendency to get dominant, even over you. Just like with small animals, they will take over and put their stubborn foot down. They will not listen to or obey your commands and they will be reckless in behaviour. And that is something that can wreak your peace and get you into trouble.
They Are Prone to a Number of Health Issues Owing to Their Short Legs
Corgis have a long frame on short legs. This makes them prone to a lot of health concerns apart from obesity. Issues like hip dysplasia, invertebral disc disease and leg related issues are very common among Corgis. They are also prone to Glaucoma, Epilepsy, Degenerative myelopathy etc. To avoid complicated issues, you might have to take your dog to the vet for check-ups every now and then.
They Can Be Aggressive
As mentioned earlier, Corgis have a stubborn and aggressive side to their character. Without proper training, Corgis can become a little too over powering, and disobedient. For example, if you raise them with less people around, they may tend to get irritated and aggressive when more people come over to hang out. Similarly, they may get aggressive and dominant with other animals as well.
Corgis absolutely need their exercise. They have a high level of energy which if you don’t allow them to express, they may get further aggressive and frustrated. This will make their temperament unmanageable and sometimes it can even lead to depression. Hence you might want to make sure that you find the time to play with your Corgi every day.
They Cannot Be Left Alone for Too Long and They Need Attention
Corgis are like Tinkerbell. They need attention from their humans and they need quality time with them. They cannot be left alone for too long as they get easily bored. They enjoy other people’s company and if they don’t get that, they will get aggressive and take it out on whatever they can find in the house. This means they will wreak havoc if you don’t give them enough attention.
They Can Be Deceptively Smart
Being smart is supposed to be a good thing, but sometimes, Corgis can be a little too smart for your training methods especially. Remember that they do have stubborn side, and this will make them quickly act cunning to get away with doing some things or not doing some things. Also, some Corgi owners have said that their dogs actually weigh the worth of the reward and then decide whether or not to obey the command. Hence, you may want to try a little harder to outsmart this dog breed.
Is a Corgi Right for You?
Now that we’ve discussed Corgi pros and cons and now that you know what you are in for, you might want to think carefully before you take your decision.
A Corgi is right for you if:
You Have at Least 1 Hour a Day to Spend With Your Dog
This is absolutely important. You will need at least one hour to play, move, talk to, train and take care of your Corgi. Without quality time, you clearly cannot raise a happy and healthy dog. You cannot raise a Corgi like an ordinary dog, so if you don’t have the time, it is best that you don’t get a Corgi.
Patience Is A Must
You will need a lot of patience to deal with the barking, the shedding and the stubbornness.
You’ll Need Plenty Of Resources
You will need to buy high quality food, toys and frequent health check-ups for your Corgi. Hence you will need to set aside a good sum of money to raise one. You will also need to invest in good quality grooming products.
You Don’t Have Other Small Animals
You can very well have other dogs or cats in the house. But it is best not to have smaller animals in the house. You don’t want anything to trigger your Corgi’s aggressive side.
Suffice it to say, that Corgis require a tad bit more attention and care from their humans, than any other dog. And this is necessary for them, not only to be happy but also for you to get the best out of them. With that said, there is nothing to be worried about in raising Corgis either. As long you spend time with them, study their patterns, understand them in and out and care for them, you will never have a problem.
Recap
Now you should have a better understanding of all the pros and cons of owning a corgi. As you can a see theyre absolutely fantastic dogs! However, they may not be as easy to take care of as some people think.
If you liked this article make sure you check out the rest of the website! Otherwise have a great day!
