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The Corgi

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Breed Traits and Characteristics

According to the American Kennel Club, here are some breed characteristic you can find in Corgis. 

 

  • Height

    10-12 inches

  • Weight

    Up to 20 pounds (male), up to 28 pounds (female)

  • Life Expectancy

    12-13 years

  • Coat Type/Length

    Double/Short

  • 100 Affectionate with Family
  • 60 Good with Young Children
  • 80 Good with Other Dogs
  • 80 Trainability Level
  • 80 Energy Level
  • 80 Barking Level
  • 80 Shedding Level
  • 20 Drooling Level

History

Some find it hard to believe that a dog the size of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi was bred for herding cattle, but its deeply entrenched instincts that back centuries: it is believed that the cattle dogs that were brought to Wales by the Vikings in the 9th and 10th centuries are the true ancestors of the Corgi as we know it today. (It is also possible that they may have descended from a line of dogs that were brought to Wales in the 12th century by Flemish weavers.)

Corgis possess all the vital traits to be extremely efficient cattle dogs: tenacity, determination, and high intelligence. Both the Pembroke and its close cousin, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, descend from the line of northern spitz-type dogs. Initially recognized as one breed, the Kennel Club of the UK decided in 1934 to recognize the Pembroke and Cardigan separately. The American Kennel Club followed suit in the same year and in 1936, the Pembroke was first shown in the USA. The official AKC breed standard is maintained by the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is perhaps best known for being Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s preferred breed of dog. Queen Elizabeth II of England was given her first Corgi by her father, King George, in 1933, and the breed has been a fixture in her life ever since.

Corgi Personality & Temperament 

Pembroke Corgis are highly intelligent, outgoing, and friendly dogs. Strong and athletic, Corgis are happiest with moderate daily exercise – they especially love herding and chasing, the same activities they engage in as working dogs. Their pleasant disposition makes Corgis a great fit for families, and their protectiveness if they sense a threat to their family or social group makes the breed great watchdogs. Their determination can sometimes turn into a stubborn streak, however, making early, consistent training beneficial to avoid future behavioral issues.

Corgis have become more and more popular in the USA, and for good reason: they are great family dogs, with keen intelligence that means they take to training well. This same intelligence can be a challenge for their owners, however, as Corgis do not relinquish leadership easily – after all, the same determination, tenacity, and independence that serve them well as herding dogs can also make them a challenge to handle.

If you are thinking of purchasing a Corgi, it is especially important to source from an ethical, responsible breeder who is breeding for not only looks, but health and temperament as well. Rescues are also great options for prospective Corgi owners. Contact your local Bark Busters trainer today to learn about great breeders and rescue organizations near you!

Corgi Physical Characteristics

Muscular, long, and low-set, Pembroke Corgis differ from their cousin, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, in several respects: Pembrokes typically have docked tails compared to long tails for Cardigans (though some countries have banned the practice, making the difference more difficult to spot); additionally, the Cardigan has a slightly larger head and comes in different colors than its Pembroke counterpart.

Class & Color

Class

  • Herding Class

Color:

  • Red
  • Fawn
  • Sable
  • Brack and Tan
  • (All colors may be with or without white markings)

Size

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are small but powerful dogs with surprising agility given their size and short legs.

  • Small
  • Height: Height: 10-12 inches
  • Weight: up to 30 pounds (male); up to 28 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy

Pembroke Corgis maintain good genetic health, especially when purchased from responsible breeders, though some can suffer from inherited conditions like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and other rare conditions.

  • Pembroke Welsh Corgis typically live between 12 and 13 years.

Corgi Common Behavioral Issues

The common issues with Corgis are normally barking, chasing, leash-pulling and sibling rivalry. They can be bossy with other dogs, with a desire to rule the roost. Early training makes a real difference when it comes to managing the strong herding instincts possessed by Corgis, which may transfer to everything they do. Good management is especially important around young children, who may be nipped during overexuberant play. The Corgi is not malicious, but it can get itself into trouble if left on its own to run the show.

If you are struggling with your Corgi’s behavioral issues, contact your local Bark Busters trainer. Our trainers are available both in person and through live interactive virtual sessions to help establish a pattern of consistency, resolve any and all issues, and help you nurture a relationship with your Corgi built on mutual understanding, trust, respect, and love.

Corgis have never been known to walk away from a fight, but the generally won't start one. It is important to socialize them properly from an early age to avoid behavioral issues.

Aggression is not normally an issue with Corgis, though they can become leash-reactive if allowed to lead on walks. Training can help curb their potential to nip at heels if they get excited – call your local Bark Busters trainer to learn more.

Prevention is far more preferable to a cure – early basic obedience training is absolutely vital to ensuring your Corgi understands and follows your rules.

All dogs need a special place to call their own. By selecting a place for yours to eat and sleep away from high traffic areas of your home, you can set good habits early in its life.

We are standing by to help you develop a consistent, compassionate approach to good behavior for your Corgi. Learn more about our services and schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with one of our trainers today!

Connect with Us!

Need help training your Corgi? Call 1-877-500-BARK (2275)or enter your zip code.

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Corgi Health

Health

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are generally healthy, though some may inherit hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, or Von Willebrand Disease.

Corgis need daily exercise to stay healthy and happy. Consider walks or jogs, but be mindful of their short legs, which can hinder their ability to keep up at faster speeds.

Corgis are very intelligent and need mental stimulation. Consider a puzzle or chew toy that stimulates a dog’s natural desire to chew.

Corgis benefit from structure and direction, including proper socialization from a young age with people and low-energy dogs.

Grooming

Corgis possess a weatherproof short undercoat with a longer, coarser outer coat of varying length. Pembrokes benefit from a once-daily brushing with a comb and slicker brush to minimize their tendency to shed, which increases in spring and early summer. The American Kennel Club also recommends occasional baths to loosen dead hairs (though Corgis should be completely dry before brushing), regular nail trimmings, and routine ear checks.

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Hear from Bark Busters Clients Who Have a Corgi

Dan is a lifesaver! Zoe is a 5 year old strong willed Corgi who constantly was barking, pulling, jumping and overall not listening. After the first lesson with Dan, my boyfriend and I saw a major improvement with how she was walking and she was starting to understand that she was no longer in charge. After our second lesson with Dan, my boyfriend and I saw a new well - behaved Corgi. She understands how to walk with us, she grasps that certain areas of the house are not her space but my boyfriend's and mine, and she is understanding the commands when we tell her not to bark. I did not think it was possible to see her improve and the fact that she did and turned the corner so quickly was very impressive! This is all thanks to Dan!
I had purchased a new Corgi puppy last year and had some big issues with her that I could not deal with on my own. My vet recommended Bark Busters and I could not be more grateful for how much their training helped me to be able to keep my dog. Their training is kind and helpful...I would highly recommend this company! - (Google Review)
Steve is great! He is wise, professional, honest, and great at what he does. It's only been a few days since our first session and have seen a huge improvement with our 2.5-year-old corgi, Herbie. His biggest problem behaviors (barking non-stop when we have guests and jumping up to steal food) have subsided and we're looking forward to seeing more improvements as we continue with training.
Deb from Bark Busters totally changed my relationship with my dogs. I have two dogs, one is 4 years old hound mix and the other is 7 months old corgi mix. There has been some sibling rivalry, some aggressive behavior around feeding time (coming from the corgi towards the hound), and the typical barking, jumping, etc. I took a dog training course with the hound but when I tried training the corgi he wouldn't listen, just wanted the treat. Deb came to our home and totally flipped the script on how to handle my dogs. It's only been one week and we still have some work to do in certain areas but I noticed my dogs are a lot more relaxed and when your dog sitter texts you saying "Holy *beep*! What did you guys do? They didn't jump on me when I came into the house!" I find that a great success and the steps to the right direction! Thank you, Deb!
Orlando helped us get DeShaun on the leash and taught us how to gain his trust. He also taught us how to get him in and out of doors.
Karen is working diligently to train Remi and me a different method of communication. She made me realize Remi was getting mixed messages from my actions. Karen goes the extra mile to help. She will come everyday and stay longer if needed. Additionally, Remi loves her and her behavior is really improving.
My husband and I got our boy, Gumbo, back in 2022. We realized quite quickly that we needed some help figuring out how to best "train/parent" him. We were looking for someone who could be there with us throughout Gumbo's life journey and could be a reliable, consistent, person for us to count on when we had questions and someone who knew him well enough to know exactly what he was needing. Yep, pretty tall order to fill. Fortunately, Bark Busters connected us with Kevin and WOW, have we gotten what we were promised and then some!!

Kevin astutely noted that some of our initial challenges were due to us wanting to do things the right way and in turn, putting a lot of pressure of Gumbo to know what to do without us providing him the clear consistently and confidence he needed from his pack leaders. Kevin applied a well proven method to training that was rooted in helping us build the strongest relationship we could with Gumbo. We learned how to navigate having guests over, reactivity to the door bell and other loud sounds, managing anxiety related to fireworks, building healthy "social skills" with other dogs/humans, improving "walking etiquette" and leash control, and developing a clear way of communicating with Gumbo. Our pup leaves the sessions with Kevin both exhausted and relaxed -- knowing that he and his parents are even more connected now! We owe so much to Kevin, who has truly been a lifesaver for us and has made it possible for Gumbo to live an incredibly rich life now.

For anyone considering the service, do it. It's worth every penny. Thank you so much Kevin and Bark Busters!
We worked with Kevin. He was amazing. He took his time and shared why we do certain things regarding commands that helped very much. Literally the first day of training I noticed a big difference in my dog. Kevin follows up and if you have any questions about the training or you need additional training, he will help you with that. My dog is happier and we're happier.
I have a three year old yorkie, Lorenzo, who suffers from separation anxiety and would bark a lot if left home alone. My problem was that if left home he would bark the entire time, and loudly. He also would lunge wildly and bark towards other dogs in passing. I stumbled across Bark Busters online and they have helped change our lives for the better! I have been working with Kevin of Bark Busters for some time now and he is amazing. We have made tremendous improvement with Lorenzo's separation anxiety. Lorenzo is able to stay home alone for a couple of hours without feeling anxious or barking. He sleeps on the couch while I'm out. He is also less reactive towards other dogs. He is more obedient and respectful. Kevin is patient and such a great teacher. He's supportive and encourages me when I face challenges. I thank God I was able to stumble across Bark Busters online. They have helped us make huge behavioral changes with their program. Thank you, Bark Busters!
We have had one session with Deb, but she has been so great and Dani is responding very well to the homework that she gave us. I have texted Deb with a few questions before our next appointment, and she always responds in a timely manner with helpful, thorough answers! I love the approach that Bark Busters takes on helping people understand their dogs behaviors, and would recommend this service!
John has been great and we are very excited to see the results. My dogs are already taking direction from my family and myself.
John is patient, kind and understanding. He loves dogs and people! We look forward to the future of the dogs!
Excellent advice and practical application.
Bark Busters has completely changed both my life and my dog’s! I was close to re-homing my third dog because of his behavior—he was resource guarding and attacking the other dogs when I was around.
After starting training with Karen and learning the Bark Busters methods, everything turned around. He is now the best-behaved of all my dogs, and our relationship has never been stronger.
I’m so grateful for this program
and highly recommend it to anyone struggling with their dog’s behavior or just want to teach your dog important training! Comes with all the tools and information needed and easy to implement into my day to day.
Basahhhh! We now speak dog! Thanks so much to Scott for helping us with Penny’s issues. In just a short amount of time we became head of the house instead of her. We highly recommend Scott and his methods of training!
Baahhh! Scott taught us to speak “dog”. We were amazed at how fast she learned that she was no longer in charge of the house. We were so impressed with Scott and how patient he was with us. Highly recommend!
The session today was extremly helpful and just as much infomative. In this session the results were amazing. The info given will also help us keep up the work after this. I would recommend this service to all.
John is kind and super helpful, flexible, and experienced. We look forward to continuing our work with him.
Aurora already seems to understand the changes we have practiced. I feel confident and set up well with the correct tools. My family already looks more at ease with Aurora and training. Thank you!
Dramatic change in our dog in just one session! Stopped lunging on the leash immediately. We look forward to a more calm family situation.
Trainer was excellent communicator, explained everything in detail and my dog learned a lot along with me.
Covered a wide range of issues we were having with our puppy. Training is very specific and great. John is an outstanding trainer of the owner which is more important.
Excellent learning session and excellent trainer!
John was great! Very professional.
I saw an 80% improvement in my dogs behavior today and I am pleased with his behavior.
Training was very informative and taught me how to communicate with our dog. Stella was very responsive to the training.
After a 3 hr visit, I saw a noticeable difference.
John is extremely professional and knowledgeable. I am amazed at how fast my dog immediately took to the few small corrections. I look forward to seeing success and being able to enjoy Zion. Thank you!

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