Welsh Corgi 101

The Welsh Corgi is a dog breed that is steady, spirited, athletic and also dependable. You’ll often see them herding, playing with kids or other household pet, and of course, chasing balls. These dogs are intelligent dogs who need something to do otherwise they will get bored and could result to behavior problems. If his days include such moderate exercise, along with care and love from his earthly family, you can expect that the Welsh Corgi is easy to live with and also entertaining to be around. Corgis are usually polite with guests but reserved with strangers, and they can be serious barkers if they don’t know people or pets approaching them.

Most Welsh Corgis are quite territorial especially with other dog and cat breed. Keep in mind that it is because one of his responsibilities was to chase strays away from his own farm. The main advantage of owning a Welsh Corgi is that they are attentive and can quickly learn and respond well to obedience training. Still, he has the independent judgment and problem-solving abilities of a true herding breed, so you must have the confidence to establish and consistently enforce rules upon him so that he will know who is the leader of the pack – you!

Pros:

• Corgis are big personalities wrapped up in a small package; they have short legs, their torso is long and low to the ground, but with a robust body, heavy bone, and a working dog temperament
• These dogs are also quite athletic but needs only moderate exercise to maintain his muscle tone which means you don’t need to walk them out every day but keep them in shape through dog activities
• Corgis have a short and easy to care coat that comes in a variety of colors
• Trained corgis makes a polite and sensible watchdog
• Can get along with other family pets provided that there’s proper introduction
• Good with livestock since they are a herding breed

Cons

• You need to provide enough mental stimulation that gives him something productive to do otherwise behavioral problems could arise.
• Corgis tend to be destructive when they are bored or left alone for long periods of time.
• A Corgi can also show territorial aggression toward other household pets that he/she doesn’t know
• Very independent and very stubborn especially if not trained which means he requires a confident owner who can take charge
• Chasing and nipping at things that move – including children!
• Corgis bark and also shed a lot

 

Concerns for Corgis

You must provide enough mental and physical exercise

Welsh Corgis don’t need or even want miles of running exercise but they must have walks at least twice a week and enough space like a fenced yard in which to stretch their legs and romp. Just as important as physical exercise is mental exercise which means you need to create interesting activities to keep boredom at bay.

They are fond of chasing other animals

Since they are farm dogs, it is quite natural for them to drive away strange dogs from his own farm and flock. Don’t be surprise if you see a Welsh Corgi push other dogs and cats they don’t know or seriously bark at them.

They are independent and strong – willed

Welsh Corgis in general are smart which means they do have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. These dogs can be manipulative or willful which is why you must show them, through absolute consistency, that you are “the boss.” Teach your Corgi to listen to you by “Respect Training.”

Socialization and Training

Corgis love to play with children, but because of their herding instincts, they sometimes nip at children’s feet or ankles. Fortunately, this dog breed is always eager to learn, and can be trained out of this behavior but you have to start it while they are still young. As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and keep an eye on any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear/ tail pulling. Make sure to teach your kid to never approach a Corgi or any dog for this matter while they are eating, sleeping or to try to take the dog’s food away. If you don’t train them while they are young, many Corgis end up in a rescue because they asserted themselves with their owners and the owner didn’t know what to do. If the dog is allowed to remain in charge, the situation escalates and the dog can become quite unruly and also aggressive. Purebreds also end up in rescues and usually need some kind of training or remedial work. They need to be taught how to properly behave, and they must be clearly shown that they are not the leader of the pack, and that their position is under that of the owner.

Consider Dog Training Classes

We highly recommend that you consider taking your pet to someone who have training experience with Welsh Corgis especially if he/she has the temperament of an assertive herding breed otherwise the behavior will last be instilled upon the dog for a long time. Unfortunately, many Corgis are put down when they reach a point at which the owner can’t control them. In many cases these dogs might have been saved if they’d had the opportunity to work with someone more familiar with the breed and some effective techniques in handling an assertive Corgi.

Putting It All Together

Do take note that none of these techniques ever include physically or emotionally abusive tactics. We highly recommend that should you choose to adopt or rescue a herding breed like a Welsh Corgi, you must first evaluate how the dog will fit you and your family’s lifestyle. You can use breed selectors online to help you out especially in knowing what matters most to you, and if a corgi will fit that category. Generally speaking, Corgi purebreds are not always available compared to other breeds in the rescue community. While it is certainly not impossible to find purebreds for adoption, it may entail waiting for many, many months before one becomes available for rescue. Make sure to register with the official breed rescue channels if you want to acquire one.