Corgi Care Guide: How to Take Care of a Corgi

Nowadays, Corgis have become very popular among the residents. Many are adopting them because they are adorable and fun.

Bringing a puppy or a dog home is just the first step. When you bring a puppy or a dog home, it is equal to getting a newborn baby home for the first time. They need to be treated and taken care of like a baby.

Do not get scared by this. Corgis are absolutely adorable, but they need a certain amount of maintenance. They require timely grooming, exercise, a proper diet, regular health checkups, and some pampering.

We have created a guide to take you through all the information regarding how to take care of a Corgi. Read the guide to learn how to care for your little one.

Are Corgis Easy to Take Care Of?

You do not have to stress about taking care of them as they are easy to take care of. Corgis are easy to maintain, and they require a basic minimal amount of food.

Are Corgis High Maintenance?

Though Corgis require a certain amount of maintenance, they are not high-maintenance dogs. What needs to be maintained is their thick coats. Corgis have a medium double or coarse coat.

They need to be brushed once or twice a week to control shedding. You must know that they shed significantly and severely during shedding seasons (Fall and Spring).

Similar to other breeds, Corgis need to be bathed only when necessary as too often can lead to their skin getting dry or natural oil stripping off. During shedding seasons, bathing Corgis will help control and manage grooming needs.

Overall, Corgis are not high maintenance; their grooming needs must be taken care of to control shedding.

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How to Take Care of a Corgi? Corgi Care 101

Now that you know, Corgi maintenance is easy and is not extensive. Check out this Corgi care 101 tips and guide.

1. Grooming or Brushing

If you’re wondering: do Corgis need to be groomed, then the answer is YES. Corgis shed throughout the year and severely twice a year. (Fall and Spring).

You must know how to groom a Corgi to keep its shedding under control. Brushing a Corgi will be beneficial. While brushing, ensure that you use a good comb. You can brush Corgi’s coat a few times a week.

Brushing regularly can clean the dead undercoat and remove dust from their fur. Brushing when there is severe undercoat shedding will be able to prevent clumping or tangling of hair.

During summer, ensure that you do not cut their fur very short. Corgis need more hair to maintain a certain body temperature, and their fur protects them from sunburn. You do have to ensure that they are hydrated during summer.

2. Brushing Teeth

Brushing your Corgis teeth can prevent Canine Periodontitis. It is a bacterial infection of the mouth that can cause health issues or damage organs.

Oral care is very important in the Corgi Care 101 list. You can manually brush your Corgis teeth with a toothbrush using a VOHC-approved toothpaste. You can brush their teeth every day or thrice a week.

3. Bathing

You must bathe your Corgi on a regular basis. Since they like playing around, they can get dirty. Bathing your Corgi will remove dirt and odors from the fur.

Bathing will also help keep shedding under control. It removes dead skin and fur that are stuck on your Corgis coat.

Just like how we use specific shampoos and conditioners for our hair, you must use shampoos and conditioners suitable for your Corgi. The products must not dry out their skin.

After bathing, you can blow dry them. You must ensure that they are completely dry before brushing your Corgi after a bath; this will reduce hair tangling.

4. Nail Maintenance

The next important step in Corgi care is your Corgi’s nails maintenance. Ensure you trim or cut your Corgis nails when they grow too long.

You might think long nails will not cause issues, but it is the opposite. So do not neglect to cut our Corgis nails.

Long nails can affect the posture of your Corgis paw, which affects the overall posture. If your Corgi does not have a proper posture, it can lead to injury.

5. Ear Cleaning

If your Corgis ears are not clean, they can cause health issues and discomfort for your Corgi. It is essential to use proper ear rinse solutions. When cleaning ears, it is advised to consult a vet on how to go ahead with the process.

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Corgi Food and Nutrition

Corgis require proper diet and nutrition as they are active dogs. What you must ensure is that you do not overfeed them.  Here is a table with the nutrition they need.

Nutrient	Food
Fat	Chicken fat and other meats. You can feed them food with oils such as canola, fish, or sunflower oil.
Protein	Lamb, Chicken, Fish, Beef, Turkey, Cooked eggs, and Yogurt.
Carbohydrates	Potatoes, Oats, Brown rice, and Whole wheat.
Minerals	Sodium, Calcium, Potassium, Iron, Zinc, and others.
Vitamins	A, B, C, D, E, and K

Ensure that your Corgi is hydrated at all times. When making a diet plan for your Corgi, consult your vet regarding their weight and the number of calories your Corgi must intake.

Common Corgi Health Problems

Though Corgis are active and healthy dogs, they are prone to certain serious medical problems. These medical conditions are common in the breed.

1. Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy is a condition that affects the Corgis photoreceptors in their eyes. This condition decreases their vision over time and leads to blindness eventually.

An early symptom of this health issue is night blindness. You can spot night blindness when your dog’s eyes seem reflective when light shines on them. Your Corgi might hesitate or feel nervous while walking in the dark or bumping into things at night.

You can visit your vet to understand what can be done.

2. Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is another common health problem. This condition affects the development of your Corgis hip joints. It leads to loss of joint function.

The problem can arise due to lack of exercise or sometimes too much exercise and obesity. This issue can appear in older or younger dogs. Symptoms for this condition include difficulty jumping or standing up, pain, stiffness, or a swaying gait.

If you notice any of the symptoms, consult your vet will help you understand the severity of the issue. Treatments for this medical condition include physical therapy, surgery, or anti-inflammatory medications.

3. Von Willebrand’s Disease

Von Willebrand’s disease is a hereditary disorder according to PetMD. It decreases blood clotting. This issue can cause a lot of bleeding after an injury. Excessive bleeding can result in anemia.

Symptoms of this issue include:

• Mucosal surfaces such as gums, nose, or genitals.
• Blood in the feces or urine
• Long duration of bleeding after surgery or injury
• Bruising.

There is a treatment for this health issue. A vet will treat a Corgi with blood transfusions if the condition is severe. If the condition is mild, minimal treatment will be provided.

4. Degenerative Myelopathy

Degenerative Myelopathy includes severe spine and nerve conditions.

This issue causes deterioration of the nervous and supportive tissue in the spinal cord and lower back region of the dog. It affects the central nervous system, brain stem, and spinal cord.

The symptoms of this issue include posture issues, muscle atrophy, muscle mass decreases, and full or partial limb paralysis.

There are techniques to help Corgis affected by this issue feel comfortable.

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Can Corgi Be Left Alone?

You can leave your Corgi alone but not for too long. Each Corgi is different. Most of them do not mind being left alone for 4-5 hours but ensure that you do not leave them for more than 7 hours.

Before leaving your Corgi alone for long durations, ensure that you understand their tolerance and comfort level.

Start by leaving your Corgi alone for 30 minutes with the pet camera on. You will understand how well they are doing, and you can increase the time gradually as they get comfortable.

When you are leaving them alone for long durations, here are a few tips:

• Exercise your Corgi before leaving them alone.
• Make their crate comfortable and ensure your Corgi is crate trained.
• Set up a pet camera.
• Leave the radio or television on. The noise will calm them.
• Provide them with interactive toys.
• Leaving your unwashed shit with them will calm them as they will smell your scent.

Are Corgis Good for First-Time Owners?

Let us dive into the most important question. Are Corgis good for first-time owners? If you are becoming a pet parent for the first time, do not panic.

We have created a list of advantages and disadvantages of adopting a Corgi if you are a first-time parent to a Corgi.

Advantages for First-Time Owners

• Corgis are affectionate and love people.

For first-time owners communicating and interacting with Corgis will not be challenging, and you will be able to break the ice quickly.

• Corgis love interacting and socializing.

They love meeting other dogs, and you will not have to worry about them picking a fight or getting scared of other breeds.

• For first-time owners, having a medium-sized dog is a blessing.

It is easier to manage Corgis due to their size and control during training. Additionally, small or medium dogs are comparatively less expensive as they do not consume a lot of food.

• Corgis do not need extensive grooming.

Grooming a Corgi is easy. They do not need regular trims, but their fur must be brushed once or twice a week to control shedding.

• If you have children or toddlers, having a Corgi around to match their energy levels will be perfect.

Corgis have a lot of energy and like playing around. Before leaving a Corgi alone with your child, like other breeds, they need to be old enough.

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Disadvantages for First-Time Owners

Before going through the disadvantages, you must know that these are common disadvantages or problems people face with Corgis due to their lifestyle or schedules. 

• Corgis do not bark much compared to other breeds but are not silent.

They have a deep and loud bark which might be bothersome for a few, especially if you live in an apartment or have a newborn at home.

• Corgis need to be trained.

First-time owners need to take out time and spend a little money on their training. If your Corgi is not trained, they can get dominating and develop destructive behavior.

• Corgis can get very stubborn.

They can refuse to listen to you if they are not trained well. Additionally, training them can get a little challenging because of their stubbornness.

You will have to work your way to decrease their stubborn behavior; otherwise, it can get hard to break their bad habits.

• Corgis are not couch potatoes.

They need their playtime or exercise. If you are someone who has a busy lifestyle, this can be a disadvantage.

Corgis require at least an hour of walking or other physical and mental stimulation exercises. Also, they do not like being left alone for long durations.

Now, do not get discouraged looking at the disadvantages. As mentioned before, the disadvantages vary from individual to individual. Just like humans, even dogs are unique, and finding a solution to each disadvantage is not hard.

Final Thoughts!

It is easy to care for a Corgi once you know what you must do and what they need. It is essential to understand how a Corgi is before adopting.

You should research their history and personality to understand them better. Once you know about them, caring for a Corgi will not be stressful.

We have provided you with a guide on how to take care of a Corgi, what are the common health problems, and the food and nutrition they need. All you have to do is groom them well and give them all the nutrients to be healthy.