Corgis: The Good, The Somewhat Bad, and The Ugly

Calling Pembroke Corgis ugly is just not a thing. They are a beautiful, unique looking breed with many, many excellent traits. They are affectionate, funny, smart, athletic, and strong willed. However, they are independent thinkers, which can make them difficult to deal with at times. So let's take a look at the many good things about Corgis, discuss some of the somewhat bad things, and examine the few truly ugly things about the breed.

First, The Good:

They come in a variety of colors, Red and White, Black and White, Tricolor (white, black and red), Gray, and more (more on this in a later blog). Most everyone agrees, no matter the color combination, they are stunning.

Corgis do well in just about any environment -- houses with yards, apartments with dog runs/parks, farms, and more. They are considered a medium-sized dog due to their length and weight, but they are pretty easy travelers. They also have a dual coat, with a smooth outer coat and short, coarse undercoat. This allows them to tolerate the cold fairly well. In hot environments, they will shed, a lot, which makes them more comfortable in the heat (though you should never leave them outside unattended in any environment).

You will be very surprised at how athletic these dogs are, even though they have "dwarf" legs (usually called stumps by their admirers). They were originally bred as herd dogs, probably in Wales. So they are fast, fast, fast! If you have a very active lifestyle, your Corgis will be up for it, any day.

In general, the Corgis temperament is very good. They are social, get along well with people and pets, and are brave enough to handle being around large animals, such as livestock and horses.

Corgis have the best personalities. They are bright and funny, and totally charming. They are incredibly expressive, brave, and sassy.

These are very smart dogs, considered pretty easy to train and very independent in their thinking. In fact, they may think they are smarter than you (more on that later).

Corggos (a common nickname for the breed) are soooo cute. They have a unique physique, and beautiful faces that look like they are smiling all the time. And of course, who can resist a fluffy Corgis butt?!

With a dog this cute, you will be famous everywhere you go! You will become accustomed to hearing "CORGIS!!!!" shouted at you. Everyone will ask you about your dog and want to pet them. In fact, this happens so much, your Corgis will start to think their name is "OH, HOW CUUUUTE!!!!!"

There are so many wonderful things about these dogs — they sploot (a funny way they lay), they wiggle their butts when they walk, they hold stuff with their paws in a completely adorable way, the list goes on.

And now, some somewhat bad things. Or at least some things you should really think about before you commit to getting a Corgis:

They are not small dogs. They are medium-sized dogs that can weigh up to 30 lbs (in a healthy dog). These are not purse dogs, or lap dogs. They have a lot of muscles, which makes them physically dense and heavy.

Corgis shed. If you live in warm environs, they shed a lot. Your house and clothes and car will be covered in Corgis glitter (otherwise known as dog hair)!

These are loud and vocal dogs. As herd dogs, they use their very loud and shrill barks to motivate livestock, especially cattle. But you probably won't need any cattle herded, so they will find other things to bark at, like you, and the kids, and the neighbors, and any weird noises. So training along these lines is a must.

If you don't have time to take your dog out for exercise, this is not the breed for you. Even having a big yard will not be enough. Because they are so smart, and so athletic, they will get bored easily, and that's when Corgis get into trouble. If you plan on having your dog locked in a crate while you go to work for 8-12 hrs, this probably isnt the breed for you either. A dog this smart will not tolerate being confined for that long, and again, trouble.

Corgis are not low maintenance dogs. They need a lot of attention, grooming and training. Mental stimulation is a must as well as physical activity. As working dogs, they need a task, and if you don't keep that big brain engaged, they will drive you insane.

Stubbornness is another Corgis problem. Again, big brained dogs have big personalities, and if they think they are smarter than you, they will take over the house.

Corgis have dwarf legs, prone to problems such as arthritis and hip displaygia. They are low to the ground, so any water or mud they run through will come home on their long bellies.

Stairs can be a problem for Corgis. Although you will see them running up and down and jumping off heights, it's really better if they don't. That long heavy body and those short stumpy legs are not a good mix.

Corgis are expensive. They are in high demand. Most breeders have a wait list that is years long, and the price for a well bred Corgis pup is $2000-$3000. For our lovely Corgi Gang, because we want the best for them, we feed them a very expensive scientifically complete raw food.

Finally, let's talk about some really ugly realities:

Corgis bite! Well, more often they nip, a lot! Since they are bred for herding livestock, they have very long, very sharp incisors, designed to catch the achilles tendon of large animals to motivate them to move. But, as we've discussed, you don't have cattle, so your heel will serve just as well. This is an instinct that has to be trained out of them. Corgis will nip and bite even at people, or kids, they love. So think about that.

These are not guard dogs. They will bark, but they won't attack. If a burglar has the right incentive, like some treats, the Corgis will happily follow them through your house while they take all your stuff.

Corgis get fat really easily. They need a strict diet. Even if you don't get the fancy raw diets, you will still need to avoid letting them have endless treats or resist giving them people food. A fat Corgis will quickly lead to a lame Corgis, who has difficulty walking and exercising.

So that's it. We love our Corgis and we believe, if you choose one of our pups, you will love your Corgis too. Now that you know the Good, the Somewhat Bad, and the Ugly things about Corgis, you can make an informed decision as to whether or not this is the right breed for you.