Corgi dog is the hottest name in the pet dog village today. People love Corgi not only for their cute appearance but also for their funny personalities. Although only introduced to Vietnam a few years ago, Corgi is proving that they have the ability to melt any “lotus” heart.
So, what are the characteristics of the Corgi dog in terms of appearance and personality? What are the most popular varieties of Corgi? Is it difficult to raise a Corgi? All of the above questions will be answered by Yeuthucung in this article. Stay tuned for the more interesting and useful information!
Origin of the Corgi
Corgi dogs, also known as herding dogs, originated in Wales, United Kingdom. Canine researchers know, that Corgi appeared at least about 3000 years ago. Besides, there are also many conjectures about the ancestors of today’s Corgi puppies. In it, most opinions agree that the Corgi is a descendant of the Swedish dwarf dog Vallhunds.
From the 16th century onwards, Corgi was raised with the main purpose of assisting people in tending livestock. Corgi dogs have 4 very short legs but the extremely long body. This breed of dog has the ability to move very flexibly. They can perform herding duties as well as a true shepherd. With 4 short legs and long bodies, they dodge well from the kicks of large cattle. Although the body is not as large as other dog breeds, in return, the Corgi has an extremely bold and powerful bark. Corgi’s barking will scare the cattle, making them obedient.
After the 16th century, England entered a golden period of development with many economic and social achievements. At that time Corgi was no longer kept for the purpose of herding cattle. Instead, the Corgi became the favorite pet dog of many British families. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the trend of keeping Corgi dogs in the royal families suddenly became extremely popular. Since then, this breed has become more popular in Europe.
Compared with other ornamental dog breeds such as Poodle, Husky, Golden Retriever, etc. Corgi appeared in Vietnam relatively late, the first Corgi dogs were brought to Vietnam from 2010. However, only After a short time Corgi proved his irresistible attraction to dog lovers. When newly imported to Vietnam, the price of each Corgi puppy can be said to be quite expensive. But after nearly 10 years of presence in our country, now the price of Corgi is not so high as before. Owning a Corgi is also quite easy.
Corgi dogs include how many types?
In fact, the original Corgi only had a single line called the Welsh Corgi. But later in Wales began to appear many new dogs breeds. People have carried out crossbreeding the original Corgi with a number of other breeds. Since then, the breed named Pembroke Welsh Corgi is counted into a new branch in the Corgi line. The original Welsh Corgi is also known as the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
Although they are all derived from the original Corgi, there are still some differences between the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. When choosing to buy Corgi babies, you should learn about the distinct characteristics of these two Corgi breeds.
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is an ancient breed of dog from the Cardiganshire region located in the southwest of Wales. This breed was originally bred for hunting. Because the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is very good at hunting small animals such as mice, foxes, ferrets, .. Not only that, the Corgi Cardigan line is also very good at guarding and protecting homes, so they are even more loved by the people of Cardiganshire. than.
During the split of Cardiganshire, the Cardigan Corgi breed was at one point in danger of extinction. To protect the breed for this dog, the Welsh people have bred them with a brindle dog. Since then, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi has the same brindle color as it is today.
When first brought to the UK, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi captivated dog lovers in no time. They are also associated with the nickname “royal dog”. The Queen of England also loved this breed, so she bred them with English dwarfs to create the lovely Pembroke Corgi line today. In 1935, the Cardigan Corgi was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Currently, the Cardigan Corgi line is somewhat inferior to the Pembroke Corgi, but they are still considered as typical representatives of the Corgi breed in general.
The distinguishing feature of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi compared to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is in their tail. The Corgi Cardigan usually has a long tail that can reach the ground. While the Pembroke Corgi has a short tail, it doesn’t look like it.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
As mentioned above, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is the result of crossbreeding the Cardigan Corgi with the native British dwarf breed. Therefore, their appearance will be slightly different from the original Corgi.
However, the basic features such as short legs, big butt,. Still easy to find in Pembroke Welsh Corgi. In which the tail of Pembroke Welsh almost disappeared. Their tails are very short, so people also trim the feathers at the tail to look like a heart. The heart fluttering butt looks so cute, I just want to pinch and fall in love.
Appearance characteristics of Corgi dog breeds
Corgi is divided into 2 main branches: Cardigan Welsh Corgi and Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Therefore, their physical features are not exactly the same but not too different either.
Corgi dog weight and height
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi dogs will have an average weight of 12 to 15 kg, their height ranges from 30 to 35 cm. There is not a big difference between male and female individuals in terms of weight and height.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a height of about 25 to 30cm, and weight from 9 to 13kg. In general, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi line usually has a shorter body than the Cardigan Welsh Corgi line. However, there are still some Pembroke Corgi puppies that can weigh up to 20kg. If your dog weighs more than 15kg, you should review the diet and exercise. Because Corgi puppies over 15kg are often considered obese.
Body of Corgi
Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi have relatively long bodies. Along with that are 4 extremely short legs. In particular, the shorter the corgi, the more expensive it is.
Corgi’s head
All Corgi breeds have triangular ears, which are always erect. Some Corgi puppies when young can have slightly drooping ears, but when they grow up their ears are erect. Corgi’s snout is quite pointed and long, their eyes are very bright and round. Corgi’s teeth are not very large, but very sharp. In general, the face of Corgi puppies is similar to that of wolves. That’s why this breed is also nicknamed Foxy Dog.
Corgi’s fur
Corgi’s coat has a structure similar to that of sled dogs like Husky, Alaskan or Samoyed. The coat consists of 2 layers with a short inner coat that retains heat for the body. And the long outer coat is water-resistant, helping the Corgi work smoothly in wet and frosty environments.
Corgi dog coat color is not as rich as other breeds. But regardless of the coat color, the muzzle and 4 legs are covered with white fur.
With Pembroke Welsh Corgi coat color is usually a mix of 2 or 3 colors. Such as white and yellow; white and orange; black and white; brown and white; black, sepia and white. As for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, the coat color tends to be darker. For example, mink coat, brown spots, black and white, parrot blue, ..
Corgi dogs, when raised in temperate countries, usually shed their hair in late spring and early summer. The feathers then grow back in the fall. But with a country with a tropical climate like Vietnam, the Corgi’s fur is shed almost all year round. In particular, the most shedding is in the summer when the weather becomes hot.
Corgi’s Tail
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi line possesses a long tail that can reach the ground. Meanwhile, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a very short tail. Pembroke Corgi puppies at birth, if the tail is too long, people will cut it short. A standard Corgi according to the American Kennel Club (AKC) is to have a tail length less than 5cm.
The characteristic personality of the Corgi dog
Corgi dogs not only possess a super cute appearance, but they are also very smart and alert. Corgi comes in 11th place in the list of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world. This is a pretty high ranking out of hundreds of dog breeds. With a smart nature, Corgi absorbs lessons very quickly. You only need to teach them 4 to 5 times and the dog can master it.
Besides, Corgi is extremely loyal. Each Corgi puppy usually only considers the person who raised them from a young age as the owner. When the owner is in danger, they are ready to protect. Even when fighting big opponents, many times stronger.
Like most dog breeds, the Corgi is very friendly and loves to play with small children. With children who have grown a bit, you can rest assured that your baby will play with Corgi. But with children who are too young, you should be careful to let them play with Corgi puppies. Because Corgi is very naughty, they always want to run and jump. So with very young babies, Corgi’s hyperactive nature can be intimidating.
Corgi is very smart, but sometimes dogs become stubborn and difficult to obey. At those times, they like to disobey their master even though they know it’s wrong. When you see your dog showing such an attitude, you need to seriously correct the dog. If you are too pampered and let the dog do what he likes, over time the dog will be spoiled and more difficult to teach.
Like the Husky, the Corgi is very active. They like to play in a large space instead of being confined in tight places. Therefore, when raising a Corgi, you should regularly take the dog outside so that the dog has a chance to play. This also helps reduce the risk of obesity.
Method of caring for Corgi dogs in Vietnam weather conditions
Corgi dogs inherently live in cool climates, so when they return to Vietnam, they may not have adapted well to our country’s weather conditions. Therefore, when raising a Corgi, you need to pay attention to the temperature in the dog’s environment, the nutrition in each stage of development, the training regimen, and how to take care of the coat.
Suitable habitat for Corgi dogs
Corgi dogs are used to cool weather conditions. Therefore, when raising Corgi, the ideal temperature in the space where the dog rests and plays must be from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. On hot days, it is advisable to let the dog lie in an air-conditioned room or fan. Do not let your dog go out at noon when the temperature is high.
Many people who have raised Corgi said that the Pembroke Corgi line tends to be more active than the Cardigan Corgi line. Therefore, Pembroke Corgi puppies are more suitable to be raised in suburban and rural areas than in narrow apartment buildings. Meanwhile, Cardigan Corgi babies are somewhat quieter, so they are suitable for raising in urban areas. But whether raised in the city or in the countryside, every day, you still need to take your dog for a regular walk to limit the risk of obesity and make the dog’s body more resilient.
Diet for Corgi dogs according to each stage of development
At each stage of development, Corgi dogs require a suitable diet. Understanding the nutritional needs of the Corgi is the way for you to build the right diet for your dog.
Stage from 1 to 2 months old
Corgi puppies are from 1 to 2 months old, their teeth are often not fully developed. At this stage, you should give your dog soft foods. For example, porridge, ground meat, soft soaked seeds. In addition, it is necessary to supplement the dog with about 200ml of milk/day.
Every day, give your dog many meals (4 to 5 meals). The amount of food per meal should be adjusted according to the dog’s needs. Absolutely do not give the dog too much food or rancid food.
From 3 to 6 months old
When the Corgi is 3 to 6 months old, the dog’s body is gradually entering the mature stage. At this time, you need to diversify food sources in each meal of your dog. You should add nutritious foods such as shrimp, fish, protein-rich meats, eggs, etc. And for better digestion, you should give your dog more vegetables. The source of vitamins and fiber in these foods will help your dog not to become constipated, speeding up the dog’s evolution.
When feeding your dog foods such as shrimp, fish, meat, vegetables, etc., you need to grind it finely, mix it with rice or nuts, and then feed it to your dog. These foods need to be cooked to prevent the dog from getting worms. Raw foods often increase Corgi’s aggression, so you should limit your dog’s eating unprocessed foods.
Meals for Corgi from at this stage will be reduced to 3 to 4 meals. Meals are evenly distributed throughout the day in the morning, noon, afternoon and evening. The meals are less than before but instead you should increase the amount of milk, every day should give the dog 300ml of milk.
Stage over 6 months old
When it is over 6 months old, it means that the dog’s body has entered the adult stage. In your dog’s diet, you should prioritize foods that contain a lot of protein and calcium. These are two groups of substances that help stimulate the development of the muscle system and the skeletal system. Besides, there are other important groups of substances such as vitamins, fiber, starch, and minerals. In it, minerals will be contained in many types of seafood such as shrimp, fish, crab, snail, ..
When Corgi is over 6 months old, the number of meals a day will be from 2 to 3 meals. Although the number of meals is reduced, the amount of food you need to increase to accommodate the growing needs of the dog. In addition, you do not have to grind the food as before, but let the dog eat it naturally. This helps to strengthen the dog’s teeth.
Notes in the diet
In addition to building a diet according to each period, you should pay attention to a few points as follows:
- Limit feeding Corgi too many fatty foods such as fatty meats, fried foods.
- When the Corgi puppy is not yet 6 months old, you should not let the dog chew on hard bones.
- Limit feeding Corgi animal organs because it can make the dog obese.
- On hot days, feed your dog special dog creams to cool down. But note that only in a moderate amount. Overuse of cold food can easily cause your dog to get a sore throat and flu.
Build a daily exercise regimen for Corgi
Corgi dogs if not active regularly, are easy to become autistic. Not only that, being inactive also increases the risk of obesity for dogs. Therefore, every day you take your dog for a walk for about half an hour in the morning or at night. When playing, running and jumping in a large space will help the dog’s body to be more flexible.
However, Corgi has a habit of following cars on the road, so when taking your dog for a walk, you need to prepare a strong leash.
Coat Care for Corgi
Corgi has a thick coat of 2 layers. Corgi’s fur can fall all year round with weather conditions like in Vietnam. In general, when raising this breed, hair care always takes up the most of your time. You should brush your dog’s coat at least once a day to remove old, weak hairs. Corgi’s fur is very prone to dust, so bathe the dog 2 to 3 times a week. In winter, it is okay to bathe the dog once.
When bathing your dog, use specialized pet shampoo products. After bathing, it is necessary to dry the dog’s coat, and avoiding the wet dog’s fur, making the dog susceptible to skin diseases.
Corgi’s fur is quite long. So, if you see your dog’s hair starting to grow, you should trim the dog’s hair. Note that only trimming, not shaving. Improper shaving can cause the dog to go into heat stroke and be susceptible to insect bites.
Diseases that Corgi dogs often get
The average lifespan of a Corgi is between 13 and 15 years if living in the right weather conditions. But with Corgi puppies in Vietnam, it is very difficult to achieve the above life expectancy. During the life of the Corgi, they are very susceptible to a number of skin diseases. Or bone disease, eye disease or obesity.
Injury to the spinal system
The body structure of the Corgi dog is inherently unbalanced when the 4 legs are too short while the body is too long. When the dog moves strongly and suddenly, it is easy to affect the spinal system. In case the injury is too severe, the dog may have scoliosis and cannot walk normally.
To prevent damage to the Corgi’s spinal system, you should let the dog work with moderate intensity. When you let your dog out to play, you need a sturdy leash. When you see that your dog is too excited, hold him still for a while, then let him play again.
Fat
Dwarf breeds in general have a high risk of obesity. The main reason comes from a high-fat diet plus lack of exercise. Fatty disease does not immediately endanger the dog’s life, but it will affect their lifespan. Not only that, obesity is also seen as a cause of many other dangerous diseases.
The best way to prevent obesity for Corgi is to limit the amount of high-fat foods in the daily diet. At the same time, build a regular exercise regimen every day for the dog.
Skin diseases
Skin diseases such as fungus, scabies are mostly caused by parasites. Not taking good care of the coat, letting the dog play dirty will create favorable conditions for molds and parasites to develop on the dog’s skin.
Preventing skin diseases for Corgi dogs is not difficult. You just need to pay attention to trimming the coat when the hair grows out, don’t let the dog play dirty, bathe the dog 2 to 3 times a week. For scabies, you should have your dog vaccinated against scabies as soon as you pick up the dog. This is considered a good remedy for scabies for your Corgi dog.
Eye diseases
Cataracts and retinal dysplasia are two fairly common eye diseases in Corgi dogs. In particular, cataracts are vision loss in older Corgi dogs. Retinal dysplasia is a condition in which the retina separates and leads to blindness. Newborn Corgi puppies have a higher risk of developing retinal dysplasia than adult dogs.