Pembroke Welsh corgis are very popular right now. They dominate in advertising, I imagine for their trainability, fluffy rumps, and ready smiles. Corgi-themed products are everywhere. And Delia and I can’t go anywhere without someone telling us that they/their son/their granddaughter/their husband/somebody wants a corgi soooooooo badly! I do understand why they’re popular, and I’m glad they bring so many people so much joy. But there are good reasons for getting a corgi, and there are bad reasons for getting a corgi. If you know what you’re getting into and a corgi is the right dog for you, it will be the best dog you can even imagine. But if you get a corgi for the wrong reasons and it isn’t a good fit, everyone involved will be miserable.
So today, I’m here to talk about the worst reasons anyone could have for deciding on a Pembroke Welsh corgi.
1. “They’re Just So Cute!”
I mean, that’s just ridiculous. It’s absolutely preposterous. Cute? Cute???? Why would anyone ever think—
Oh.
Ohhh.
Okay fine. You got me. They are kinda cute.
But do you know what else is cute and has a fluffy lil tailless bum?
Is that a good choice for most people to bring home? Heck, there are a ton of cute animals in the world that you just have to be content to admire from afar.
But if you just want a dog that’s cute, the good news is that most dogs are in fact quite cute. So rather than start with what’s cute, start by determining what type of dog is right for you. And then I guarantee you can find something very cute in those parameters.
2. “They’re Fluffy!!”
Are you absolutely out of your mind???? That’s the entire problem!!!!
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lose it with you. It’s just, I have a corgi that’s blowing her coat right now and there are only a few people I would ever wish such a thing upon.
I’m just constantly pulling tufts like this out of her. And off of me, and off of my bed, and everywhere.
There are ways to manage it, which I will do a whole post about sometime. It’s not the end of the world and it’s not a deal-breaker for me.
But if all you want is a fluffy dog, you have so many options, my friend.
There are dogs that look like absolute teddy bears and don’t shed in the traditional sense. Some that immediately come to mind for me are miniature schnauzers, Havanese, and Bichon Frise, but there are soooooooo many others.
And then there are breeds that do shed, but not as much as a corgi. Pomeranians come to mind as a breed that will definitely shed, but not as much as you might think when you look at that coat. And you can’t get much fluffier than a pom!
Again, the best thing to do is research breeds based on the other traits that are important to you, and then narrow it down by the coat type you like.
So if you just like the fluffy butts, think again. You will need a much better reason than that if you’re going to subject yourself to a corgi coat blow. Trust me.
3. “I just want a laidback companion dog.”
Every dog is an individual, and there are outliers in every breed. You certainly will find some corgis who fit the internet stereotype of a lovable couch potato with short little legs. And even the most intensely active dogs are going to rest some of the time. But corgis were not bred to stay home and keep your couch warm.
When I first got Cordelia, a lot of people laughed when I told them that I got a corgi because I wanted a smart, active dog. They were floored when I told them that these dogs were bred to drive cattle. As one person explained: “I thought—because the Queen has them—I thought they’re just silly little lapdogs.”
Most corgis will go all day if necessary. They do have a good off-switch. Delia will nap and laze around and 100% look the part of that cute bread-loaf. But that’s only because she knows that eventually, I’ll get off my computer and we’ll go do something fun.
I take her somewhere she can run just about every day, whether it’s the dog park, a fairly empty trail where I can let her off-leash, or along the river. And then we walk almost every evening in addition to that, usually around 5 miles, and sometimes more. And throughout the day, I’m throwing toys for her, playing hide-and-seek, and letting her tag along on errands whenever possible. We are also constantly training and coming up with little jobs.
When I’m not feeling well or something comes up and I can’t take her out, she does do better with that than my foster Aussie did. But even with access to a backyard, playing with my golden, and playing fetch, after a couple days without actually getting out and having little adventures, she’ll become difficult to live with. She’ll resort to barking, destructive behaviour, and have trouble focusing or settling when I ask her to do something. I can’t imagine what a corgi would be like in a home where the humans work or go to school all day, and then maybe have time for one neighbourhood walk at night. Even if they hike or other activities on the weekends, that’s just not enough.
You also have to remember with these highly intelligent breeds that have a drive to think and figure things out, physical exercise alone is not enough. If you only exercise their body and not their mind, you’re just building their endurance, and you’re going to have to walk further and further to tire them out! So take them to different places, vary your route, give them little jobs to do, train them new tricks, provide enrichment activities. If you’re not up for finding ways to stimulate the mind, then you really don’t want a corgi. If you want a dog that will go for a little run with you and then sleep all day, something like a sighthound might be a good choice. If you truly want a dog that will just be content to laze around the house looking cute, there are companion breeds that were bred for just that purpose.
But if you’re set on a corgi, the majority of them will need at least an hour a day of physical exercise, plus lots of mental stimulation. If you can’t provide that, you’re both going to end up very frustrated.
4. “I want a dog with a lot of personality!”
Corgis certainly have a lot of personality. They have it in spades. And a lot of people say they want a dog with a big personality, or with an attitude, or that will make them laugh, etc. I know I wanted all of those things, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But you need to be honest with yourself about what this means, and whether you actually want it at all. You need to picture what “a lot of personality” will look like the majority of the time.
A goofy dog with a lot of personality is terrific fun when you’re in a good mood. When you feel like paying attention to your dog, and you’re enjoying their antics. When you’d love to have a fun story to tell. But when you’re having a day where nothing is going right and you just need your dog to behave, but he’s getting into mischief and jumping around in mud puddles in the front yard with your underwear in his mouth, suddenly you wish your dog would just stop being himself.
Yes, corgis have big personalities! They have strong opinions about everything, and they will make those opinions heard. They won’t just go along with things they’re not happy about. There will be protests. There will be drama. If they do go along with it, there will be reproachful looks and pouting.
If you fail to mentally stimulate them like we talked about earlier, they’ll create their own fun, and you won’t like what they come up with.
They’re amazingly intelligent and trainable, but as soon as it doesn’t suit them, they’ll do as they please. “Because I said so” isn’t good enough for a dog with a lot of personality. They need to be motivated. They need to know why. They will constantly push the limits. It’s not because they’re “trying to be dominant” or they’re a “bad dog” or anything like that. It’s just the same reason why you sometimes didn’t do as your parents said. You simply felt more motivated to do something else, and you had the wilfulness to pursue that. Because beings with personality are not programmable robots.
A lot of people say they want a dog with a lot of personality. But at the end of the day, they just want an easy-going love sponge who is content to go along with whatever the family is up to. Most of us have such busy lives that we can’t handle a dog with a big personality. If that’s the case, then you want a golden retriever, or a Cavalier King Charles, or something like this. Those are wonderful dogs, and most families will be much happier with them than they will be with a corgi.
So before you get a personality-filled corgi, make sure you’re actually up for that 24/7. They will make you laugh until your sides hurt, but they’ll occasionally make you want to tear your hair out as well.
5. “I want a small dog.”
When Cordelia was a puppy, I would take her places and people would say, “This is a corgi puppy? Oh my goodness, she’s huge!” They would say they’d never seen a corgi in real life, and thought they’d be smaller.
I mean, pembs certainly aren’t large dogs. But they’re definitely not a toy breed, either. They’re technically a medium-sized dog on short legs. According to the standard:
“Weight is in proportion to size, not exceeding 30 pounds for dogs and 28 pounds for bitches. In show condition, the preferred medium- sized dog of correct bone and substance will weigh approximately 27 pounds, with bitches approximately 25 pounds. Obvious oversized specimens and diminutive toylike individuals must be very severely penalized.”
AKC’s Official Standard of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Now, they do vary quite a bit in size. I know people who have full-grown corgis that are under 20lbs. I have also heard of corgis being much larger than that standard range, even though not overweight. But the majority are going to fall close to the standard range.
Delia is right around 23lbs right now. But she’s still under a year old and very lanky and teenage looking, and her dam was slow to mature. So I expect she might be around 25lbs when she’s done filling out.
I find pembs to be a very convenient size. They can easily be lifted and carried short distances when needed. They aren’t too heavy in your lap. They can easily tag along with you in dog-friendly businesses without being a bull in a china shop, and tuck underneath your chair at a winery or outdoor eatery that allows dogs. But on the other hand, they’re not a dog that you can put in your purse and carry around with you, and your corgi may not fit in an under-seat carrier for flying when full grown. I have heard some apartments only accept dogs under 20lbs, which most corgis won’t be. So if the size of your dog is going to be important, you may want to meet some corgis and make sure they’re the size you’re picturing them to be. It’s very hard to get a feel for that just by looking at pictures.
I hope you enjoyed this post, maybe had a bit of a laugh, and learned something. No breed of dog is going to be right for everybody. That’s why humans developed so many different breeds of dogs in the first place. If you’re making the big decision to bring a new dog into your life, just make sure to do your research and make your choice with solid reasons.
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