11 Compelling Reasons Why You HAVE To Get A Welsh Corgi
So you’ve binge watched The Crown on Netflix and now you want to know all the reasons why you should get a Welsh corgi… I totally get it.
Here are just some of the reasons why you should get a Welsh corgi: they’re adaptable little dogs, they make great family pets, and they’re very affectionate. As long as they get regular exercise, they’re just as happy living in a small apartment in the city as they are living on a farm with lots of land.
Back in January 2020 I was lucky enough to adopt my first corgi, Winston. After three years together, I can safely say that bringing him home was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
If you’re currently weighing up the pros and cons of Welsh corgis, let me help you out with 11 reasons why you should (and 5 reasons why you shouldn’t) get a corgi.
11 reasons why you should get a Welsh corgi
1. They’re very adaptable
The great thing about corgis is that they don’t need a big home or garden to be happy. Yes, they have lots of energy and need daily exercise—at least 60 minutes a day—but as long as they get that, they can live just about anywhere.
I live with Winston the corgi in a first floor apartment in London—it’s not a huge space and we don’t have a garden. But thanks to two 30 minute walks per day and lots of toys to keep him stimulated, Winston is never bored or frustrated.
A corgi’s natural adaptability also makes them great at handling new situations. Whether it’s new environments or new people, most corgis remain pretty chilled out no matter what.
In January 2022, I moved to Portugal for four months and brought Winston the corgi with me. He settled into his new surroundings really quickly and soon became one of Porto’s star attractions!
2. They make the best companion
Corgis are fiercely loyal dogs that love human companionship.
They love nothing better than curling up at your feet while you work and if you’re happy to have them on your bed with you, expect plenty of cuddles!
One of the reasons why corgis make such good companions is because they were bred to be herder dogs. Working closely with farmers, they would nip at the heels of cattle to keep them on the move. To this day, some corgis will instinctively nip at the heels of their owners or small children to round them up in one place.
My corgi Winston hates it when my boyfriend and I are in different rooms of the apartment. He much prefers us both being together!
3. They’re highly intelligent
According to Stanley Coren’s book The Intelligence of Dogs, corgis are the 11th (Pembroke) and 31st (Cardigan) smartest dog breeds respectively.
Despite a corgi’s reputation for being stubborn, Coren found that both corgi breeds were able to learn a new command with just 5 to 15 repetitions. And both were able to obey a known command on the first attempt with an 85% success rate.
To put this into context, a dog breed with average intelligence needs between 25 and 40 repetitions to learn a new command. This makes corgis at least 65% faster at learning new tricks than other breeds.
The lesson here?
If you commit to consistent training, not only will your corgi be a well-behaved dog that does exactly what you say — they’ll also be able to dazzle people with an array of tricks!
4. They’re great family dogs
Thanks to their playful nature, high energy levels and love of cuddles, corgis make great family dogs.
They can keep up with young children and won’t get too fazed by the chaos of family life. As long as they’re trained well, corgis are the ideal pet for families.
5. They’re low maintenance
If you commit to training your corgi as a puppy and don’t mind grooming them once or twice a week, your corgi will grow up to be a relatively low maintenance dog.
Because of their history as a farm dog, corgis are hardy dogs that can handle a range of temperatures. While most purebred dogs are prone to health issues, corgis are generally very healthy and don’t require lots of medical maintenance.
The only thing to keep an eye on is your corgi’s back. Due to their short legs and long backs, corgis are prone to spinal injuries. To avoid this, don’t let your corgi jump down from high surfaces like the couch or continuously run up and down stairs.
6. They’re easy to travel with
I took my three year old corgi Winston with me to Portugal for four months in 2022. A dedicated pet travel company helped me organize his airplane crate and prepare all the necessary medical documentation that was required.
While corgis are a bit too big to travel in the cabin of most international airplanes, air travel (with them in the hold) isn’t as complicated or expensive as with bigger breeds.
I was nervous about him flying in the hold, but he arrived safely in Lisbon a few hours after we did. Winston quickly settled into the Portuguese way of life. He even adapted to his new rucksack that we used whenever we wanted to travel a little further afield via electric scooter!
7. They have lots of energy
Yes, corgis are full of energy.
You already know that they need at least 60 minutes of exercise per day. But if you want to give them more than this—if you love hiking or simply prefer longer walks—your corgi has plenty of stamina to join you.
I regularly take Winston out on 3-4 hour walks and he absolutely loves it!
8. They love to cuddle
If it’s an affectionate, cuddly dog breed you’re after then there’s no better dog than a corgi.
They love to cuddle. They love to curl up beside you and watch Netflix. The closer they can get to you, the better.
The challenge is resisting the urge to have them sleep in the bed with you! It can be almost impossible to say no to that cute face.
9. They’re absolutely adorable
That face? Those ears? That beautiful coat?
In my humble opinion, corgis are one of the most adorable dog breeds you can get.
It does mean that they’re more likely to get away with being naughty, so hold firm! Don’t let that cute face fool you.
10. They sploot!
Need I say more?!
One of the cutest things a corgi does is splay their back legs out behind them like this.
This is known as ‘splooting’. Sploot is slang for the pose an animal makes when it lies on its stomach with its hind legs stretched out back and flat.
11. They’re thought to be an enchanted breed
Legend has it that Welsh fairies and elves used corgis to pull their coaches, work the fairy cattle, and serve as the trusty steed for fairy warriors.
Those white marks that circle their shoulders and back? Those are the markings of the fairy saddle that still remain today.
5 reasons why you should not get a Welsh corgi
Now we’ve talked through some of the reasons why a Welsh corgi might be the right breed for you, now let’s look at some of the reasons why they might not be.
1. They require lots of training
As well as being highly intelligent, corgis can also be quite stubborn and bossy. Without consistent training, this can lead to a dominant and disobedient corgi that runs rings around their owner.
The best way to avoid this is to start training from an early age and stick with it. Corgis are fast learners, so if you commit to training, your corgi will grow up to be a well-behaved, laid back dog.
2. They have a tendency to bark (a lot)
Corgis are known to bark more than other breeds—and you might be surprised by just how deep and loud their barks can be!
The good news is that you can get this barking under control with training and an understanding of what triggers the barking.
3. They shed all year round
If you’re prone to allergies or hate the sight of dog hair on furniture, you probably shouldn’t get a corgi.
It’s essential to groom a corgi at least once a week to keep on top of the shedding. But even with regular grooming, you’ll still end up with some hair on your clothes.
4. They hate being left alone
Corgis are clingy dogs that love being around humans.
While it’s ok to leave them alone for 3-4 hours occasionally, doing this often may impact your corgi’s happiness. They’re sociable creatures that do best with owners that work from home full time or people who can spend most of their time with them.
5. They can be anti-social with other dogs
If they’re not socialized well from a young age, corgis can be a little grumpy with other dogs. Once again, this comes back to their origins as a solo herding dog that spent most of their time just with their owner and cattle.
The more socializing your corgi puppy can do with other dogs at the park or at puppy classes, the more likely they’ll grow up to be a confident dog that gets on with everyone.
Related questions
Are corgis good for first time owners?
Corgis are great for first time owners thanks to their low maintenance and adaptability. They’re better suited to first time owners that are committed to training, who work mostly (or entirely) from home, and who have the time to go on walks for at least 60 minutes per day.
Are corgis easy to train?
Corgis are highly intelligent and are therefore easy to train, if you are firm and consistent. Start training your corgi puppy at 8 weeks old and use rewards like treats and verbal praise to reinforce good behavior.
What to know before getting a corgi puppy
Before getting a corgi puppy make sure you know how much they shed and whether you can give them as much physical and mental stimulation as they need. Many people think that corgis are lazy and this couldn’t be further from the truth! They’re highly intelligent dogs with bags of energy.
