Why Do Corgis Have Short Legs? Find Out The Truth


Corgis are famous for their adorable faces and of course, their short legs.

But why do corgis have short legs in the first place?

Well, there are a number of factors that contributed to the evolution of the their unique body shape.

Let’s take a closer look at the history of the corgi and explore the science behind their distinctive legs.

I’ll also share some tips on how you can minimize health risks associated with stubby legs and long bodies.

Let’s go!

Why did they breed corgis to have short legs?

Corgis were originally bred to be herders. They’d help farmers round up cattle and keep watch over the animals with their very loud, deep bark.

Corgis make great herding dogs because of their physical stature. It’s thought that they were bred to have short legs so that they could stay low to the ground and avoid being kicked by cattle.

But why would they be kicked?

Because corgis nip at the heels of cattle to round them up.

By breeding them low to the ground, they’re harder for disgruntled cows to hit!

Can corgis have long legs?

Some corgis have slightly longer legs than others depending on their genetics and diet.

But almost all of them will have disproportionately small legs compared to their long bodies.

Are corgis dwarfs?

Corgis have what is known as dwarfism.

As they grow from puppy into adult, their limb bones harden early which stunts their growth and leads to a type of dwarfism called chondrodysplasia.

The gene responsible for chondrodysplasia is FGF4 (fibroblast growth factor 4) and is present in other breeds with short legs like dachschunds and basset hounds.

Why are corgis built like that?

It’s likely that corgis are built with short, stubby legs because it makes them a great asset on the farm.

Originally bred to be a herding dog, corgis needed to be able to run fast, nipping at the heels of cattle without being kicked.

Health issues associated with dwarfism in corgis

Most of the health issues corgis experience are related to dwarfism.

Their very long bodies must be supported by very short legs and that puts corgis at risk of spine- and joint-related problems.

For example:

  • Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
  • Hip Dysplasia

How to minimize health risks associated with dwarfism

To minimize the risks associated with short legs, it’s really important that you prevent your corgi from jumping down off high places.

And it’s also really important that you watch their weight.

Gaining too much weight can put severe strain on your corgi’s spine and joints.

This increases the likelihood (and severity) of problems like arthritis and IVDD.

This is also true of your corgi jumping.

If you want to protect their joints and keep them as healthy as possible, make sure your corgi doesn’t regularly jump down from beds and sofas, or run up and down the stairs.

That’s because frequent jumping weakens their spine and joints, increasing the risk of issues like DM.

Enjoyed this post? Read me next!

How To Help Your Corgi Lose Weight

The Ultimate Corgi Feeding Chart (& Tips On What To Feed Them)

What Problems Do Corgis Have? 5 Conditions You Should Know

Bella is the founder of Doggy & Pooch. She rehomed Winston the corgi in Jan 2020 and now shares her best tips and interesting facts with corgi lovers globally.

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