Origin, characteristics and best care

Origin of Corgi

The Corgi breed, also known as the Welsh Corgi, is a breed of dog, in which the word “Welsh” refers to small, short dogs. The word “Corgi” is an old Celtic word that means “dog”. This is a dog breed used to herd sheep and cattle in Europe, is the smallest dog breed in the current sheep herding dog lines.

As many scientific researchers have shown, the short-legged Corgi breed appeared about 3000 years ago. In particular, the first Corgi dog appeared in Wales, England is said to be a descendant of the Vallhund dog breed from Sweden.

During its 3000 years of existence, the Corgi breed has been used to raise livestock. That is because with their small size but agility, they will not be able to be hit by cattle that use their hind legs to kick them. In addition, Corgi can quickly approach, bite the cattle’s legs to remind as well as use a loud bark to make the cattle panic and obey.

From the 16th century onwards, other breeds of herding dogs were developed. That makes the Corgi no longer suitable for this job. Instead, many families keep Corgis for the purpose of being pets in the house, due to their extremely cute appearance. Gradually, this hobby of keeping Corgis became popular with royal families in England, especially during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

In Vietnam, the Corgi breed has been introduced since 2009-2010. To date, they have become one of the most popular dog breeds not only by children but also by adults.

Characteristics of Corgi dogs that you should know

1. About appearance

Corgi dog breed possesses a petite, lovely appearance. In which the body length will be almost twice the height, because the Corgi possesses shorter legs than other dog breeds.

Besides, this breed has a long muzzle, a small mouth but strong jaw muscles. The big round eyes and jet-black nose look very cute and attractive.

2. About the size

Because it is a small dog with short legs, the average height of the Corgi is only about 25-30cm. In terms of weight, Corgi owns an average weight of 10-15kg. Males will be slightly larger in size and weight than females.

3. About hair color

The Corgi breed has a thick, double-layered coat. Common coat colors include yellow, white, brown, cream, black or gray. Sometimes you can also come across dogs with extremely unique patchy coat colors.

4. About longevity

With good care, the Corgi breed can live from 12-15 years. Their average lifespan is usually around 13 years. In order to prolong the life of the Corgi, you need to include them in regular exercise, because they are extremely gluttonous, prone to fat accumulation and obesity.

Current classification of Corgi dogs

The current Corgi breed has two main lines, which are the Pembroke Welsh and the Cardigan Welsh. However the Pembroke line is more famous and appears more popular than the Cardigan line.

1. Similarities Between Pembroke and Cardigan

Whether it is a Pembroke or a Cardigan, they all have one thing in common, which is:

– The ears are erect in the shape of a triangle.

– Small but long muzzle.

– Black nose, big round eyes.

– Strong jaws, loud barking.

Short legs, long body.

– The coat consists of two layers, thick, can waterproof and keep the body warm.

2. Difference between Pembroke and Cardigan

Besides the similarities, there are a few minor differences between these two Corgi breeds:

– The Pembroke line is smaller than the Cardigan, but the Pembroke is chubby.

– Pembroke’s tail is shorter than Cardigan’s.

– Pembroke’s legs are slightly shorter than Cardigan’s.

– Pembroke’s weight is slightly higher than Cardigan’s because they are already fat from the start.

What is the personality of the Corgi dog?

Dog breed The Welsh Corgi is known for its great intelligence, agility and a strong will. They are extremely active, active dogs and never want to be left out of family activities.

Corgis are easy to train, in part because sheepdog blood has eaten into their DNA over thousands of years. There is an even more important part, which is that Corgi has high determination and agility. They can herd, pick up, and do a few other jobs, as long as you train them carefully and thoughtfully.

Corgi dogs can be used as watchdogs, because they are prone to barking if they detect something unusual, which does not belong to their family. Besides, Corgi always wanted to be part of the family and didn’t want to live her whole life in a crib. Most of this breed is good and friendly with other pets, especially the Corgi is very close to children.

What diseases can Corgi dogs encounter?

Most Corgi dogs are generally healthy and rarely encounter dangerous diseases. However, like many other dog breeds, they still have many potential risks of contracting health-threatening diseases if not cared for properly and timely.

1. Hip Dysplasia

This is a genetic condition in which the Corgi’s femur does not fit snugly into the hip joint. Some dogs with the disease will have pain and a limp in one or both rear legs.

2. Cataract

This disease occurs when your dog is old. The disease causes the lens in the Corgi dog’s eye to become cloudy, leading to poor vision. Their eyes will have a translucent, opaque cloud-like shape. This disease can be cured through surgery.

3. Cystinuria

This is a medical condition that occurs in Corgi dogs due to excessively high levels of a protein in the blood, called cystine. Excess protein is excreted in the urine and can form stones in the kidneys. Male Corgi breeds are more susceptible to this disease than females.

4. Degenerative marrow disease

It is a progressive degenerative disease of the nerve and supporting tissue of the spinal cord in the lower back. The disease left Corgi’s hind legs limp, weak, and eventually permanently paralyzed.

5. Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition in dogs. However, these diseases do not happen often, they only occur due to genetic problems. It causes mild or very severe convulsions, which may manifest as abnormal behavior, stiff limbs, or loss of consciousness.

6. Herniated disc

This disease occurs because Corgi dogs have a larger back length compared to their height, so they are prone to herniated discs in the spine when they are older or when they exercise too much. Symptoms of the disease include unsteady walking, difficulty walking up or down stairs, …

7. Progressive Retinal Atrophy

This is a group of eye diseases involving the gradual degeneration of the retina of the eye. In the early stages of the disease, Corgi dogs will become night blindness, losing vision during the day. The disease mainly occurs when your dog becomes older and weaker.

8. Von Willebrand disease

This is a blood disorder that affects the blood clotting process of dogs. An infected Corgi dog will have symptoms such as: Bleeding gums, prolonged bleeding during the heat cycle or sometimes blood in the stool. This disease is usually diagnosed in dogs aged 3-5 years and cannot be cured. However, this disease can still be treated in remission with drugs and proper nutrition.

What is the best Corgi dog to eat?

For Corgi dogs to live a long, healthy and disease-free life, nutrition is always the most important thing. You should provide enough food containing protein, fat, fiber, vitamins and starch for your dog every day. Depending on the current age and weight, you need to adjust the diet for your dog so that it is reasonable.

– For Corgi dogs from 1-2 months old: FEMALEBreastfeeding is best for them. If you do not have breast milk to feed them, you can give them thin porridge boiled with bone broth. Daily ration for 1-2 month old Corgi must be divided into many small meals, so that there is enough milk needed for them to develop.

– For Corgi dogs from 3-6 months old: At this point you can give them regular food. However, foods need to be crushed to prevent them from choking while eating. The meal should be divided into 3 meals a day, limiting the amount of fat and starch to help Corgi not gain weight too quickly.

– For Corgi dogs from 6 months old and up: This is the period when your dog grows best, needs more nutrients. You can feed them all kinds of food from meat, fish, shrimp, eggs to vegetables and fruits. The meal is divided into 3 meals a day, combined with drinking milk to strengthen the resistance.

How to raise and care for Corgi . dogs

In order to take the best care of your Corgi dog, you must periodically and regularly perform the following tasks:

1. Hair Care

Brush your Corgi regularly to keep their coat smooth and prevent shedding. In addition, you should also check to see if your dog is suffering from skin diseases. So that you can intervene in time and bring them to medical facilities.

2. Ear cleaning

Due to the large ears, Corgi is prone to ear infections and a number of related diseases. So you should regularly clean their ears, using cotton pads moistened with a pH-stable cleaning solution.

3. Brush your teeth

Brush your Corgi’s teeth at least 3 times a week to help them prevent the risk of dental diseases. In addition, that will help them have a pleasant aroma, no bad smell when you come close for you to cuddle.

4. Nail trimming

You should periodically trim your Corgi’s nails at least once a month to prevent them from scratching the furniture and hurting themselves.

How much does a Corgi dog cost?

You can refer to the selling price of the Corgi breed below:

1. For domestic breed Corgi dogs

Because they are bred by Corgi dogs with parents in the country, the price of the puppies will be quite cheap, only ranging from 10-15 million VND. However, you should buy at reputable pet stores to get proof of origin.

2. For Corgi dogs imported from Thailand, China

With dog breeds imported from Thailand or China, the price will range from 20-40 million VND. But you can be assured of the quality as well as the purity, because they have all the necessary documents to prove as well as ensure health.

3. For Corgi dogs imported from Europe

If you want to buy a Corgi dog of European origin, the price can be quite expensive, ranging from 50-70 million VND. However, the purity will be at the best level, with all documents proving the origin and health. Corgi will have a beautiful appearance, shiny coat, the right quality of the breed.