Thinking about getting a new dog? Everyone falls in love with their new dog, but some breeds are more suitable for first-time owners because they’re easy to deal with.
Pet dogs bring a lot of love and fun to our lives. They’re man’s best friends, and their unconditional love and loyalty will help you go through tough times. Getting a dog is adding a new member to the family, so you should think wisely before taking this step.
Corgis are lovable, and you’re likely to fall in love with your dog at first sight. They’re cuddly, cute, and fun to be around. However, a first-time owner should go beyond the looks when they’re thinking about adding a new dog to the family.
So, are Corgis good for first-time owners?
Why Do People Love Corgis?
Every dog is unique, and dog lovers appreciate all breeds. But some breeds are extremely popular, and Corgis are famous for being lovable and cuddly. Here are a few reasons why most people fall in love with Corgis.
- They’re friendly with adults and kids. Getting your children acquainted with your new Corgi will never be an issue because they will enjoy playing with them. They will always act like your kids’ guardian when given proper training.
- The way Corgis walk makes them look extremely friendly and cute. They have short legs and wide warm eyes that will make you fall in love with them right away. Moreover, their overall behavior is guaranteed to get you out of your bad mood.
- Corgis are suitable for people who want a big dog with a robust body but sits low to the ground. It has a working dog temperament, so it’s the perfect dog for an active owner.
- Your Corgi gets along well with other pets.
- Corgis are energetic and athletic. You’ll always have fun with your corgi because they will never get tired of playing. At the same time, you’ll be moving around and exercising as your Corgi will help you stay in shape.
- These dogs are very sensitive and can understand your feelings. Your Corgi can tell if you’re happy or upset and will sit next to you and show support if you’re not feeling well.
- Corgis are very brave and confident. They will always act like they’re guarding you despite their small size.
- Your Corgi is a brilliant dog. It will learn tricks and will be fun to have around.
- Corgis are not picky eaters. This is excellent news, especially if you’re a busy pet owner because they will not say no, even if they don’t like the food served.
Are Corgis Good for First-Time Owners?
Corgis are not the best option for first-time dog owners. They have a lot of energy, a strong-willed personality and are not low-maintenance dogs. But it can work if the new owner knows the characteristics and needs of the breed well, and is able to dedicate a lot of time, patience and effort to his dog.
Welsh Corgis are exceptional dogs and will bring a lot of love and fun to your house. However, these dogs require a different kind of attention due to their unique nature.
Personality
Corgis like to be the center of attention. They’re happy dogs that like to give and receive love. The personality will differ from one dog to another, but all Corgis love to play.
Your Corgi wants to get involved in every activity that includes you and your family. This happy dog needs proper training, or it will train you.
Most Corgis are strong-willed, and can sometimes be bossy. You need to make sure that your Corgi understands who the boss is from day one; otherwise, you’ll face a lot of obedience problems.
As an owner, you should understand the personality of your corgi and not try to break it. Show love and attention, and your Corgi will fall in love with you and listen to you.
Training
A first-time owner should take training seriously because your life with your Corgi will depend on it. Corgis are smart, independent, and confident dogs, so they need a confident and strong-willed owner who knows how to handle their unique dog.
Corgis don’t think of themselves as small dogs and are very assertive. When your dog first arrives, it’s likely to behave very well for the first few days. Once your Corgi has felt comfortable, they will start to show their true colors.
Your dog will show a few signs that tell they want to relieve themselves. They usually want to relieve themselves in the morning, after leaving the crate, after getting back from a walk, and after taking a nap. If you have a young puppy, your Corgi will feel the need to reveal itself more frequently.
Consistency is the key when you’re training your Corgi, and you should be ready to deal with a few mistakes. You should pick one spot and be consistent with it to teach your Corgi. Corgis aren’t the easiest dogs to train, especially if you’re getting an older dog.
They need a patient owner who has enough time. They aren’t subservient and like to be in charge. Maintaining a positive attitude and providing your Corgi with the right amount of treats will guarantee the success of the training.
Activity Level
If you’re looking for a lazy dog, then a Corgi isn’t the right dog for you. This dog has a lot of energy, and a larger than life personality, so it needs an adequate amount of daily exercise to stay in good health. As a matter of fact, exercise and active games will keep your dog happy.
This is good news because you’ll be able to customize the exercise routine to fit their character and your needs. They always say that old dogs can’t learn new tricks. However, this is not true with corgis.
Corgis are sociable loving dogs, so they will feel happy in an active loving home. They get along with kids and would love to jump and play all day long.
Going on multiple walks and devoting time for playing in the yard is essential for the happiness and well-being of your corgi. However, even if you live in a condo, your corgi can be perfectly happy as long as you take it for daily walks and weekly runs.
Corgis are herding dogs, and this is why they get along very well with other animals, especially livestock. However, this also means that they need a task to keep them busy. You should be able to find new games and activities to keep your Corgi stimulated.
Barking
Because they’re active and energetic, Corgis are likely to bark a lot. They’re herding dogs, and barking is a part of their nature, so they will bark when they’re excited or when they want to warn you.
As a matter of fact, a Corgi will bark at the air if it doesn’t have anything to bark at. This is why you should be ready to deal with their continuous and loud barking.
In addition to barking, a Corgi will make a lot of interesting sounds depending on their mood. Some Corgis are quiet by nature, but these will show this kind of behavior when they’re still puppies.
If loud noises represent a problem with your landlord, neighbors, or if you have a family member who is sensitive to loud noises, then a Corgi might not be the right dog for you.
Shedding
The fluffy thick double-layer coat of your Corgi might represent a problem. Their weather-resistant coat will shed every day and will shed even more during the shedding season between spring and fall to keep them cool during the hot summer months.
All double-coated dogs like Corgis shed more than usual, and this is bad news for owners who want to keep their home fur-free. You need to devote time to brushing and maintenance to help remove loose and dead hair.
A few minutes of daily grooming will make a big difference in your life with your Corgi. You should also invest in a high-quality vacuum cleaner and lint remover to make sure that there’s little fur around the house.
Bathing your Corgi before brushing is another good idea because it will help get rid of some of the trapped hair. You should wait until the dog is completely dry before you start brushing its coat.
Diet and Health Issues
Most Corgis will not say no to food or treats. However, this can also increase the risk of obesity that affects the health of your dog.
A Corgi’s diet should include high-energy foods that help it to maintain its high activity level. Nevertheless, you should pay attention to the diet of your Corgi to keep it at a healthy weight.
A healthy Corgi should have a defined body with a prominent breastbone and a deep rib cage. You should also keep an eye on how your dog behaves when they’re playing. If they’re getting tired too quickly, then you should take your dog to the vet to suggest a suitable diet plan.
In general, Corgis are little healthy dogs, but their little bodies increase the risk of some health issues. Hip dysplasia is quite common in Corgis and can be detected if your dog shows signs of discomfort after walking around for a while. Since this is an inherited trait, it can be avoided if you’re getting your Corgi from a reputable breeder who tested the dog’s parents for this disease.
Hip dysplasia can also be directly related to obesity. Keeping an eye on your dog’s diet will keep it healthy and decrease the risk of joint issues.
Corgis can also develop eye conditions like progressive retinal atrophy. Your Corgi is likely to develop this condition when it grows older. PRA starts by showing signs of night blindness, and can’t be treated. However, you can ask your vet about ways to improve the quality of life of your Corgi.
Final Thoughts
Corgis are happy little dogs and will bring lots of love and happiness to your life. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance dog that won’t shed or bark, then a Corgi isn’t the right dog for you.
This dog needs a lot of attention and will give you lots of love in return. A first-time owner should devote enough time for their Corgi to keep it healthy. This dog has a larger than life personality and needs an understanding owner that is willing to give it the time it deserves.
