Are Corgis Good Family Dogs? What You Need to Know

Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi were bred for herding sheep. Even in their earliest days, they've always thrived on the human companionship given to them by farmers and their families. Today, the Corgi's loyal nature continues as they're the chosen pet by people from all walks of life. Every Corgi has their own personality, but you can typically expect them to get along with children and other animals as long as they're properly socialized and don't have a history of abuse.

Do Corgis Like Children?

In general, Corgis make excellent family dogs. They love their family and may display a protective response if they feel that someone they care for is threatened. However, given their herding instinct, Corgis may see small children and pets as underlings to be bossed around. In particular, they're known for nipping at the heels of toddlers who may be misbehaving or provoking them.

Even so, Corgis aren't an aggressive breed. They simply need socialization training at a young age to teach them that they aren't the boss. Families with young children may not be the most ideal home for Corgis because of their tendency to nip. If you do decide to adopt a Corgi into a house with little kids, you should teach your children to respect the Corgi. Tell them not to do things that might annoy or even hurt your Corgi, such as pulling their tail or riding them like a horse. Corgis are sweet but very independent and not especially patient, so they may not tolerate many childish antics. And you certainly don't want your human kids or fur babies to get hurt.

Corgis thrive with older kids or with well-behaved younger children who won't push their buttons (or their nose). This is why we say that this breed generally does well in a family environment, despite their reputation of nipping.

Will a Corgi Get Along With Other Pets?

Given their high prey drive and herding history, Corgis love to chase anything that moves. Corgis were actually employed as rat catchers for a while. Adopting small rodents such as hamsters is definitely a bad idea unless they're always in a cage safely away from your Corgi's grasp.

Depending on your Corgi's personality, they might get along well with larger pets such as cats and dogs. An adult dog or puppy can provide companionship to your Corgi, which they'll usually appreciate as long as they don't feel threatened. Corgis are very independent and may attack an unfamiliar dog, so you'll definitely need to make proper introductions and take it slow.

If you adopt a kitten, you'll especially need to closely supervise the early days of their interactions since your Corgi might perceive them as prey or a small creature to herd.

Bringing a Corgi home to your cat or dog can be an exciting prospect, but you'll still want to take your time introducing them. First impressions do create a lasting impact, even in animals, and a terrifying first encounter can make forging a new friendship much more difficult than a peaceful one.

How to Introduce Your New Pet to Your Existing Fur Family

When bringing home your new furry family member, you might consider introducing scents first before sights or sounds. Allow your pets to smell something that has the scent of the unfamiliar animal, such as your dog's favorite toy, or the towel that you brought your new pet home on. Your pets should probably see each other at a safe distance before you let them approach each other to gauge how well they'll respond. You can do this by asking a familiar friend or family member to carry your new pet into the room while you hold the pet you already have. Once they're relaxed, allow them to meet out of your arms under close supervision and on leashes. If the meeting is going well, remember to take pictures to commemorate the very beginning of a beautiful friendship. If either pet shows signs of hostility, reassure them and let them take a break. Even though you want them to be fast friends, you should never rush their first encounter. Adding trauma merely elongates the process, so you'd rather take it slow and steady than release or pressure your pet before they're comfortable.

The stocky Cardigan Corgi tends to weigh a little more than the easily recognizable Pembroke Corgi with their slimmer, orange frame. Life expectancy averages between 12–15 years for the Cardigan but is slightly less at 12–13 years for the Pembroke. Even though they're considered separate breeds, they have a similar lineage and personality.

The Corgi's double coat sheds moderately year-round, but more so in the summer. Cardigans have shorter fur than Pembroke Corgis, who shed a little more than their cousins. You'll need to brush your Corgi at least once a week, and more during the peak of shedding season, in order to distribute the natural oils on their coat and collect loose tufts of fur before they take flight through your house.

Caring for your Corgi isn't a tough task, but you can easily make it a family affair. These herding dogs need at least an hour of exercise every day to thrive mentally and physically. You can walk them with your other dogs or take your family on outings to the park in order to encourage everyone to spend time together and stay healthy. Corgis are particularly adept at obstacle courses and chasing objects. Dog-friendly playgrounds and games of frisbee are excellent ideas to keep them engaged.

Corgis are generally healthy without many breed-specific medical concerns. Like Dachshunds and other dogs with low, long backs, Corgis are prone to hip dysplasia. You'll need to take extra care that they don't jump on and off of tall furniture in order to prevent back injuries, especially as they grow older.

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your pet, seek veterinary advice for the best course of action.

Conclusion

Adopting a new pet into your family is an exciting prospect. Children gain a friend and some of their fondest childhood memories from the family dog, and your existing fur babies might appreciate some extra animal company. You should take every family member's personality into account when deciding which pet is right for you. Once you make your decision and adoption day comes, be sure to take the introductions slowly. After all, your Corgi has a lifetime to develop their new friendships, but they need to make a smooth first impression for best results.

See also:

• Can Corgis Jump?

• Can a Corgi Swim?

Featured Image Credit: Dean Drobot, Shutterstock