corgi – A Few Good Pets

Corgis are absolutely adorable dogs with their thick long fur, short legs, and big ears. Thanks to their appealing appearance and spunky personalities, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is extremely popular, ranking an impressive 15th in the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) list of most popular breeds in 2017. (source) Do corgis shed? Welsh corgis have a double coat that helps keep them dry but also causes them to shed, a lot! Even so, corgis are still a fantastic dog to own. Thankfully, there are many steps you can take to limit the amount of fur they shed in your house. Most dogs shed and some shed more than others. Often, our double-coated farm dogs, including corgis, shed a moderate amount. If you love corgis, do not let their shedding deter you from owning one. Once you understand why they shed and how often, you can learn ways to minimize how much of their hair ends up in your house. How much do Corgi's shed? Corgis shed a moderate amount! While they do not rank as the highest shedding dog, a corgi sheds a moderate amount of hair each day of their lives. As with most dogs, each individual dog may shed a little more or less than normal depending on their genetics. Thanks to their genetics, a corgi’s body naturally acclimates to the weather through their shedding cycles. Corgi's can do this because they have a double coat of fur, which also causes them to shed more hair than dogs that only have a single coat of fur. During shedding seasons, corgis will shed even more than usual. (source) What is a double coat? A double coat means that the dog has two layers of fur. The outer layer is a thick coat of coarse hair, while the bottom layer is a soft undercoat of hair. The topcoat of hair helps protect the dog’s skin from sun rays and from the snow. The undercoat serves as an insulator, allowing the dog to stay warm in the winter. Corgis and other herding dog breeds tend to have double coats of fur. This not only helps protects them in extreme temperatures but also from the bites and kicks of other animals. (source) When do Corgis shed the most? Corgis shed some hair every day of their lives, but there are certain times of the year when they shed larger amounts of hair. Dogs with double coats, like corgis, will shed twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Their undercoat hair growth increases when outdoor temperatures get colder. This serves to protect them from the elements once winter comes. When winter is over and temperatures begin to warm up again, corgis will naturally shed all of their excess undercoat hair. During this time, their topcoats will begin to grow in more to protect them from the sun. When summer is over and temperatures begin to dip down again, the topcoat will shed. Hence, the most noticeable shedding will occur at the end of winter and the end of summer. Do both breeds of Corgis shed the same amount? There are two distinct breeds of corgis that are recognized by the AKC. They are the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Although they have very different origin stories, both breeds look similar and have the same shedding habits. Regardless of anything you may have heard, both breeds of corgis have double coats and both shed relatively the same amounts. Best Ways to Manage Shedding In Your Corgi These are some of the best tips and tricks for reducing indoor shedding from your corgi. (source) Brush your corgi outside daily. Brushing your dog outside each day will stop a lot of corgi hair from getting into your house. There will still be some hair shed indoors, but you can get the biggest part out by brushing them daily. It may seem time-consuming, but a quick daily or almost daily brushing outside will help remove any new dead hairs and keep your corgi from shedding so much hair indoors. This will not completely stop the indoor shedding, but it will help reduce it drastically. Take them to the groomer regularly. A good professional grooming session here and there will help get a lot of their dead hair out and keep their coat looking the best it can. Groomers can help remove as much dead hair as possible and they can also help prevent matting, which is common in long-haired dogs. Give them a bath. Bathing a dog allows the dead hairs to become loose and easier to brush off. Many dead hairs will come off during the wash, the rest you can get by brushing them afterward. Make sure that your dog’s coat is completely dry before you brush them. Keep them healthy! A corgi’s health plays a major role in their shedding habits. Malnutrition can lead to irregular shedding cycles, which just cause a headache for their owners. Feed your corgi a quality dog food and work with your vet if you notice any drastic changes in their shedding cycles. Keep them indoors as much as possible. If your corgi lives indoors already, try to keep them inside more than they are outside, if possible. Many corgis are working dogs and spend most of their time outdoors and if this is the case, do not change anything. However, if they are not working dogs, keep them inside more often, especially during extreme temperatures. This will limit their natural pre-winter hair growth which will then limit their future shedding. Indoor corgis tend to shed less and more steadily throughout the year than their outdoor-loving counterparts. Best De-shedding Products The products all have rave reviews about how much they help with dog de-shedding. It is recommended to use these products regularly to limits the amount of shedding in your house. FURminator de-shedding Shampoo and Conditioner This shampoo and conditioner work together to loosen dead hair and remove dirt as well as other debris from a dog’s coat. When used in conjunction with a de-shedding brush, after the dog is completely dry of course, dog owners are able to remove the majority of the loose hair from a dog’s coat at one time. FURminator Undercoat De-shedding Tool for Dogs This brush is specifically designed for dogs with double coats. It is an exceptional brushing tool that is able to remove the loose hairs in a dog’s undercoat while protecting the topcoat. You can use this tool daily or after the dog has completely dried after a bath to remove dead hairs before they shed them. SleekEZ Original De-shedding Grooming Tool for Dogs Many dog and horse owners recommend this brush for not only de-shedding your corgi but also for cats, horses, carpets, and cloth car seats. This extremely unique brush prevents hair from snagging and causing your pet pain. It is said to work on all animals, which makes it a very versatile tool for your pet care arsenal. Can You Overbrush A Corgi? It is possible to over brush a corgi and cause major skin issues as a result. When using a de-shedding brush that helps remove undercoat hair specifically, make sure to only brush each spot once or maybe twice. Also, make sure that you do not brush them too hard. Any excessive brushing using these specialized brushes can cause skin irritations. You have to remember that corgis have a thick undercoat so their skin is not used to anything raking up against it, especially a coarse brush. Stick to brushing them no more than once a day, make sure they are dry and do not brush the same spot more than twice if you can help it. Should you shave your corgi? Aside from medical reasons, you should never shave your corgi. Any dog with a double coat should never be shaved for a variety of reasons. Corgis often have more sensitive skin than dogs with normal coats of fur. They are more likely to suffer from skin irritations and razor burn than other dogs. Shaving a corgi also doesn’t make them shed any less, it only makes the hair that they shed shorter. Shaving a corgi can also cause irreparable damage to their coat because it damages the growing cycle of the hair and sometimes causes bald spots. One shave and your corgi’s hair may never grow in completely the same again. Are there non-shedding corgis? All purebred corgis shed, so do not let anyone tell you that they have a non-shedding corgi. However, if you happen to run across a corgipoo, a corgi and poodle mixed dog breed, then it is possible that they could shed very little. This only happens if the dog happens to have a more poodle-based coat. If their coats strongly resemble a corgi coat, chances are, they will shed just like a purebred corgi. Are there pills for dogs that stop shedding? There are some nutrients on the market that help prevent excessive shedding, but there is no pill that will stop shedding altogether. Corgis will shed no matter what but if your dog is shedding excessively because of a nutrient deficiency, then a shedding supplement may benefit your dog. Be sure to consult with your vet before you add any nutrients to your dog’s diet. Things to Remember Never shave your corgi.Bathe and brush corgis regularly to limit indoor shedding.Do not overbrush or brush too hard.Keep them healthy!Work with your vet if you notice any changes in shedding habits. Final Thoughts Corgis do shed and they shed a lot, but that does not change how invaluable they are as a pet. They are fun and loyal dogs that play irreplaceable roles in their owner’s lives. Their shedding can not be stopped, but there are plenty of ways to lessen the amount that ends up inside your house. Keep them groomed, brush them regularly and love them completely! You will never regret having a corgi in your life.