Arrival day
Take your puppy to their toilet spot first, then let them explore one room or a pen, not the whole house. Keep visitors to the family and offer a meal at the usual time.
Family guide
How to take care
of a Corgi.
Corgis are sturdy, cheerful dogs, but their build and their appetite bring a few particular needs. Here is the everyday picture: what to have ready, the first week, feeding and weight, exercise, protecting a long back, and the vet care that keeps a puppy on track.
Before pickup
What do you need
for a Corgi puppy?
Have the basics in place before your puppy arrives, so the first days are about settling in, not shopping.
- A crate big enough for an adult Corgi, with a divider for now
- A puppy pen or baby gates for a small, safe area
- Food and water bowls, plus the food your puppy comes home with
- A harness or flat collar with an ID tag, and a light leash
- Safe chews and a food puzzle or two
- A slicker brush, nail clippers and a dog toothbrush
- An enzyme cleaner for accidents
- A vet appointment booked for the first few days
Puppy proofing
How do you make
a home Corgi safe?
Get down to Corgi height and look around. Puppies chew whatever they can reach.
- Cables and chargers out of reach
- Shoes, socks and small toys put away
- Medicines, cleaning products and pest baits locked up
- Trash cans with lids, because Corgis are keen scavengers
- Chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic and anything with xylitol kept well away
- Stairs gated off
The first week
What is the first
week at home like?
Puppies sleep far more than new owners expect, and the first few days are often quiet. Confidence usually arrives later in the week. Keep things small, calm and predictable.
Days two to four
Settle into the routine: meals at set times, frequent trips outside, naps in the crate and short, gentle play. Our Corgi puppy training guide has the house training plan and the first night routine.
The vet visit
See your own vet in the first few days and take the records that come with your puppy. Your vet will plan the remaining vaccines and parasite prevention from there.
Keep the food the same
Stay on the food your puppy comes home with for at least the first week or two. If you want to change it, mix the new food in gradually over about a week. A new home and a new diet at once is a recipe for an upset stomach.
End of the week
Start widening the world with short car rides, a few calm visitors and new sounds and surfaces, with plenty of quiet time in between.
Feeding
How much should
a Corgi eat?
Less than they will tell you. Corgis are famously food driven and gain weight easily. Feed a good quality puppy food in measured meals at set times rather than leaving a bowl down. Young puppies usually eat three or four small meals a day, moving to two meals somewhere between six months and a year. Ask your vet when to switch to adult food.
The amount on the bag is a starting point, not a rule. Measure every meal and adjust to your dog's shape. Count treats as part of the day's food: a common rule of thumb is no more than about ten percent of daily calories, and training treats can come out of the meal ration.
Weight
What should a
healthy Corgi weigh?
The breed standard sets an upper limit of 30 pounds for males and 28 pounds for females, at 10 to 12 inches at the shoulder. Shape matters more than the number. You should be able to feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, and see a waist from above and a slight tuck from the side.
Extra weight is more than cosmetic for a Corgi, because it strains a long back, short legs and the joints. Weigh your dog every month or two, and ask your vet what a good weight looks like for your Corgi.
Keep reading
More Corgi guides.
The long back
How do you protect
a Corgi's back?
Like other long backed, short legged breeds, Corgis are more prone to back problems such as intervertebral disc disease. You cannot control everything, but you can cut down the everyday strain, and the habits are easiest to set while your dog is young.
If your Corgi suddenly cries when touched, hunches, refuses to jump or climb, or wobbles or drags the back legs, call your vet the same day.
Carry a young puppy up and down stairs and keep them gated when you are not watching. For adults, a steady walk beats racing and leaping down a flight, and runners help on slick stairs.
Jumping off beds and sofas again and again is hard on a long spine. Lift your dog down, teach a "wait", or put a ramp or pet steps by their favorite spot.
Pick a Corgi up with one hand under the chest and one under the hindquarters so the back stays level. Rugs on slippery floors and trimmed paw hair help with grip.
Exercise
How much exercise
does a Corgi need?
More than their size suggests. Pembrokes were bred to work cattle, and an adult Corgi is usually happiest with at least two good walks a day plus play and training. A bored Corgi barks, chews and herds the family.
Puppies are different, because their bones and joints are still growing. Keep exercise to sniffy walks, free play on grass and short games, with plenty of naps. Avoid long runs, jogging and lots of repeated jumping until your vet says your dog is fully grown. In hot weather, walk early or late and carry water.
Mental work
How do you keep
a Corgi's mind busy?
A Corgi's brain needs a workout as much as its legs, and a short training session or a food puzzle can tire a puppy surprisingly well. Feed some meals from puzzle feeders or a snuffle mat, scatter kibble in the grass, hide toys and teach a new trick every week or two.
Rotate toys so old ones feel new, and as your dog matures, consider a sport. Pembrokes do well in obedience, rally, scent work, herding and, once fully grown, agility.
Vet care
What vet care does
a Corgi puppy need?
Your puppy comes home at eight weeks with a veterinary exam, age appropriate vaccines, deworming and health records, all listed on our health and care page. The vaccine series is not finished at eight weeks. Your vet will schedule the remaining boosters and the rabies vaccine required where you live, and set up parasite prevention for heartworm, fleas and ticks.
Ask your vet about microchipping, the right timing for spaying or neutering, and dental care. After the first year, most healthy dogs see the vet at least once a year.
When to call
When should you
call the vet?
Puppies can go downhill quickly, so call your vet promptly if your puppy stops eating, vomits or has diarrhea more than once, seems unusually weak or flat, has trouble breathing or seems to be in pain. Call straight away if you think your dog has eaten something toxic, such as chocolate, grapes, xylitol or medication.
Keep your vet's number and the nearest emergency clinic in your phone. We are glad to hear from you too: lifetime support by phone and email comes with every Copper Crest puppy. We do not replace your vet, but we can help you think through what to ask.
Care questions
Corgi care
questions.
Can a Corgi live in an apartment?
Yes, as long as they get daily walks, play and mental work. Two things to think about: stairs, since you will be carrying a puppy up and down for a while, and barking, because Corgis are alert and vocal.
Are Corgis good with children?
Usually, yes. They are sturdy, playful and affectionate. Some will chase and nip at running children, so supervise, teach children to stand still rather than run, and give the puppy a quiet place to retreat. Young children should not carry a Corgi, because of the long back.
How long do Corgis live?
Many Pembrokes live into their early teens. Keeping your dog lean, active and up to date with vet care is the best thing you can do for a long, comfortable life.
Can a Corgi be left alone while I work?
An adult who has been taught to be alone gradually, and exercised first, can usually manage part of the day. A young puppy cannot last a full workday, so plan for someone to come home or a dog walker to visit in the early months.
Your next steps
Begin with a clear
home routine.
Read our Corgi puppy training guide and Welsh Corgi grooming guide, review our puppy process and what comes home on our health and care page, then meet the puppies available now.