Corgis are well-known for their extensive shedding. Because standard coated corgis have a double coat, they tend to shed at a much higher rate than breeds that do not have a double coat. Pembroke Welsh corgis do not require professional grooming, and you should never shave a standard coated corgi. Their double coat helps them stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. By six months of age Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppies will be getting their adult coat and well on their way to their final adult coat colouring. Corgi coat colouring can change a lot while they grow.
As your puppy grows it is important that you desensitize them to being regularly groomed. You want your puppy to enjoy being brushed. You also want them to be comfortable getting their teeth brushed, nails trimmed, and bathed. Below you will find some information on grooming your corgi, wether it's a fluffy or a standard coat.
BRUSHING A PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI
- STANDARD COAT -
Standard coated corgis have a double coat that consists of a thicker shorter under-layer and a longer top-layer. Standard coated corgis are year round shedders, and they shed their coat in some form on a daily basis. They typically shed most intensely during spring and autumn, and will need extra brushing in those seasons. It would be useful to purchase a slicker brush and a steel comb for your standard coated corgi. These two types of brushes will be very useful at keeping your corgi's shedding under control. Make sure to get a slicker brush that has soft polished pins, so it does not scratch your dog. You want your dog to be comfortable and enjoy being brushed.
- FLUFFY COAT -
Fluffy coated corgis shed less in comparison to standard coated corgis because they do not have a double coat. That being said, they still shed. There are different degrees of fluffiness in corgis. Some have a thinner more feathered coat, while some are simply a plush thick fluffiness. The different types of fluffy coats will have different degrees of shedding. With routine maintenance, you will find that the fluffy coat is not very difficult to keep clean and mat free. Use a steel comb to brush through your fluffy on a regular basis. Make sure you are checking for mats behind the ears and between the legs. A soft slicker brush with long pins is another very useful brush for de-shedding a fluffy corgi.
OTHER GROOMING PRACTICES
BATHING
It is important to expose your puppy to bathing at a young age. They will have had a bath or two before leaving us, but bathing is something that can become stressful for a puppy if you do not continue to expose them to it while they are young. Make sure a bath is a positive experience for your puppy and they feel safe. You want to be careful not to get water in your puppy's ears during the bath. Not only is it uncomfortable for them, but the moisture can lead to ear infections. Gently stuffing cotton balls in your puppy's ears can help them stay dry during a bath. Otherwise, just avoid spraying water into them.
Make sure you are choosing a trusted shampoo. Please avoid pet store flea and tick shampoos as they can be toxic to dogs. EarthBath is a trusted company that sells many great dog shampoos and conditioners. Earthbath sells a great ultra-mild puppy shampoo that is wild cherry scented. Although not necessary, a high velocity dryer can be a helpful tool for drying your dog, especially for plush fluffy corgis. There are many affordable high velocity pet dryers on amazon.
If your corgi is shedding a lot, a bath can help to expedite the process.
EARS
Pembroke Welsh corgis have pointy ears that stay fairly clean on their own, but any time your dog swims or is bathed it is a good idea to dry and clean their ears. Damp ears breed yeast. If your dog gets an ear infection please take them to the vet. The Zymox Blue label ear cleaner is great for maintaining healthy ears and preventing and treating yeast. You can find Zymox on amazon. We love it so much that we always have it on hand.
TEETH
Puppy teeth are very sharp. Don't give your puppy chew toys that are too hard and could break their puppy teeth. Around 12 to 16 weeks of age your puppy will start teething. You should get your puppy used to having you feel their teeth and mouth. By the time your puppy is about six months old or so, all of his/her puppy teeth should have fallen out, and his/her adult teeth should have grown in. If you notice any baby teeth remaining, make sure to let your veterinarian know as they may need to be removed. Now that your puppy has all their adult teeth, it is your job to keep them that way. By brushing your pup's teeth regularly, you can prevent or decrease the need for veterinary cleanings. To desensitize your puppy to teeth brushing, you can start by scrubbing the teeth with a finger brush. Later you can graduate to a toothbrush and toothpaste. Toothbrushes should be soft, and you can get appropriate dog toothpaste at the veterinarian. Also, certain foods, treats, and other products can help reduce plaque. Look for the seal of approval from the Veterinary Oral Health Council.
NAILS
We never remove dewclaws on our puppies. We chose to keep dewclaws because they are essentially a fifth toe, attached by tendons. Dogs use them to climb, to avoid torque, and to hold things. Be sure to not forget the dewclaws when trimming nails. They can curl and snag on things, which could be very painful for your dog. We trim the puppies nails regularly while they are growing. We usually send our puppies with a small nail trimmer for trimming their small puppy nails. You will have to purchase a regular sized dog nail trimmer a couple months after bringing your puppy home. If you can hear your dog's nails clicking on the floor, it's time for a trim.
