Dear Corgi Lovers-
Happy International Corgi Day—a day annually celebrated on June 4th and dedicated to you and your favorite dog breed! Known for their stubby legs, sturdy bodies and luxuriously thick coats, corgis are friendly, intelligent and loyal companions.
Having been initially bred as cattle herders, they prefer to be in control. In our doggy daycare practice, we witness this all the time, as when a corgi joins us, we—both pups and people alike—are all quickly assigned where to be and with whom we can play! We all fall in line and obey, or very quickly, the expressive vocalizations and insistent corgi bark is unleashed.
Even Queen Elizabeth was under the thumbs, er… paws, of her corgis. They were well known as her favorite dog breed. The Queen bred hundreds of corgis from her original Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Susan, and kept nearly 30 of them through the years. Princess Diana famously called them the Queen’s “moving carpet,” as Her Majesty often had an entourage of them around her.
There are two main breeds of corgis—the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The larger of the two breeds, the Cardigan, also has larger, more rounded ears than its Pembroke counterpart. Tails of the Pembroke corgi were docked for many years, so many are now born without tails, so the tail tends to be the defining characteristic, or telltale sign (sorry, I couldn’t resist!) when discerning which breed of corgi you encounter.
The Welsh word “corgi” literally translates to “dwarf dog.” While the two breeds have completely different origins, both types of corgis, with their long bodies and short legs, are prone to joint-related issues, such as hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Additionally, they are susceptible to a degenerative spine condition called degenerative myelopathy, a blood clotting disorder called von Willebrand’s disease and an eye condition called progressive retinal atrophy. Yes, corgis do face certain susceptibilities that other breeds don’t, but they are worth it, and the good news is there are preventative measures that can be taken.
In addition to regular veterinary visits and frequent exercise, such as leisurely walks, we have some preventative advice for corgi lovers that you can do to ensure the health of your corgi including:
Provide a well-balanced, high-quality diet, and monitor calorie intake in order to maintain a healthy weight. This is crucial for this breed. Several corgi owners we know use slow feeder bowls that significantly slow down the pace of a meal. Here is a best-selling version on Amazon, and it goes without saying that this bowl can be used by all of your furry family members—not just corgis.
Provide your corgi with a daily eye health supplement high in antioxidants. This supplement, recommended by veterinary ophthalmologists, is a best seller on Amazon.
It seems that our beloved corgi lovers are a breed unto themselves, so please enjoy these corgi-specific gift ideas on International Corgi Day, as it comes but once a year!
…and remember: ‘there’s no love like puppy love!’
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