The American Corgi is not the same breed as the Pembroke Welsh Corgi or the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. While they share many common characteristics and some can be hard to discern from purebreds of either Welsh Corgi breed, an American Corgi is a purpose-bred crossbred of the two, usually leaning heavier to the Pembroke side. American Corgis are not recognized by AKC as a breed, and thus they cannot compete in dog shows like Westminster or the National Dog Show. However, with AKC's PAL program, which is an alternate form of registration, they can compete in many other dog sports such as agility, obedience, Rally, FastCAT, and many more. They are recognized by Continental Kennel Club, an entirely separate breed book from AKC, and this is how many American Corgi breeders register their dogs.
American Corgis differ in structure from Pembroke Corgis and Cardigan Corgis. They typically have longer legs and shorter backs, and are smaller than most Cardigans and some Pembrokes. A well-bred American Corgi will not have any congenital health issues due to the dedication to health testing and careful breeding practices of his or her breeder. That being said, the breed does have some genetic predisposition to certain health issues that prospective buyers should be aware of:
So what can you expect from an American Corgi if you've never had a Pembroke or a Cardigan?
American Corgis, like Pembrokes, are commonly described as "big dogs in little bodies." They believe they have more size than they do and have big attitudes to match it. They are bold but kind dogs - a Corgi with proper temperament will not shy away from strangers but also will not act aggressively. The trainability and intelligence of Corgis is one of the hallmark characteristics of their personality. Both ancestor Corgi breeds are in the AKC's Herding Group, and historically were drovers' dogs working on cattle herds on the small farms of Wales. These mentality traits were vital to their purpose and have been maintained throughout the generations of breeding to modern Corgis. In addition, their activity level befits the "working" dog. Corgis need a job, whether it's guarding the house, hiking with their people, a dog sport, or something else that stimulates them. They can quickly become unfulfilled as just being apartment or house pets without extra enrichment, and their intelligence can lead to mischief. If you plan to adopt a Corgi, be sure you can fulfill their energy level and match their intelligence.
Corgis in general can live happily with children, other dogs, and other house pets, though they should be carefully introduced and remain supervised. With natural herding instinct and big attitude, they may attempt to herd fast moving children or other pets - or you, if they think they can get away with it. With the right relationship dynamic and proper discipline, Corgis can deeply bond with anyone in the household. Typically, a Corgi chooses one "person" that is their main human, though they can love everyone in family with their entire hearts.
They are a double-coated breed, meaning they have longer, harder "guard hairs" and a softer, shorter undercoat. This double coat is constantly shedding, though it can be maintained with weekly brushing at home. This being said, the "evidence" will more than likely become a permanent staple in your house - be prepared for Corgi hair everywhere. (Our favorite term for it is Corgi glitter). Many household tools have been developed to help wrangle dog hair, and one or more of these tools may need to be added to your cleaning routine including lint rollers and pet-hair friendly vacuums. Typically, Corgis blow their coats twice a year, once in spring and once in fall, to prepare for the turns in temperature. This is when their shedding is heaviest and they may require more frequent brushings (and a lot more house cleaning) in these times. In the summer, Corgis should never be shaved, as this damages how their hair grows and can cause more harm than good in the long run. Despite their thick fur, they are hardy creatures and will not suffer in summer heat if their owners are mindful of their needs. In addition to their coat, attention should be paid to their nails to prevent overgrowth and their ears should be kept clean from debris and wax buildup, as well as any parasites that may hide there.
American Corgis differ in structure from Pembroke Corgis and Cardigan Corgis. They typically have longer legs and shorter backs, and are smaller than most Cardigans and some Pembrokes. A well-bred American Corgi will not have any congenital health issues due to the dedication to health testing and careful breeding practices of his or her breeder. That being said, the breed does have some genetic predisposition to certain health issues that prospective buyers should be aware of:
- Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
- A disease affecting the nerves in the spinal cord of older dogs, leading to paralysis.
- Von Willebrand Disease I (vWBI or vWB)
- A disease affecting a clotting factor that can increase risks in surgeries and whelping
- Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)
- A disease affecting the neuromuscular system that can cause a dog to become weak, uncoordinated, and may cause collapse after strenuous exercise
So what can you expect from an American Corgi if you've never had a Pembroke or a Cardigan?
American Corgis, like Pembrokes, are commonly described as "big dogs in little bodies." They believe they have more size than they do and have big attitudes to match it. They are bold but kind dogs - a Corgi with proper temperament will not shy away from strangers but also will not act aggressively. The trainability and intelligence of Corgis is one of the hallmark characteristics of their personality. Both ancestor Corgi breeds are in the AKC's Herding Group, and historically were drovers' dogs working on cattle herds on the small farms of Wales. These mentality traits were vital to their purpose and have been maintained throughout the generations of breeding to modern Corgis. In addition, their activity level befits the "working" dog. Corgis need a job, whether it's guarding the house, hiking with their people, a dog sport, or something else that stimulates them. They can quickly become unfulfilled as just being apartment or house pets without extra enrichment, and their intelligence can lead to mischief. If you plan to adopt a Corgi, be sure you can fulfill their energy level and match their intelligence.
Corgis in general can live happily with children, other dogs, and other house pets, though they should be carefully introduced and remain supervised. With natural herding instinct and big attitude, they may attempt to herd fast moving children or other pets - or you, if they think they can get away with it. With the right relationship dynamic and proper discipline, Corgis can deeply bond with anyone in the household. Typically, a Corgi chooses one "person" that is their main human, though they can love everyone in family with their entire hearts.
They are a double-coated breed, meaning they have longer, harder "guard hairs" and a softer, shorter undercoat. This double coat is constantly shedding, though it can be maintained with weekly brushing at home. This being said, the "evidence" will more than likely become a permanent staple in your house - be prepared for Corgi hair everywhere. (Our favorite term for it is Corgi glitter). Many household tools have been developed to help wrangle dog hair, and one or more of these tools may need to be added to your cleaning routine including lint rollers and pet-hair friendly vacuums. Typically, Corgis blow their coats twice a year, once in spring and once in fall, to prepare for the turns in temperature. This is when their shedding is heaviest and they may require more frequent brushings (and a lot more house cleaning) in these times. In the summer, Corgis should never be shaved, as this damages how their hair grows and can cause more harm than good in the long run. Despite their thick fur, they are hardy creatures and will not suffer in summer heat if their owners are mindful of their needs. In addition to their coat, attention should be paid to their nails to prevent overgrowth and their ears should be kept clean from debris and wax buildup, as well as any parasites that may hide there.
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