Corgis are a wonderful breed to have as a family pet. The dogs are very friendly, gentle, loyal, affectionate, and playful. They love people and get along well with children, making them one of the best pets for families with children or stay-at-home moms.
So, are you looking forward to making either a Cardigan Welsh Corgi or a Pembroke Welsh Corgi a member of your family? Here’s all the information you need about their shedding, what’s normal, and how you can control it.
Do Corgis Shed?
Yes! Corgis do shed quite a lot. Both Welsh Pembroke and Cardigan Corgis are heavy shedders because they have double coats. If you have any of these lovely pets in your home, you should expect to deal with a good amount of fur on your clothes and furniture all year round.
The double-layered coats of these breeds give them a thin layer of fur underneath their main fur layer. They also tend to have thicker, shorter coats and long hair. All these characteristics describe a dog with the potential for heavy shedding.
All double-layered breeds tend to shed a lot all year round, with the most shedding happening in fall and spring in preparation for summer and winter. Spring shedding helps them lighten up as they prepare for the hot summer season. Fall shedding, on the other hand, gives them more room to grow thicker fur to protect them from the cold in winter.
Heavy shedding should, however, not deter you from owning a Corgi because you can manage it through regular brushing and good grooming. If you maintain your dog well and groom them properly, the shedding will not be much of a bother. However, if you or any of your family members have allergy issues, you’ll be better off with a more hypoallergenic breed.
Do All Corgis Shed?
Yes, all Corgis shed. Both Welsh Pembroke Corgis and Cardigan Corgis are heavy shedders all year.
Welsh Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis are similar in many ways. They both have double-layered coats, which means you’ll find two layers of fur under their coats. Their fur is thick and short. They also have long hair. All these characteristics qualify both Pembroke and Cardigan Corgis as heavy shedders.
So, if you’re looking to adopt a Cardigan Welsh Corgi or its cousin, the Welsh Pembroke Corgi, you’ll have to make peace with the fact that shedding is in their DNA. You must also expect them to shed a lot more during spring and fall as they prepare for the harsh summer or winter season.
If you still want a Corgi but can’t stand the heavy shedding, you’ll have to settle for a mixed breed. You can consider a Corgipoo, which is a cross between a heavy-shedding Welsh Corgi and a light-shedding Poodle. The Corgipoo is considered a more hypoallergenic breed because they don’t shed as much as the purebred Corgis.
You might also consider going for other, more hypoallergenic breeds that are not Corgis. Good examples of hypoallergenic family dogs are the Basenji, the Italian Greyhound, and a poodle.
When Do Corgis Shed?
Corgis tend to shed their fur all year round. You’ll have to deal with the fur on your furniture and clothes on a daily basis. Well, if the fur doesn't bother you much and you don’t have an allergy, this won’t be a problem.
While both the Cardigan Welsh and Pembroke Corgis shed all year round on a daily basis, you should expect a lot more shedding two times per year. You should expect more shedding as the seasons approach summer or winter.
Seasonal shedding in dogs is referred to as “blowing their coats.” You should expect more shedding in winter as they grow thick coats to protect them from the heat and shed off the lighter coats. During summer, the opposite happens. Your Corgis will blow their thicker coats as they grow lighter ones to keep them cool during the hot days.
So, if you notice a lot more shedding during these two seasons, you should not worry much because it’s a normal cycle. However, you should stay on top of their grooming so that the excessive fur doesn’t become a bother for your family.
Shedding Triggers
It’s normal for Corgis to shed daily throughout the year and even more during the summer. However, there are instances when excessive shedding may not be normal. You can watch out for signs of abnormality, such as patches in the skin or irritation. When they tend to lose more hair than they normally do, there must be a problem with your furry friend.
Corgi shedding triggers include:
Imbalanced Diet
Good nutrition is very important in the life of your dog, as it keeps their fur healthy. The number one cause of excessive shedding on your lovely Corgi is poor diet. If you don’t feed your beloved pet nutritious food, you’ll notice excessive shedding.
Proper nutrition in dogs means getting high-quality pet feed, feeding them at the right time, and not giving them only one type of food. So make sure you give them a mix of dry foods, canned meals, a home-cooked diet, and soft-moist food. Also, watch out for gluten in the feeds because many pets seem to be intolerant.
Stress
Dogs do get stressed from time to time, and this may affect their fur as well. Some causes of stress in Corgis include loneliness, separation anxiety, environmental change, or the introduction of a new pet. If you introduce any changes in your dog's life, make sure you give them a humble time to adapt so they don’t get stressed and start shedding unnecessarily.
If your pet is taking too long to adapt, you might consider talking to a vet to recommend supplements, drugs, or other remedies. Remember, a visit to the vet can also stress your Corgi, so make sure to do it carefully. You don’t want them to be stressed even more.
Using the Wrong Shampoo
While everyone wants to groom their lovely pets, so they look their best, the kind of shampoo you use to bathe them matters a lot. Using the wrong shampoo can badly damage your Corgi's coat and cause excess shedding.
Don’t use a shampoo made for humans on your dog because these are too harsh and can cause skin irritation. Go for dog-specific shampoos with olive oil or aloe vera. Also, make sure you rinse off the shampoo well after bathing them so there’s no leftover soap that might irritate the skin.
Disease
Corgis tend to be very healthy dogs most of the time. However, they’re not immune to many pet diseases, such as skin irritation, cancer, or skin allergies.
When they’re irritated or have allergies, your Corgis may scratch their skin too much, causing them to shed. Cancer can also make your pet lose a lot of its fur. Take them to the vet as soon as possible so that they may get the best treatment for the condition they might be suffering from.
Hormonal Imbalance
Different events in your Corgi’s life may throw the hormones off balance, and when this happens, they’ll tend to shed a lot more than normal. Your Corgi may show signs of excessive shedding after giving birth, neutering, or spaying. If the symptoms don’t go away after some time, you may need to seek the help of a veterinarian.
Parasites
Like diseases, parasites such as mites, fleas, and ticks might attack your Corgi from time to time, affecting their skin. The parasites may eat their skin, causing irritation and scratching, which then causes loss of fur. This can also lead to serious health issues, such as skin inflammation or infection.
If you notice that your Corgi has parasites, talk to your vet, who can recommend the right product. Some products for killing parasites might cause more harm to your pet.
Managing Your Corgi’s Shedding
Shedding in Corgis is normal, and you can’t stop it. But you can manage the shedding, so it doesn’t become a nuisance. Cleaning the furniture and the clothes often may not be the ideal solution, as your pup will still shed on them daily.
Good grooming, such as brushing and bathing your Corgi regularly, can help keep their coats healthy and beautiful and reduce shedding. When brushing or bathing your dog, make sure you use the right products, so you don’t end up hurting them in the process.
A good diet and supplements can also help keep your dog from shedding too much. Make sure you talk to your pet about the right supplements and diet for this specific breed.
Managing Your Corgi’s shedding:
Brushing
Brushing your pet's coat is a wonderful way to take care of them and reduce shedding in the process. Make sure you’re consistent with brushing by doing it regularly. If you make it a routine, your Corgi will get used to it, and you won’t have a hard time brushing.
Buy the right kind of brush, as not every brush works well for your dog’s skin. Don’t do it so often and end up damaging the fur in the process. Two to three times a week can work well for normal shedding periods. During heavy shedding seasons, such as winter and summer, daily brushing may help manage excessive shedding.
Shampoo
The kind of shampoo you use on your furry friend will determine how much they’ll shed. Use natural dog shampoos, so they don’t irritate your dog’s skin and make shedding worse. If your pup is shedding too much, especially during the seasonal changes, buy shed-reducing shampoo to manage the problem.
Remember, if you use the wrong kind of shampoo on your dog’s coat, you might increase the shedding. Also, ensure you don’t bathe them too often and expose them to skin conditions. Bathing your Corgi once per month with the right shampoo is enough to control the shedding and keep them healthy.
Diet
The food you feed your pet can either reduce or increase their shedding. To reduce shedding, you have to ensure your dog eats highly nutritious food high in Omega fatty acids. Ensure their kibbles have all the nutrients and vitamins they need to stay healthy and strong.
Omega fatty acids are responsible for keeping your dog’s coat smooth and shiny. With a smooth, shiny coat, you’ll find other things, such as brushing and grooming your pets, very easy. So, make sure you watch what your dog eats if you want to keep them looking healthy and shedding less.
Is a Corgi Right For Me?
Corgis are among the best pets you can have at home. They’re loyal, affectionate, and family-friendly. If you dedicate a few minutes of your busy days to taking care of these lovely pups, they’ll be sure to reward you with love and care.
One thing is for sure, though, Corgis shed quite a lot. So, if you’re among the potential Corgi owners who are asking the question, “do Corgis shed?”, you already have your answer. You’ll have to deal with fur all over the house throughout the year.
But the fur won’t have to be a bother if you maintain the shedding of your pet well. You should brush them regularly, give them a bath once in a while with a good shampoo, and ensure proper nutrition. Also, ensure you identify the signs of excess shedding, such as stress, illness, and poor diet, and address them early enough.
So, if fur doesn’t bother you so much and you can maintain your pet to reduce shedding, then we’re happy to inform you that Corgis are right for you. You just need to love them back as much as they love you and dedicate a few minutes of your day to brushing and grooming them.
However, if fur does bother you so much or you have allergy issues, then you’ll be better off with a more hypoallergenic dog. There’s no way you’ll be able to stop Corgis from shedding because that’s in their DNA.
Get more expert advice on pet-parenting by visiting the Off Leash blog at TryFi.com.
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