What's the Best Dog Food for Corgis?
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Breed Info
Breed Group:Herding | AKC Pembroke Welsh Corgi Profile
Ideal Weight:Female Adult: 19 to 25 pounds
Male Adult: 22 to 28 pounds
Exercise Need:30 to 50 minutes per day
Breed Summary
There are very few dog breeds more beloved than a Corgi. Both modern breeds, the Pembroke and Cardigan, are extremely affectionate and make for great companions for any household. Their low, stocky stature and agility has made them great cattle-herding dogs and earned them their name “corgi,” which a Welsh version of the term “dwarf dog.” Pembroke Corgis were made famous by Queen Elizabeth II, whose 30+ corgis have helped her rule over England, but both breeds have very similar characteristics. Fun fact: the biggest difference between the Pembroke Welsh and Cardigan Welsh Corgi is that Pembrokes don't have tails.
Physical Traits
Short, stocky, strong, athletic, agile
Personality Traits
Friendly, engaged, loyal, playful, intelligent
Health Considerations
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Corgis do have a few important health characteristics when considering pet food. Their long, stocky frames can put stress on joints, and weight management is key to minimizing this burden. Corgis also have higher propensity for eye problems, so we like to recommend food with ingredients that strengthen eye health, especially as they get older. While the pembroke and cardigan breeds each have slighly different physical traits, their health and nutritional profile are similar.
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Eye Problems
Corgis can develop herediitary issues like progressive retinal atrophy (pra), cataracts and glaucoma, so the foods or supplements we recommend may contain:
Recommendations:
Anthocyanins・ Astaxanthin・ Beta-carotene・ Carotenoids・ Glutathione・ Lutein・ Lycopene・ Omega-3 essential fatty acids・ Phytonutrients・ Vitamin A・ Vitamin C -
Joint Issues
Similar to many breeds, corgis are susceptible to hip dysplasia and arthritis, so we like to see their food contain:
Recommendations:
Antioxidants・ Chondroitin・ Glucosamine・ Green Mussel・ Methylsulfonymethane・ Omega-3 from Fish Oil・ Taurine・ Turmeric・ Vitamin E -
Weight Management
Those little corgi bodies, while cute, are not built to carry extra pounds. You'll want to make sure their diet is not contributing to obesity; even a little extra weight can be a burden on their bodies. For this reason, portion control will be important, and in addition we prefer foods with these attributes.
Recommendations:
Large bites (to slow chewing)・ L-carnitine・ Low calorie・ Low fat
Get a tailored nutrition profile for your dog
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Are Fresh Food Diets Good for Pembroke Welsh Corgis?
Only if they’re properly balanced.
Many well-intentioned Pembroke Welsh Corgis parents spend a lot of time preparing meals at home, but health benefits are lost if meals aren’t properly portioned and balanced with all the nutrients dogs need. Recently, a few companies have done an excellent job ensuring accurate portions and nutrient balance by delivering pre-prepped fresh meals customized to the size and needs of your dog. Farmer’s Dog, Ollie and Nom Nom have each been approved by our nutrition team as delivering truly quality and well-balanced meals. They can be a little expensive (usually 3-4x more per day than kibble), but many find the added health benefits worth the cost. They do offer discounts to new customers, though, if you’d like to try one out.
Pros and Cons of Fresh Food Diets
✓ Diets balanced by Nutritionists・ ✓ Customized portions for weight control・ ✓ Superior digestive and immune health ・✕ More expensive than standard dog food
Foods We Recommend for Pembroke Welsh Corgis Puppies
How long do Pembroke Welsh Corgiss need puppy food?
Until they're 10 to 12 months old.
Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very focused on growing, and how we feed them should help them do just that. Since they have so much growing to do, they need higher amounts of nutrients than adult dogs, especially proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and — don’t forget — water. It’s still important to not overfeed puppies, so make sure to portion food and keep treats to no more than 10% of their caloric intake. Since balance is so important, we recommend that your young Pembroke Welsh Corgis is eating food that is made just for puppies from a reputable brand.
Find the best nutritional start for your puppy
Our recommendation tool evaluates your puppy’s breed, age, growth stage, lifestyle, and health needs to identify a scientifically appropriate diet from over 10,000 options. Obtain personalized guidance to help support healthy development and lifelong wellness.
Foods We Recommend for Pembroke Welsh Corgis Adults
When should Pembroke Welsh Corgis start transitioning to adult food?
When they're 10 to 12 months old
From a nutrition standpoint, Pembroke Welsh Corgis become adults once they reach about 90% of their expected weight. Once adults, our two key nutrition goals are balance and maintenance. We want balance because a dog’s body is responsible for a lot of things, like digestion, fighting infection, keeping muscles strong, and chasing squirrels. These are all important tasks, so we want to make sure each body function gets its share of nutrients. We also need to maintain a healthy weight. Underfed dogs are at risk for malnourishment, and overfed dogs can become obese — both of which lead to even worse problems for a Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Find the optimal nutrition plan for your adult dog
Our assessment analyzes your dog’s breed, age, lifestyle, and health considerations to recommend a scientifically selected diet from over 10,000 options. Personalized insights to help your dog thrive through adulthood.
Foods We Recommend for Pembroke Welsh Corgis Seniors
When should Pembroke Welsh Corgis start transitioning to senior food?
All dogs can age differently, but small dogs like Pembroke Welsh Corgis can start to benefit from senior food around 8 to 10 years old
Ever watch kids running around the playground and wish you had that energy again? Yeah. Dogs get there, too. The metabolic processes in senior Pembroke Welsh Corgis slow down as they age, which often means they aren’t needing quite as many calories as they did in their prime. Smart dog food companies have formulated senior diets to ease up on calories but still help them feel full and give them adequate maintenance protein. Still, like humans, everybody is different. Sometimes older dogs need just as many calories, or more, depending on how their bodies progress. So keep a close eye on their body condition, and look for dog foods made for seniors.
Support your senior dog's health with targeted nutrition
Our assessment analyzes your dog’s breed, age, and health considerations to recommend a science-based diet from over 10,000 options. Help maintain mobility, cognitive health, and quality of life.
Affiliate Disclosure:
We do not accept money to recommend pet foods. However, we do receive referral fees from online retailers (such as Chewy or Amazon) on qualifying purchases. Our recommendations are neutral, and diet recommendations are made without considering whether we will receive a referral fee.