Who doesn’t want a little furry companion? However, welcoming a dog in a small apartment can seem to be a problem. Having a small dog is usually a dream come true for people living in confined spaces. Are corgis good apartment dogs, or should you consider getting a different breed?
Corgis are one of the most popular and well-known breeds of the 21st century. They are small, tailless, with short legs, huge ears, and bigger-than-life personalities.
Still, some features of the race make people wonder are corgis good apartment dogs. Let’s dig a bit deeper into this problem.
What Makes Good Apartment Dogs?
If you live in an apartment and want to adopt a pooch, you should consider a few things. Many apartment buildings have rules regarding pets.
This can include characteristics such as a dog’s breed, size, or even temperament. Even if you live in an apartment that is dog friendly, not every dog is suitable for such a life.
Before you adopt, you need to answer these burning questions:
- Will the dog bark commonly?
- How active is that breed?
- How much will it shed?
- Are they too big for your apartment?
- Are they friendly enough not to go after other people or pets in your condo complex?
Depending on your lifestyle, some of these questions are more important than others. For example, if you are active, fulfilling your dog’s activity needs won’t be a problem.
You can take them running with you or take longs walks in the park. On the other hand, if you prefer watching TV most of the day, you’d want to find a lapdog.
If you don’t mind cleaning, then shedding isn’t an issue. Also, if you are patient and determined, you will likely be able to train any dog properly.
Once you know these answers, you’ll learn are corgis good apartment dogs for your lifestyle and abilities.
Are Corgis Good Apartment Dogs?
Now that we’ve gone over some basic facts, we can keep researching are corgis good apartment dogs. While they are a small breed, raising a corgi in an apartment can be a difficult task.
It would be best if you considered several things before deciding is corgi the right choice for you.
In short, yes, corgis can be great apartment dogs. However, this highly depends on the dog’s personality and if you’ve raised them properly.
You should also keep in mind that you’ll need to dedicate a lot of time to your new corgi pup. If you don’t have enough energy to deal with their personality, then they might not be the best choice.
To understand if this is a too complicated task for you, you need to learn more about corgis.
Corgi’s Temperament
People bred Welsh Pembroke Corgis to herd cattle and livestock. Because of their genetics, they still have the personality of a farm dog. This means they are highly energetic, playful, and loyal.
Of course, every dog has his own individual character, but making a general overlook of a corgi’s temperament is possible.
Corgis love being the center of attention, and they will demand to be a part of your everyday activities. They are cheerful and playful and are bound to entertain you for years to come.
Also, they will do their best to please you and fulfill their wishes. Corgis are smart and intelligent, albeit a bit stubborn if they really want to do something.
At the same time, they are independent and strong-willed. If you don’t train them appropriately, they will do things their own way and impose their own rules.
Corgis have the personality and courage of much larger dog breeds. They are protective of their family members and are confident when a stranger comes into their territory.
If you happen to change anything in your home, they will be the first to notice. Also, they have a fairly loud bark, and they sound like much larger dogs.
Keep in mind that corgis can be reserved with strangers, especially if you didn’t socialize them while they were young.
While they aren’t aggressive, many people have issues with their overly protective attitude.
Are Corgis Good Family Dogs?
To understand are corgis good apartment dogs, you need to know how well they behave around kids. Taking their temperament into consideration, this can be a bit problematic.
As people bred corgis to be farm dogs, they have some behavioral patterns that aren’t too good combined with children.
For example, corgis used to nip the cattle’s heels and bark when livestock isn’t in line.
They have this habit even today, and they can bark at kids, sometimes even nipping their heels. Also, their genetics tell them to chase everything that runs around.
They can’t see the difference between a child and a running sheep. This isn’t a sign of aggression. Corgis are simply doing what their instincts tell them to.
Also, kids can be loud, and this tends to bother corgis. Not to mention that most kids don’t know how to respect animals. They can pull the corgi’s big ears or place fingers in their mouth or eyes.
All of this can cause corgis to nip at the child. Corgis are stubborn, and if a child tries to force them to do something, they can become agitated.
Because of all of this, corgis aren’t recommended for families with young children. This is a problem if you and your family live in an apartment, as there isn’t much space for everyone.
Corgis and children will have to get in touch every hour of the day if your living space is limited. Of course, this entirely depends on the personality of both your corgi and your kids.
Can You Leave Corgis Alone Indoors?
Corgis are friendly dogs that want to be with their owners all the time. They can get terrible separation anxiety, and because of this, you shouldn’t leave them alone for too long.
Also, they can quickly get bored. This can result in destructive behavior when you leave them alone in the apartment.
Another problem that can occur when they are alone for too long is compulsive barking.
If you need to leave your corgi alone in the apartment for a while, you need to consider these things:
- How long can he hold before he needs to go to the bathroom?
- Do they have enough toys to entertain themselves?
- Are there any items in the house they can break?
You can do a calculation to determine how long a dog can hold. You take the number of months, then add one. This is the number of hours a puppy can hold before he needs to go.
A puppy of 3 months should go every four hours. Remember that, no matter the dog’s age, he shouldn’t be forced to wait for more than 8 hours. Ideally, a dog should go every 6 hours.
To ensure a corgi isn’t too destructive, give him plenty of exercises before you go away. This can make them tired, so they’ll spend at least some time sleeping or resting.
Also, ensure they have enough puzzle toys to keep them stimulated.
Do Corgis Bark a Lot?
Corgis are common and loud barkers. This is a huge problem of having corgis as pets in the apartment. They are always alert and will bark for every little reason.
If they think something is a threat, they will let you know. This includes barking at strangers, at kids, and even at birds they see through the window. They can even bark out of boredom!
The worst part of this all? Their bark is usually very loud. If you don’t train them to stay quiet when they are puppies, this can be a huge problem.
Their barking habits need to be considered when deciding are corgis good apartment dogs for you.
How Much Do Corgis Shed?
Corgi shedding can be a huge issue if you don’t like having dog hair all over your apartment. When the shedding period comes, they’ll shed twice as much!
Because of this, here are some corgi grooming tips you should have in mind:
- Give them balanced nutrition to ensure their fur is in the best possible condition. This will prevent excess shedding.
- Groom them several times a week with sharp scissors
- When their shedding period starts, groom them more than usual.
- Give him regular baths.
Luckily, corgis are fairly clean dogs, and they aren’t that difficult to groom. Their fur will look good after a minimal effort.
You should check their ears regularly, though, as they can become irritated or infected.
How Much Exercise Does Corgi Need?
As we’ve already mentioned, corgis are very active dogs. They need to have at least a moderate amount of exercise to take out their excess energy.
While some corgis are more active than others, all of them must have plenty of playtime and daily walks. If you live in an apartment, you’ll need to take them outside at least two to three times a day.
Fortunately, they don’t require a backyard and can do well adjusting to walks and apartment life. Still, spending time outside playing is their favorite part of the day.
Make sure the time you spend outside is effective. Give them a jog, swim, and plenty of exercises. Playing fetch or brisk jogging is an excellent way to get rid of their excessive energy.
The amount of needed activity depends on your corgi’s age. If he is still a puppy, he shouldn’t have any tiresome exercise before he is 6 months old.
For a pup, just playing with other dogs or their humans is enough. Corgis between 6 and 18 months, on the other hand, need plenty of activity daily.
Their energy levels are higher, and they need to be outside for as long as possible.
Not just that, but corgis require plenty of mental stimulation. It would be best if you kept them busy all the time. Otherwise, they will have negative behavior.
Because of this, you need to purchase your dog plenty of toys and spend a lot of time with them. A corgi can’t be happy if he doesn’t have something to do all the time.
Read Also: Can Dogs Die From Sadness
Bottom Line
Are corgis good apartment dogs? That depends on your possibilities and your dog’s temperament. They are active dogs that need to spend at least an hour and a half outdoors every day.
Their over-protectiveness can seem like aggression to those not understanding the breed. If you don’t train him well, your neighbors won’t appreciate this.
Moreover, they shed a lot, and although they are easy to groom, you can expect to have hair everywhere.
Another option is to find professional grooming services, which can be expensive in some cases.
Also, if you have kids younger than five years old, you might want to wait until they are a bit older. If all of this doesn’t bother you, then corgis can make great apartment pets.
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