Sure.
The Queen of England had around 30 Corgis.
But there are a lot of other reasons why Corgis are so popular.
(Fun fact: People in Japan go crazy about Corgis… there is even a full-blown Corgi Cafe… I kid you not.)
Read on to discover:
- The reasons that make people fall in love with Corgis.
- Why traveling with a Corgi is a popular choice and a good idea.
- How the Corgis’ ability to be trained has influenced their popularity.
- And many more…
Why are Corgis so popular?
Corgis are so popular for a variety of reasons. They are small, which adds to their cuteness factor. Additionally, they are extremely compact and easy to carry. This makes them good for traveling all over the world. They are also lively dogs. Thus, you will find every reason to play and have fun.
Why are Corgis so popular in Japan?
Corgis are so popular in Japan because they’re cute, friendly, and easy on the eyes. Japan built entire Corgi cafes in their honor, and people are willing to flock to them because of how well they socialize with people. They’re also photogenic and great for social media and videos!
5 reasons Corgis are so popular
#1: They are easily trained
Corgis are fairly easy to train, and that’s in part because of their natural intelligence.
According to Stanley Coren’s The Intelligence of Dogs, Corgis are the 11th (Pembroke) and 26th (Cardigan) most intelligent dogs.
Coren also indicates that they are able to learn about 165 words at a minimum. This makes training easy to do throughout your Corgi’s life, especially within their 3-month socialization period.
There are 5 simple commands that your Corgi is able to learn quickly. To make the most out of your time together, teach them the following:
‘Sit’ Command
As it suggests, it makes your Corgi sit on their hind legs. With eye contact, ‘sit’ sets your pet up for various other commands. Here’s how you do it:
- Prepare a treat.
- Stand in front of your pet.
- Establish eye contact.
- Lower your hand and say ‘sit’
- Give them a treat for sitting.
Learning rates between individual Corgis tend to vary, so repeat this as much as you can until your Corgi gets it.
‘Stay’ Command
‘Stay’ is an important command that you can use to keep your Corgi from moving around. This is also useful when putting them on a harness. To do this, you should:
- Ready a treat.
- Tell your pet to ‘sit.’
- Say ‘stay.’
- Move a couple of steps away.
- Tell them to ‘come’ (or any release word) and reward them.
Note: You should increase the time between saying ‘stay’ and giving them the reward as your pet becomes used to it. Do it often to establish a routine.
‘Heel’ Command
This command allows you to keep your pet close to you while walking them. This is useful if you want them to avoid aggressively urinating or eating dirt or trash.
Here’s how ‘heel’ works:
- Give your pet a harness.
- Show them one dog treat.
- Walk them, then say ‘heel.’
- Wait for your dog to walk beside you.
- After a few seconds, give them a treat.
There’s an excellent video you can watch below which shows how ‘heel’ works. And although it’s not for Corgis Remember that it takes time and that you need to be patient:
‘Down’ Command
This command is helpful for keeping your dog down and positioning them for some belly rubbing. You can make your Corgi learn this trick by doing the following:
- Prepare a treat.
- Keep your treat close to your dog’s nose until your hand reaches the floor.
- Say ‘down.’
- Reward them when they lie on their bellies.
- Rinse and repeat until your dog can go down faster.
Note: Never push your dog down while saying the command as you might hurt them. If they’re not able to get it quickly, take a break or practice other commands!
‘Come’ Command
The ‘come’ command is great for keeping your Corgi in line. If you need them to break away from other dogs or get under a shade on a hot sunny day, this command is useful.
To do this command, you should:
- Stay in a quiet area with your Corgi.
- Show them your treat while they are far away.
- Tell them to ‘come.’
- Give them a reward.
- Repeat for multiple rounds until they can associate ‘come’ with your treat.
Note: Being in a quiet area is better because it will allow your Corgi to focus on your sound alone. Increase the distance as you repeat so your Corgi can get some exercise.
#2: Splooting is their game
Corgis are adorable enough when they run, but they’re even cuter when they sploot.
Splooting is when a Corgi lies on their belly with their legs spread out. It’s also called the ‘superman position,’ and people love it.
When a Corgi sploots, it’s a sign that they’re feeling very comfortable. They will often take this position just before sleeping, or if they’re feeling idle.
Another reason why they sploot is due to temperature. Spreading out their body allows them to adjust better to the environment around them. It’s also a way for them to stretch without wasting too much energy.
But while they sploot like their lives depend on it, you need to be careful because it could also be a sign of something bad.
Your Corgi could use the superman position when they develop the following conditions:
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is the gradual weakening of the cartilage that keeps the joints from rubbing against one another. When your Corgi sploots, it could mean they are feeling extreme discomfort or losing the function of the affected joint.
The only recourse for this illness is to go straight to the vet. Since this is a degenerative condition, you should get treatment at the soonest possible time.
Canine Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is also a potential cause for splooting. This is because the hip sockets are grinding against each other. This disease could also develop into arthritis later in life, making early detection important.
According to a study of various dogs in the United States, Hip Dysplasia has a prevalence rate of 15.56%. As such, it has to be treated promptly upon diagnosis.
This condition is best treated with pain medication or even a complete replacement of the hip.
Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Flea Allergy Dermatitis can also be associated with splooting because of how itchy it can be. In this case, your Corgi will regularly slide their belly or butts on the floor in order to scratch an itch.
Treating this condition involves the use of medicated shampoo and anti-inflammatory drugs. Visit your vet to find out about doses and application.
#3: You can bring them anywhere
Corgis are small dogs: only 14.0”-17.0” (36-43 cm) tall on average. This means they’re a lot easier to handle outdoors, especially if they’re already trained.
They’re also easier to put inside planes, hotels or restaurants, making them the perfect partner for overseas travel.
You can even take them hiking with you. Just make sure that you have the proper equipment such as a first aid kit, a harness, and separate dog food.
If you are planning to hike, keep your dog on ascending slopes as much as possible. Traversing rocks of varying heights can be painful for your Corgi’s joints, so keep them away from the rocky ground.
Ask for help from a guide; they’ll usually know safer directions for your Corgi when hiking.
You should also make sure that your dog is perfectly healthy when you travel. In fact, getting a checkup for your dog is the first step.
Travel can be very stressful for dogs; the more physical activity you give them, the more susceptible they might be to injury.
If your dog has any bone-related condition, limit your dog’s walking time during the trip according to your vet’s orders. You can also leave them along with a trusted pet sitter.
You should also use a pet carrier while traveling; this will allow your Corgi to enjoy the view without wasting too much energy.
It will also give you more space to carry luggage for the trip. A common pick among traveling owners is the K9 Sport Sack. It’s almost like a backpack, and it comes in different colors.
You should also meet with other dogs during your trip. Corgis are active dogs, and playing with other dogs often helps them physically.
Visit dog parks or hang out with dog-loving friends near your destination to make the most of your time.
Lastly, you should be ready with all kinds of documents. Airlines can differ between what kind of dogs they’ll allow, as well as their measurements.
They may also ask for your dog’s health records, passport, and identification. Equip your dog with a tag on their collar. You should also give your dog a special tracker to make sure they don’t get lost.
#4: They are picture-perfect… every time
Corgis are a natural when it comes to cameras. Whether you set them up for a pose or take pictures of them running, they are simply too cute to ignore. There are a variety of poses Corgis excel at, including:
The Selfie
Can’t get enough of a Corgi’s boop? Take selfies with them.
The Sploot
Did I mention that Corgis look good when splooting? Yes, as it turns out, splooting is their ideal camera position. Here’s an example:
The Sitting Position
You’ve seen it repeatedly: Corgis sitting, seemingly with pleading eyes. There is nothing a Corgi can’t make you do when they use this killer pose.
However, getting the best angle and having your dog cooperate is not as easy as lots of people think.
For starters, some Corgis can be afraid of cameras, flashing lights, or both. When this happens, it will be impossible for you to take pictures without hiding the camera entirely.
When your dog is camera shy, you need to:
- Bring out your camera.
- Turn off shutter sound and flashes.
- Give your dog a command according to the pose you want.
- While holding the camera, give them a treat.
- Rinse and repeat until you’re ready to take pictures.
Here, it’s important to desensitize your dog. If they’re afraid of the camera, make them think that you bringing it around means more treats for them.
Do not take pictures until you’re sure your dog will tolerate your camera. Some dogs might flee at the sight of one, so be patient with them.
If you really want to take pictures of them regardless, you can do so without being seen. However, you’ll need to adjust to their timing.
#5: They don’t need that much exercise
Corgis have a reputation for being high-maintenance dogs, but it’s actually quite easy to maintain their weight.
Corgis have to be around 22-31 lb (10-14 kg) to stay healthy. This means you don’t have to feed them a lot of food or give them that much exercise.
Your pet only needs about 30 minutes to an hour of activity daily to keep their joints healthy. In fact, you can actually distribute it depending on the time you have for the day.
For example, you can give your dog short, 20-minute walks in the morning or even bring them to your daily jogs. You can then have them play indoors during the evening.
Note: Consult your vet about exercise times, as these may change if your dog has preexisting conditions.