This post may contain affiliate links. We are compensated for referring customers to our affiliate partners.
Most commonly referred to simply as the Corgi, the Welsh Corgi is a small breed of dog that was developed for herding in Wales. The Corgi breed is actually divided into two different breeds – the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi – and each breed is named for the part of Wales where it was developed. Although Corgis may be small, they are full of energy and they are a highly intelligent breed as well. Corgis make excellent family pets because they have a strong desired to please and they are generally good with children. In order to keep your Corgi healthy you not only need to provide him with enough daily exercise – you also need to make sure he has a healthy diet. Below you will find valuable information about meeting your Corgi’s nutritional needs as well as some special considerations to make. You will also find recommendations for commercial dog foods for this loving breed.
Nutritional Needs for Corgis
The Corgi is a small-breed dog, though its size varies slightly according to the specific breed. Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a little smaller than Cardigan Welsh Corgis, though both breeds tend to max out around 12 inches of height and a weight of 30 pounds. The Corgi has very short, stubby legs and large bat-like ears – they also have a thick double coat that grows to medium length. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is by far the more popular of the two breeds, ranking around 22 according to AKC registration statistics. Cardigan Welsh Corgis, on the other hand, rank closer to 75. Many people love the Corgi breed for its bright personality and its intelligence – these dogs also do very well in herding trials and they can be trained for other dog sports as well.
In order to keep your Corgi healthy you need to provide him with a balanced diet that provides a blend of protein, fats, and carbohydrate – vitamins and minerals are also very important. When it comes to your dog’s diet, protein is the most important consideration and it should come from high-quality sources of animal-based proteins like fresh meat and fish. Meat meals are also a valuable addition to commercial dog food diets since they have already been cooked down to a moisture level around 10% – this makes them a highly concentrated source of protein. After protein, fat is the next most important consideration because it provides a highly concentrated source of energy. Like protein, fats should come from high-quality animal sources like salmon oil and chicken fat. Fat is particularly important in the diet of small-breed dogs like the Corgi because it offers so much energy.
Dogs like the Corgi don’t have specific needs for carbohydrate but they do need dietary fiber – carbohydrates also provide valuable vitamins and minerals. The best carbohydrate to include in your dog’s diet are whole grains like brown rice and oats. Gluten- and grain-free options are also available from ingredients like sweet potato and tapioca. Corgis are generally no more prone to food allergies than the average dog, but gluten-containing grains can cause dogs to develop food allergies. If your Corgi is suffering from food allergies you may want to switch him to a Limited Ingredient Diet (LID) which is made with a novel source of protein.
Special Considerations for Corgis
Energy is the most important consideration when choosing a commercial dog food diet for Corgis. It is important to note that small-breed dogs have much faster metabolisms than large-breed dogs. Consider the fact that a 110-pound Great Dane needs a daily calorie count around 2,500 while a 22-pound Corgi only needs about 750 calories. If you divide it out, however, you will find that the Great Dane needs just 23 calories per pound of bodyweight while the Corgi needs closer to 34. To make sure your Corgi gets the energy he needs, you should feed him a diet formulated specifically for small-breed dogs. These formulas are energy-dense to ensure that your dog gets the calories he needs in a smaller portion size to match his small stomach – the pieces of kibble are smaller as well. You should also feed your Corgi three or four small meals per day instead of two larger meals to keep his metabolism running properly.
Because the Corgi is a small-breed dog, puppies will reach their maximum size much more quickly than puppies of a larger breed. To make sure your Corgi puppy grows and develops at the proper rate, feed him a small-breed puppy formula until he reaches about 80% of his adult size – then you can switch him over to a small-breed adult formula. If you plan to train your Corgi for herding or other dog sports you might also want to consider an active breed formula. In addition to providing extra energy for highly active dogs, these formulas are also frequently supplemented with glucosamine and chondroitin to maintain bone and joint health.
Top Recommended Dog Foods for Corgis
If you need some help in finding the right food for your Corgi, consider one of the commercial dog food brands discussed below. Be careful when considering a breed-specific formula for your dog – do not just assume that the formula will meet your dog’s needs without evaluating the product for yourself. Consider the ingredients list to make sure that the product is of high-quality before offering it to your dog.
Artemis Fresh Mix Medium Breed Adult Dog Food
Artemis is a pet food company that is devoted to offers balanced diets to pets in order to maintain proper health and nutrition. This company makes all of their products with a blend of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates plus supplemental vitamins and minerals to ensure a balanced diet. The Artemis Fresh Mix Medium Breed Adult Dog Food formula is made with fresh chicken and chicken meal as the top two ingredients followed by turkey, barley, and brown rice. This formula is specially designed to help your Corgi maintain a healthy weight while also providing plenty of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for the health of his skin and coat. This Artemis Fresh Mix Medium Breed Adult Dog Food formula ensures optimal digestion through the addition of prebiotics as well as a strong immune system thanks to the incorporation of antioxidant-rich ingredients. If you are looking for a high-quality dog food that will meet the needs of your Corgi, consider this Artemis Fresh Mix Medium Breed Adult Dog Food.
Nutrience Original Adult Medium Breed Dog Food
Nutrience is a pet food company that is devoted to meeting the nutritional needs of pets through the use of high-quality ingredients. This company offers special formulas designed for small-breed dogs and large-breed dogs but they are also unique in providing a medium-sized breed formula. This formula is made with chicken meal as the first ingredient followed by brown rice, green peas, oatmeal, and chicken fat. This formula is also supplemented with glucosamine and chondroitin to support your dog’s bones and joints. In addition to providing holistic health and nutrition, this Nutrience Original Adult Small Breed Dog Food contains whole grains to support healthy digestion and antioxidants to boost your dog’s immune system. Additionally, this formula has a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to help keep your Corgi’s thick double coat healthy and full of shine. Simply put, this formula is made with high-quality ingredients in a combination that will meet your Corgi’s nutritional needs.
Earthborn Holistic Small Breed Natural Dog Food
Earthborn Holistic is a pet food company that believes in whole-body wellness and nutrition for pets. This company produces high-quality pet foods made with fresh ingredients to meet the nutritional needs of dogs of all sizes. The Earthborn Holistic Small Breed Natural Dog Food formula is specially designed to meet the high energy needs of small-breed dogs and it is made with fresh, high-quality animal proteins including chicken meal and whitefish meal. This formula also includes antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to provide your Corgi with healthy vitamins and minerals that will boost his digestion and help maintain overall health. The Earthborn Holistic Small Breed Natural Dog Food formula contains a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to ensure healthy skin and coat, plus it has plenty of protein to maintain lean muscle mass.
The Corgi may be small but this breed is full of playful energy. To make sure that your Corgi gets the nutrition he needs to maintain that energy, feed him a high-quality dog food like the brands discussed above.
