DogsLifeBreed profile
Pembroke Welsh Corgi: size, sleep, exercise and care
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a short-legged herding dog of 25–30 cm and about 9–12 kg. It is bright, cheerful and eager to learn, with the energy of a working dog in a compact body.
At a glance
- Size
- Small
- Adult weight
- 9–12 kg
- Height at the shoulder
- 25–30 cm
- Life expectancy
- 12–13 years
- Exercise needs
- Moderate · 30–60 min per day
Sleep needs
Typical total sleep per 24 hours, including naps.
| Puppy | Adult | Senior |
|---|---|---|
| 18–20 h | 12–14 h | 12–15 h |
These are general life-stage ranges for dogs from the AKC and Hill's Pet Nutrition; no kennel club publishes sleep figures for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi specifically. Corgis are busy dogs; a puppy that is kept on the go all day may fight sleep, so build quiet nap times into the schedule.
Exercise needs
The Royal Kennel Club guideline is up to an hour of exercise a day. As a herding breed the Corgi enjoys tasks: tracking games, trick training and short training sessions keep it content. Because of its long back and short legs, avoid letting a young dog jump down from furniture or race up and down stairs.
Potty training
Pembroke puppies are quick to learn a routine. Go out after sleep, meals and play, praise calmly, and go back in once the job is done so the puppy learns that potty trips are for business.
SKK points out that Corgis were bred as heelers that herd by nipping at cattle's heels; expect a puppy to nip at feet and trouser legs in the excitement of going out, and redirect it to a toy from day one.
Puppy potty schedule calculator →
Feeding
Corgis love food and gain weight easily, and extra kilos are hard on a long back. Weigh out the daily ration, use part of it for training and check your dog's waist regularly.
Puppies do well on three or four meals a day, adults on two. A feeding schedule makes it easier to keep meal times regular, which also makes potty times more predictable.
Frequently asked questions
How much exercise does a Corgi need?
Up to about an hour a day according to the Royal Kennel Club, with training games to keep a herding dog's mind busy.
Why does my Corgi puppy nip at feet?
Pembrokes were bred to herd cattle by nipping at their heels. Redirect the nipping to toys early and reward calm behaviour.
Sources
- Welsh corgi pembroke – rasbeskrivning — Svenska Kennelklubben (SKK)
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi dog breed information — American Kennel Club
- Welsh Corgi (Pembroke) breed information — The Royal Kennel Club
- How Much Do Puppies Sleep? — American Kennel Club
- How Much Should My Dog Sleep Per Day? — Hill's Pet Nutrition
- Can Senior Dogs Sleep Too Much? How Much Should Older Dogs Sleep? — American Kennel Club
- How to Potty Train a Puppy — American Kennel Club