Best Dog Food for Corgis: Short Legs, Big Appetite

Also known as the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, this dog breed was ranked in at number 11 in Stanley Coren’s list regarding the intelligence of dogs, and was slated as the 25^th most popular dog breed back in 2011. Corgis were originally bred to herd cattle, horses, and sheep. They’re active, intelligent, and fantastic with children. But taking care of one will pose a few challenges—and the number-one question to answer as you prepare to get started is this… What is the best dog food for Corgis?

Our 4 Top Picks for Corgi Food

**Below, you'll find our expert's science-backed recommendations, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Chewy.

**Disclaimer: Our dog food reviews are based mostly on (1) our expertise and that of the experts with whom we consult and (2) the information provided by the manufacturers. We do test many dog foods (with our dog's help), but we can't test them all. As such, please remember the above recommendations are our opinions, and you should consult your vet before making changes to your dog's diet.

Corgi Calorie Requirements

**Please note: these estimates are based on an average weight for this breed. Every dog is different. Please talk to your vet before making changes to your dog's diet. 

An adult Corgi will weigh anywhere from 22-26 pounds (maxing out at about 30). For a dog of this size, you’re going to need to feed them based not only on how much they weigh, but also on how active they are.

For a less active Corgi, you’ll need to provide them with about 614 calories per day.

For a moderately active pet, you’ll want to feed somewhere closer to 767 calories. For very active/working dogs, you’ll want to feed anywhere from 1,074 to 1,535 calories—depending on how heavy the work is or on how active your dog tends to be.

Obesity can be a bit of a problem for this dog breed, but an active Corgi will also need enough calories to get him/her through the day.

For some other basic Corgi health facts, you can visit Petmd.com. They maintain a pretty informative section on the breed, which you can view here:

Looking for more information? Check out this video…

There is a wealth of information available on almost any topic on Youtube.com—and if you’re looking for more information about your Corgi, then you might be pleased to learn that you’ll find a ton of resources at your disposal.

Here’s a video that I thought was a particularly good fit for this topic. Created by The Pet Collective, it provides some basic information about Corgis, their need for exercise, and other useful facts that’ll help you to learn more about the breed.

Common Corgi Health Problems

Hip Dysplasia

Since Corgis are smaller dogs, they tend to be vulnerable to Hip Dysplasia. This condition is mostly genetic with this breed, and basically occurs when the thighbones don’t quite fit correctly into the hip joints. If your Corgi favors one leg or seems to be in pain when he/she is walking, then you might need to take your pet to the vet and get an X-ray.

Hip Dysplasia can also increase your dog’s chances for arthritis later on. To help alleviate this and other joint problems, try feeding your dog a diet that’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Chondroitin and Glucosamine are also excellent ingredients to help with these types of problems.

Degenerative Myelopathy

This is one of the more serious conditions that can affect the Corgi breed. It’s basically a type of incurable paralysis.

Thankfully, the gene for DM must be obtained from the parents—and there are tests that can determine whether or not your puppy (or its parents) are at risk for the condition.

Vitamins and other supplements can be used to help ease the symptom of DM, and dogs that test positive for the gene shouldn’t be bred, so that they can avoid passing the gene on to another generation.

Cataracts

This condition affects the eye, and can leave your pet with poor vision. They usually appear in dogs that are older, and will turn the eye ‘cloudy’ as they progress. You can read a very educational article on canine eye health and learn more about cataracts on the AKCCHF website, here:

Intervertebral Disk Disease

Because Corgi’s have longer backs than some breeds, they tend to be more prone to spinal disk ruptures. If your Corgi seems to have problems with steadiness, has trouble navigating stairs, or seems generally weak-limbed, then you might need to visit your vet to determine whether or not he/she is suffering from this condition.

Spinal problems are best prevented with adequate exercise to build-up the back muscles. They can also be helped through a diet rich in Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitin.

Other common conditions that can affect your Corgi include:

For more information on this subject, you can view a pretty helpful article on Pembroke Welsh Corgis and common health problems that the breed tends to suffer from here:

How to feed a Corgi Puppy

From 8 to 15 weeks of age, your Corgi puppy will probably grow from somewhere around 6 pounds to a larger, sturdier 13 pounds. A moderately active 6 pound Corgi puppy will need about 280 calories of food per day. If they tend to be more active, then they may need somewhere closer to 400—depending on how hard they’re working/training and on how much exercise they’re getting.

Corgis are generally weaned by the time they’re 6 weeks old, though you might want to let the pups stay with the litter until they’re closer to 8-9 weeks of age, as this is said to give them more time for litter bonding, development, and crucial socialization.

As a general rule, most Corgis are ready to transition to adult food by the time they’re 6 months old

So what's the top choice for Corgis?​