How To Groom A Corgi [Owners Step By Step How To Guide]

Corgis are well known for their beautiful and distinctive coats. But as an owner, you’re going to need to keep on top of regular grooming sessions to ensure it remains at its best.

In this guide today, we will be providing you with all the information you need to effectively take care of your corgi’s coat.

We will be taking a look at all of the things you will need to consider, some recommendations, and how you can actually go about grooming your corgi.

Be sure to keep reading until the end so that you know exactly what you need to do!

The Coat Of A Corgi

As you will likely be aware, there are two different breeds of Corgi; The Pembroke and the Cardigan. Each is distinct, with its own traits, features, and characteristics.

Let us now take a look at the coats of each breed:

Pembroke Corgis

Pembroke Corgis are double-coated; they have a thick undercoat with a longer topcoat. They are known to shed continuously – where shedding is to be expected much more at 2 intervals during the year.

A Pembroke’s coat can either be: red, sable, black, tri-colored, or fawn. Each color is usually broken up with white markings.

The length of the coat ranges between dogs but usually is reflective of their body.

Some Pembrokes will have long fluffy coats, where the ears, chest, legs, and feet are feathered.

The majority of Pembrokes will also possess a “fairy saddle” marking which can be seen over their back.

This is mostly caused by the change in thickness and direction of a strip of hair. It is also where they get their name from – and relates to a Welsh Legend where fairies rode on their backs in the Welsh County of Pembroke.

Pembrokes are easy to groom, but it is required often.

Shedding can become an issue if regular brushing is not maintained. This is especially true during their heavier annual and seasonal shedding. During the height of shedding, daily brushing is advised.

Caridgan Corgis

Cardigans are also double-coated. However, they have a short undercoat with a longer, but thicker topcoat.

Equally, this breed is known to shed continuously. You can expect phases of heavier shedding 2x per year. As an owner, you will need to brush them frequently to keep their coats manageable.

Daily brushing and bathing are recommended to remove excess coat – and this is even more important during shedding season.

A Cardigan’s coat can be red, sable (and brindle), black (with or without tan or brindle points), or blue merle (with or without tan or brindle points).

Cardigans generally have white markings that can be found on their legs, chest, neck, muzzle, belly, and tail tip. Some Cardi’s carry a blaze on their heads.

The length of their coat will range depending on the size of their body.

Some Cardigan dogs will have soft, fluffy coats. These are not ideal coats for the outside as they cannot protect the dog from the rain, wind, and colder conditions.

Thankfully, while they may require frequent care, both the Cardigan and Pembroke breeds have coats that are not too much of a challenge.

Let us now look at how often a Corgi should be groomed before we look at how you should go about doing it!

How Often Should You Groom A Corgi?

As mentioned in the previous section, both the Pembroke and Cardigan Corgi has a double coat that sheds. As such, they do not need to visit a professional dog groomer for hair cuts or shaving.

Instead, only occasionally trimming and cutting are required around the feet and ears, along with some other maintenance such as teeth/ear cleaning and nail clipping. This should be undertaken every 4-8 weeks.

Corgis do, however, require frequent and daily brushing. This is especially true during the shedding seasons (fall/spring). This is the time in which they will change their coats.

By brushing out your corgi’s coat regularly, you will be removing loose and dead hair and stimulating new hair growth.

You’ll also keep their coat more hygienic, and ensure it is much less likely to smell.

Below are the steps that you need to follow to meet their grooming requirements and to keep their coats in optimal condition.

How Do You Groom A Corgi? (Step By Step)

Thankfully, corgis do not require much grooming in order to look their best. In many ways, they are relatively low-maintenance dogs. The grooming of a Corgi can take a little less than ten minutes.

That being said, taking time to regularly groom your corgi will enable you to improve your bond with your dog, and also help them feel more comfortable.

An added benefit is that you can also inspect them – identifying potential issues before they arise.

It’s a good place to begin a grooming session which should involve the following:

Inspection

Begin each grooming session by inspecting your corgi from head to toe. Rubbing and patting down the various parts of their body is advised.

Attempt to feel any lumps, bumps, dry skin, patches of hair loss, or abnormalities like growths.

By stroking them here, you’ll also be able to remove any excess dead hair and skin.

Brushing

You should look to brush your corgi daily to reduce the buildup of hair before they shed and to reduce matting.

Brushing has multiple benefits for the coat, but it can also calm your dog down and give them some much-needed attention and fuss.

It is important to use a safe and effective brush for use on your Corgi.

The Hertzko Self Cleaning Brush from Amazon is a favorite among corgi owners.

It’s great for the double coat of this breed – removing knots and for smoothing after. Plus this particular brush is quick and easy to clean (one-push button feature).

With a slicker brush, gently brush through the coat of your Corgi, paying attention to every part of their body.

You will also have to pay extra attention to the areas where there are more mats or tangles. However, a slicker brush will make this task easier.

At the time of brushing, it is very important to check for any potential rashes, redness or irritation as well.

It is advised to take the collar off your dog at the time of brushing to enable you to reach the back of the neck area.

When brushing your Corgi, it is best to try to follow the direction that their hair grows in. So this may change depending on the area of the body.

Brush your dog’s hair in an outwards motion – away from their body.

Daily brushing is ideal to remove excess fur that primarily collects around the body and inner coat area.

Shedding Season

Shedding is common in many breeds of dogs. But Corgis are generally considered as heavy shedders. Their double coats consist of inner short hair, whereas the topcoat is typically longer.

Once a year corgis will shed their undercoat. You can expect this to occur during spring.

In this time of shedding, a high volume of hair will naturally fall out and maybe be displaced around your house.

So, regular grooming is very much needed at this time – the more you can brush them before spring the better.

For this task, an undercoat de-shedding tool, like the Furminator from Amazon, should be used. This will help you to effectively and safely remove the undercoat.

After you have done this, your dog’s fur will be smooth and silky.

Also, consider that Corgis will shed again in the fall season. This is another time to use this undercoat tool.

Bathing

Bathing your corgi is a great way to support them during the shedding process. Just consider that bathing does not need to be done too regularly.

At the time of their bathing, you need to use a safe dog shampoo in order to gently clean their hair. This is the best natural product that I purchase from Amazon.

After using shampoo, you will have to wash and rinse the rest of the body thoroughly.

Following this, you should use a towel in order to dry their wet hair. If the outside environment is cold and rainy, then you can consider using a hairdryer (on a low setting and at a safe distance) for effective and faster drying.

Never leave your dog damp as this can lead to a sudden change in temperature and cause them illness and stress.

Cleaning The Ears

Another important aspect of a grooming ritual is to regularly check your corgi’s ears for wax build-up and traces of infection.

You can use a cotton ball in order to clean their ear.

It’s advisable to clean them regularly to remove dirt and any wax build-up. Your dog will likely be in some discomfort, and may even scratch their ears/head if their ears need cleaning.

When doing this do not use a cotton swab. With the cotton ball, you can also use a dog-specific ear solution to assist in the cleaning and support the health of the ears.

Cleaning The Teeth

Cleaning your dog’s teeth is also important for your corgi’s health.

While some owners will physically brush their dog’s teeth weekly in order to prevent tartar build-up, I personally get my dog to play with a dog chew toothbrush toy.

Nonetheless, cleaning your dog’s mouth regularly will keep their gums healthy and strong. It will also prevent bad breath and ensure they do not develop cavities and other painful mouth ailments.

Nail Clipping

Keeping your dog’s nails clipped is another must. Long and overgrown nails can be painful for your corgi, which can lead to incorrect walking and further issues.

Scratching is also likely to cause wounds, whether on themselves or if they accidentally nip you. Plus, they are also more susceptible to slipping, falling, and hurting themselves.

A corgis nails should be clipped once per month; you can do this yourself at home or take them to the vet.

Generally, getting an effective nail grinder is the way to go.

Regular Check-Ups

In order to prevent potential health problems, you should run regular checkups on your dog.

This is important and may help you to detect issues early before symptoms arise. It also advised to should take your corgi to a vet regularly.

If you notice any kinds of unusual or excessive shedding, this can be detected.

You must also consider that if your Corgi has been spayed, they will shed less. This is because they go through fewer hormonal changes – which plays a role in this process.

Allergies and other skin problems can also be identified during checkups. If you cannot understand the causes or what they could be, then a vet should be able to help you identify them.

Remember, dogs are very good at hiding their pain. Thankfully, they do reveal it in their own ways.

So, you will need to remain vigilant and to look out for certain behaviors which may indicate problems.

Nutrition

Another way you can keep your corgi coat healthy is to provide proper nutrition.

Getting a balanced and premium-quality dog food is essential, as is refraining from giving any treats or snacks that are heavily processed and not meant for dogs.

Diet can be a major culprit and contributor to ill health in Corgi.

High-quality food, with plenty of vitamins, minerals, protein, and fatty acids will keep their coat shiny, their skin in good condition, and reduce the shedding as well.

How Do You Trim Corgi Hair?

Corgis should not be shaved, but instead infrequent trims can be conducted to keep your dogs coat looking more polished.

This trim can easily be done at home, although it is up to you whether you visit a professional dog groomer who can do this on your behalf. If you have a particularly lively and energetic corgi, this may be preferable.

Either way, you should look to trim your corgi twice per year – firstly during the winter shed (in preparation for spring) and once during the summer.

When it comes to trimming, less is more. You’ll want to focus on hair that collects around the ears, belly, feet, and of course – the bottom area!

There are generally three types of hairstyles that you can opt for with a corgi:

Fluffy

This works particularly well for longer-haired or naturally fluffy corgis (mostly Pembrokes.

This expansive hairstyle can be achieved through an even cut, coupled with a technique known as “line brushing”.

To do this, you need to start brushing from the bottom of the fur and brush upward, brushing the direction of the fur. This will fluff up the fur, remove knots and an dead hair. The coat will look smooth upon finishing.

If you are going for this look then you will need both a Pin and Bristle Brush. You can get a combination brush, with both utensils, here on Amazon.

A useful guide to effective line brushing can be found here.

The Natural Look

Leaving your corgis coat is also another option! Their natural length is ideal for both the summer and winter months.

Shedding will do a good job of keeping their coats in check. But, as mentioned previously you will need to brush them often or otherwise, your house will be full of loose hair.

When it comes to shedding; too much or too often can indicate an issue such as stress/inadequate nutrition.

Minor Trim

This is ideal for the summer months. A small trim using a pair of scissors. You can do this around the ears, face, paws, and behind.

Final Words

Corgis have a beautiful coat, especially after a good brush and grooming session.

Unfortunately, this breed is a heavy shedder. You’ll soon find a lot of hair around your home if you do not keep on top of brushing.

This does however come with its benefits. They do not require a shave, nor regular trimming which can be costly when done at a professional dog groomer.

Try and use a grooming session as a way to bond with your dog – they’ll likely enjoy the fuss and attention!

Invest in some high-quality products, such as those favorites referenced here.

Once you follow the steps here, you’ll soon find that your corgi is free from any discomfort, painful matting and they will look far better for it.

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