When Do Corgis Stop Growing? [How Big Do They Eventually Get]

If you are considering the corgi dog breed, then one of your primary considerations maybe around their size. Of course, they are a short-statured breed, but for how long do they continue to grow and how big do they ultimately get?

So, when do corgis stop growing? A corgi is expected to reach its full stature by one year of age. A healthy corgi will also continue to grow in width and bulk (becoming stockier) for another two or three years. Therefore a corgi should be at its full adult size by 3-4 years of age.

Corgis are a rather popular pet among dog lovers, primarily due to their nature, size, and temperament.

As with most other dogs, there is a stark difference between their puppy size and adult size.

It is always important to research these facts about a breed before you get one as a pet.

Learning about the breed before adding them to your family is always the preferred way to go. It will help you to understand and predict their requirements and needs as well as your own.

Let us now explore the topic in much further detail so that you can get a good overview of a corgi and its size.

How Big Do Corgis Grow?

It is important to note that you should be prepared to experience some individual differences when it comes to your corgi. Not all will the same and a lot of factors come into play like their genetics, diet and environment.

That being said, there are some average sizes that can be expected from a corgi. Females are typically slightly smaller than males.

Here are the average sizes per each type of corgi at the lower and upper end.

• Cardigan Welsh Corgi
  • Size: 10 ½ -12 ½ inches to the shoulder 
  • Weight: 25 to 38lbs
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi
  • Size: 10 – 12 inches to the shoulder
  • Weight: 28 to 30lbs

As you can see, there is a minimal difference in general size between the breeds. However, Pembroke corgis are generally just smaller on average.

Why Are Corgis So Short?

Selective breeding is one of the most common practices when it comes to domestication. Although this process may sound fancy and complex, it is rather simple.

Consider the following;

There are certain traits you inherit from your ancestors -some of which are physical. In addition to psychological factors (such as temperaments and behavior), a LOT of visible traits are inheritable such as skin color, hair color, height, and head shapes.

This could mean that you have the same eye color as your mother or end up with curly hair just like your grandfather.

Humans have recognized this for a very long time. They also learned that the same principles could be applied to animals.

So, when certain animals exhibited traits they wanted, they purposely bred them with animals that also expressed these same desirable traits.

This is how domestication actually happened. By taking the friendliest of certain animals and breeding them over and over, you eventually amplified this friendliness. For dogs, this meant “creating” a canine with distinctive behavioral tendencies than your average wolf.

Humans also learned how to take advantage of this system for achieving desired physiques rather early on.

You can encourage bigger sizes, certain colors, or even ear shapes.

At one point down the line, someone in Europe decided to take “dwarfed” dogs and breed them over and over to make a little herding dog. The process continued until they got the short-legged corgis we know today.

Corgis were bred for a purpose; the traits mentioned above were highly desirable. Historically, corgis were bred to be herding dogs.

Specifically, they were used to move cattle. They are actually a type of herding dog which is known as a “heeler”, meaning that they would gently bite at the heels of cattle and larger animals to keep them on the move.

Both Pembrokeshire and Cardigan are historically agricultural areas of Wales, which is where these breeds originated from and hence the respective names.

Are Corgis Considered Small Dogs?

Although these dogs are notoriously short, they are not considered a “toy breed.” If you constantly reference their size to pictures you see online, your impression of them can be a bit deceiving.

Corgis are considered a small to medium dog. This is because, despite their short stature, they have the body and head of a medium-sized dog.

These sturdy dogs are still small in comparison to larger breeds such as Great Danes or German Shepherds, however, they are not nearly as small as a Yorkshire terrier or chihuahua. 

How Fast Does A Corgi Grow?

Like most dogs, corgis grow pretty quickly. The first year of their life is when you will experience the most growth. They will grow from their baby size to full stature in about a year.

After that, this does not mean that they are completely done growing. A corgi will also grow “out” for a bit, meaning they will get a little stockier.

This should be expected to take place for an additional two or three years (meaning they will reach their “final” size at around three to four years of age).

Of course, there are many factors that will contribute to the size of which a dog will grow. Much like humans and other mammals, corgis are not immune to obesity.

While overfeeding your pet won’t make them grow any taller, it can cause them to put on some additional pounds here and there. These additional pounds may make them look all cuddly and cute, but it is a rather irresponsible thing to do.

Sure, the internet seems to love checking out obese cats and dogs struggling to walk normally or beg for any and all food, but this is not as cute as it seems.

If you let your dog eat whatever and whenever it wants, it can grow overweight which is incredibly unhealthy for them.

Dogs who suffer from obesity are more likely to suffer from a variety of ailments.

They can be more likely to experience medical problems which can really cause vet bills to stack up and take a toll on their quality of life.

Worse of all, is these unhealthy lifestyles can make them more prone to medical problems which can lead to premature death.

If you notice that your dog is putting on some pounds, consider taking him to a vet for a consultation or putting him on a diet.

You may even need to consider the quality of their feed. Sometimes swapping their dry feed brands is a great place to start.

Opt for a grain-free, premium feed that is high in protein and provides balanced nutrition. This is one of the best brands we routinely get on Amazon for a great price!

Other than this you need to he careful of those ‘extras’ you give them. Most dogs are gluttons and will eat pretty much whatever you put in front of them. They will beg for extra kibbles or table scraps even when they do not need to eat anything.

Just as being too heavy is a problem, too little food can also be stressful and detrimental to a pet.

If your pet was malnourished, it could have an impact on whether or not they are a typical size for a corgi. This is especially true for corgis who were not fed adequately during their first year of life (which is a crucial developmental period).

Not feeding your puppy enough (or feeding them the wrong things) can lead you to stunt their growth. This can ho for pretty much any animal that doesn’t receive proper nutrition during key developmental periods.

You may also notice that if your dog is sick or very old, they will begin to get frail as well. These are all circumstances that can be discussed with a professional veterinarian for expert advice.

Make sure that you are feeding your pet appropriate dog food and you are able to let your dogs exercise as much as they need.

Corgis are a farm dog that were bred specifically for herding. Their job was to run around and nip at the ankles of cows to keep them in line. These ancestral farm dogs enjoy being kept busy.

Corgis only require a moderate amount of exercise but are considered a high-energy dog that may get sick or bored when they are not entertained enough throughout the day.

Are There Differences In The Expected Size Of Corgi Breeds?

Although this is a relatively new recognition, there are actually two distinct breeds of corgi. There is the Cardigan Welsh corgi and the *newer* Pembroke Welsh corgi.

They do share a lot of similar traits, however, there are some minor differences. The clearest difference is that Pembroke corgis have a “bobbed” tail -like a little nub – where Cardigan corgis have a clear tail. There are also some minor differences in the ear shape.

When it comes to stature, the two are pretty much the same. In overall size, Pembroke corgis are a little bit smaller.

In Summary

Corgis, both Cardigan and Pembroke, are a small to medium and short-statured breed. Just like most other breeds of dog, the generally grow pretty quickly.

You can expect your corgi to reach full size in around 1 year following birth.

That is of course their general structure, bone and frame size. While they’ll also add weight quickly during this time, consider that weight can be added at all times during their lives.

As they get older, you need to monitor their weight and ensure that they do not suffer from issues like obesity (which is of course undesirable growth).

Obesity and excess weight will only lead to health issues, complications and problems for your corgi and even you as their owner.

Nonetheless with appropriate diet and exercise, you can expect a long and happy life with your corgi.

Just be mindful of their costs from the outset, however.