How to Groom a Corgi

Editorial Team

Grooming

28 December 2024

Playing and snuggling with your corgi might be all joy, but there’s more to having a dog than walks in the park and belly rubs. You also have to consistently make an effort to keep your corgi clean and healthy. That’s why it’s essential to learn how to groom it, as well as teach it to tolerate the grooming without any drama. Believe it or not, if you approach this the right way early on, grooming won’t be as complicated as it might seem.

Let’s see what you need to know to turn your corgi’s grooming into a fun ritual.

How to Groom a Corgi

Start Early in Life

Grooming your corgi can be a breeze or a total pain depending on how soon you start teaching him to accept this part of his routine. The best way to ensure your furball doesn’t show resistance or aggression is to start early. While your corgi is still a puppy start touching his paws, ears, eyes, and lips gently and playfully. If your dog gets used to all these intrusions while it’s young, he won’t mind once you start cleaning his ears, eyes or his mouth.

Once you get him used to these gentle intrusions, you can begin grooming him at home.

Make Brushing a Daily Ritual

Corgis have a thick double coat that regulates their body temperature and protects them from the elements. Unfortunately, all that fur means they shed a LOT, especially when the weather starts getting warmer.

Regular brushing helps keep your corgi’s coat clean and shiny. It also prevents matting and keeps the excessive shedding at bay.

Get into the habit of brushing your corgi puppy gently with a brushing glove, so that it gets accustomed to the grooming routine at a young age. If she gets defensive, remain calm and carry on with the brushing or just ruffle her fur carefully. Give her a treat when you’re done.

Once she gets used to the brushing glove, pick a wide toothed brush or a rake for canines and go through the coat to remove the loose hair that’s already about to fall off. Do not pull harshly any hair that’s healthy and strong, it doesn’t need to be brushed away. Be gentle when you brush the more sensitive regions, like her tummy and hind legs.

Some Corgis Are Afraid of Hairdryers, Avoid Them After Bath time, and Use a Towel Instead.

How to Give Your Corgi a Bath

How often should you bathe your corgi?

Most dogs do not need regular bathing. If you bathe them too often, their skin is at a higher risk of getting dry and itchy. Keep in mind that a Corgi’s coat repels dirt and doesn’t have an odour, unlike some other breeds. This makes their coat relatively easy to maintain.

Experts recommend limiting the baths to a maximum of one per month!

Of course, it all comes down to how dirty your corgi gets. If you live in an area where it’s common for it to roll in the mud, it might need regular baths.

Bathing your corgi without drama takes patience and preparation. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get yourself and your dog ready:

1. Prepare all you need for the bathing

• Pick the right space: you can bathe your corgi indoors in a bathtub or out in your garden with a hose, as long as it’s not too cold.
• Use a dog shampoo: Human shampoos are too acidic for dogs and can easily irritate their skin. Pick a dog shampoo at your local pet store or other retailer.
• Use a non-slip mat: If you plan to wash your corgi in your own bathroom, place a mat in the tub to prevent slipping – slippery surfaces can scare your dog.

2. Prepare your corgi for bathing

• Exercise before bath time: A tired dog is a calm dog, that’s why walking or playing with your corgi beforehand can drain her batteries and relax her.
• Brush your corgi: before giving her a bath to de-shed the loose fur (and to avoid clogging your bathtub or shower room).
• Gently draw your corgi into the bathing area: Lead your corgi calmly to the bathing area using gentle voice and treats. Don’t stress her out or she will learn to associate bathing with fear. Don’t shower her right off the bat, but begin by petting and reassuring her.

3. Give your corgi a bath

• Use lukewarm water: If the water is too hot or too cold it can make your dog feel tense and uncomfortable.
• Avoid sensitive areas like the eyes and ears: Wet your corgi gradually and avoid wetting her head too much. Start with the back and work towards the legs.
• Use a cup or gentle sprayer: Use a cup or gentle sprayer instead of a hose.
• Rinse leftover shampoo: Rinse thoroughly, because leftover shampoo can irritate your dog’s skin.
• Dry off with a towel: Avoid using hairdryers – most dogs find them scary. Unless you have trained yours to tolerate one from an early age, you’d better spare her the stress.

How to handle anxiousness during bath time

• Show your dog around: Take your corgi to the bathing area without water a few times before you give her the first bath.
• Take breaks if needed: If your corgi is agitated or anxious, take a break to stroke her and give her a few treats.
• Reward good behaviour: Once the bathing is over, reward your corgi with treats and strokes. Teach her to associate this grooming process with calmness and affection, and she might become less resistant to it over time.

Don’t stress out your corgi or else you will scare it. Be patient, gentle and calm!

How to Trim Your Corgi’s Nails

Long nails can cause your dog discomfort and pain. That might even affect body posture if they grow too long. That’s why corgis should have their nails trimmed regularly, just like any other dog breed.

How often should you clip a dog’s nails?

Do try to clip your corgi’s nails regularly – about every 3-4 weeks – to keep them from growing too long. If you’re not sure whether it’s time for a trim or not, keep an ear out for the sound of clicking on hard floors. That should be your cue.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to nail clipping:

1. Buy a pair of nail clippers for canines.

Only use a dog-specific nail clippers, preferably a guillotine or scissor-style clipper. Make sure it’s sharp to avoid crushing the nail.

2. Take it easy.

If you have never clipped your corgi’s nails, don’t rush in. Instead, start by gently handling her paws for a few days or even weeks in advance and rewarding her with treats and praise.

Then you can start playing with her paws and touch the clippers to them without trimming the nail. You want your corgi to think of this as a positive, pleasant experience.

3. Find the Quick.

The quick is the pink part inside the nail that contains nerves and blood vessels. If your corgi has white or clear nails, it should be easy to see. With dark nails, be more cautious, as the quick isn’t visible.

4. Choose a comfy position.

Have your corgi sit or lay down on his side. Then hold his paw firmly with one hand, while working on the nail with the other.

Only clip a small part of the nail at first, especially with dark nails, to avoid hitting the quick. Trim only the tip of the nail in small increments.

5. Clip the right way.

Don’t clip more than 2 millimetres from the quick. Cut at a 45-degree angle, following the natural shape of the nail. Don’t cut straight across or too deep. If something goes wrong and you cut into the flesh, use cornstarch to stop the bleeding.

6. Hand out treats.

After each nail or each paw, give your corgi a treat and praise her to create a positive association with the clipping.

If your corgi resists a lot or you don’t feel confident at all, you can always take her to a groomer or a vet. That should take one thing off your to-do list.

How to Clean Your Corgi’s Ears

Unfortunately, corgis are prone to ear infections, which can be caused by several different factors, from underlying health conditions, such as allergies and ear mites, to simpler reasons, like foreign objects (dirt, sand, mud, grass or water) getting into the ear canal. All of this makes it very important to keep your dog’s ears clean.

How often should I clean my corgi’s ears?

If your dog has healthy ears, a routine ear clean is only needed when dirt or debris is noted. It is also recommended if the ears get wet after swimming or bathing. Do not go over the board with cleaning your furball’s ears because that can irritate the ear canal.

What should I use to clean my corgi’s ears?

Do not use cotton buds (aka Q-tips).

Cotton buds can push dirt, debris and water even deeper into the ear canal. Also, if you’re not careful, you could damage the ear nerves. Use a cotton ball or gauze instead.

Do not use DIY homemade ear solutions.

Some homemade solutions may be safe, but a commercial canine ear-cleaning product is usually a better choice. Dog ear-cleaning kits and solutions are affordable and cater to various needs, from removing wax buildup to treating infections and maintaining regular hygiene. Avoid products with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, and if your dog has an ear infection, ask your vet for a recommendation.

Now that you know what is safe to use, let’s see how to do the actual cleaning:

1. Do not rush your corgi

Canine ears are very sensitive, so your corgi might get agitated. Be patient, gentle and calm and avoid rushing. Dogs pick up on our emotions: if you get angry or upset, this will make things even harder because your corgi will get stressed out too. Don’t yell or shout, just talk as softly and calmly as you can.

Gather all your supplies in advance. If you make your corgi comfy and then have to get up, he might run off. Keep your corgi comfortable so that he can remain calm. You can make him lie sideways on a towel, on a sofa or your lap.

2. Fill the ear canal

Fill the ear canal with the ear cleaning solution by using the recommended number of drops. If your corgi won’t stand still, use a cotton ball or cotton pad by saturating the cotton with the solution. Gently massage the base of the ear. Then use cotton pads or cotton balls to wipe the debris from the inside of the ear.

3. Give praise and treats

Once you’ve managed to clean your corgi’s ears, give her plenty of treats, praise, or a toy. The more affectionately and gently you treat your corgi, the more likely she is to love you for it and to begin to associate grooming with positive feelings.

4. Stop if your corgi doesn’t react well

If your corgi starts getting extremely agitated or if she is in pain during the cleaning, stop immediately. Consult your vet to rule out any health issues and get a prescription for some sedative that might help calm your canine down so you clean her ears.

Did you know that…?

A dog’s ear canal is shaped like an “L”. The eardrum sits at the bottom right of that 90-degree angle. The risk of damaging the eardrum is minimal because the ear canal cannot be reached beyond that angle.

Nevertheless, never insert a bottle of cleaning solution into the ear and squeeze the fluid inside. This might create a “seal” of pressure and rupture the ear drum.

How to Brush Your Corgi’s Teeth

Here’s a funky fact. Just like us humans, dogs need to have their teeth brushed to maintain good oral hygiene. Many dog owners overlook this with sad consequences because tooth infections in canines can quickly spiral out and cause other serious health problems.

There are a variety of tooth brushing products and chews for dogs. Choose the one that’s comfy for your corgi.

Regular brushing, along with dental chews and toys, can maintain your corgi’s oral health. Let’s learn how to brush their teeth:

1. Pick the Right Supplies: Use a canine toothbrush and toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste! Dog toothpaste comes in flavours like chicken liver (yum!), making it more appealing for canines and safe to swallow.
2. Get Your Corgi Comfortable: Before you attempt actual brushing, get your corgi used to you touching her muzzle and teeth. Also, let taste the toothpaste on your finger regularly. Gently lift her lip and rub a small amount on her gums. She will get used to you touching her teeth and to the sensation.
3. Start Brushing Slowly: When your corgi is relaxed, gently hold her muzzle and brush in small, circular motions along the gumline. Focus on the outer surfaces, where plaque tends to build up most.
4. Praise and Reward: Keep brushing sessions short. Praise your dog throughout and reward her with a treat or belly rub.

How often should you brush your corgi’s teeth?

Aim to brush your corgi’s teeth every couple of days if possible, and if not, aim for once a week.

What can you do if your corgi refuses to have her teeth brushed?

If brushing is a challenge, consult your vet about alternatives like dental wipes or professional cleanings.

Grooming might sound like a lot of work, but if you gently teach your corgi to tolerate it by using positive association, it can become a genuinely fun time of bonding for both of you. Worst case scenario, if you cannot find the time or energy to do it, you can always leave the more tedious tasks to a professional dog groomer.