In this tutorial, you’ll learn:

• How long it takes for corgi ears to stand up
• How to tape corgi ears (and why)
• Why some corgis never get standing ears

Let’s get started!

Corgi ears

For me, the ears are what make the dog.

For others, they may have different opinions =].

The Pembroke and Cardigan corgis both have upright, perky ears.

When corgis are still puppies, the ears are flat and boring. As they age, the become stiff and less flappy.

Some puppies may need additional help once in a while to straighten up their ears, but most will grow into pointed ears just fine.

How long does it take for the ears to stand up?

Around 8 weeks, the corgi puppy will start to perk up. Some corgis may start to rise a little earlier, and some will take a little longer.

Just like humans, corgis develop at different rates.

The “8 weeks” rule just seems to be the average. Your corgi may develop by 7 weeks. Or he may still have flat ears at 9 weeks. There is no hard-and-fast rule.

Why does it take so long for corgi ears to develop?

Corgi puppies don’t have upright pointed ears and will remain droopy and flat.

The development of their ears is extremely slow.

It’s totally normal to have one ear upright and the other completely flat. Over time, they should both rise up and stay pointed.

During development, the ears may also perk up then suddenly flop.

When are the ears supposed to be completely upright?

The ears should be completely pointed between 4-6 months of age.

Again, these are averages. If your corgi is way beyond these age brackets and the ears are still flat or partially developed, take your dog to the vet!

Is it normal to still have floppy ears?

There is a small portion of corgis that will never develop straight pointed ears and either have partial or drop ears.

This is just something to keep in mind. The vast majority of corgis will develop upright ears.

But some will have drop ears not because they’re having trouble, but rather because they can’t.

Are corgis supposed to have pointed ears?

The AKC states that uprighted ears for corgis is the breed standard.

But this only matters if you plan to use him as a show dog. As a personal companion? Who cares.

I think the pointed ears are awesome, but a corgi with floppy ears? I’ll gladly take him.

“My corgi is 12 weeks old and the ears are still floppy“

12 weeks is barely over 4 months. You still have another 8 weeks for them to fully develop. Relax.

If you’ve been noticing slight perking, you’re good to go. Even if they flop again after a few days, that’s normal. Give it some more time.

Corgi ears are made of the same stuff your ears are made of. That’s cartilage. During development, they’ll go up and down almost randomly.

How to tape corgi ears

If you’re really concerned, you should see a vet. That’s first.

Next, you may be able to help him develop faster by taping his ears. It sounds harsh, but it’s a widely practiced corrective habit and it seems to work.

Do you need to tape corgi ears? Most of the time, no. But some people are concerned about the ear development, so doing this will help.

Here’s how you do it:

• You’re basically taping his ears back so they stay upright during development.
• You use light packing tape and wrap them around the ear so it stands upright.
• Do this to both ears.
• You remove the tape periodically to check for mold from water and to disinfect during bathing.
• After they stand up on their own, you keep the tape off permanently.

Here’s a video that demonstrates this:

Corgi ears will take time

Hopefully this post has alleviated some of your concerns about your corgi.

Remember, it’s normal for the ears to take a long time to stand up. They can become perky then flop again over and over.

Some corgis will never have pointed ears, although this amount is small. Others will take anywhere from 8 weeks to 24 weeks to fully develop. Be patient!

I’ve seen it many times before.

By “bad things,” I mean that you’re gonna have to deal with things like:

• Your corgi fussing during nail clippings
• Your corgi growling or nipping when you touch its paws
• Your corgi trying to escape when you’re brushing its teeth

Do you get the picture now?

Pretty much, if you don’t play around, touch, and squeeze your pup’s paws, you’ll end up with a corgi that’s terrified or absolutely hates when you touch his paws.

They hate getting their paws touched

For some reason, many corgi owners report the same thing:

They’re afraid of people touching their paws.

I don’t know why. Maybe they’re sensitive to their short, stubby paws? This just seems to be a corgi thing.

I have no idea why. It just is. And who’d actually think to touch their dog’s paws when it’s growing up? Not me. At least that’s not what I thought when I first got a corgi.

After confirming the same thing with multiple owners in our corgi group, I was surprised at how common this is.

Make them used to it

It’s just a thought: Be sure to play with your dog’s paws when it’s young.

You’re probably thinking: What if it hates it?

Keep touching it.

Don’t let it escape. When it’s still small and young, you want to accustom your corgi to getting its paws touched. The same goes for the muzzle and tail. All these areas could be trouble later on if your corgi resists.

It may sound harsh, but it’s a must. Just give his paws, muzzle, and tail (if you have one) a tap and squeeze a few times a day. And don’t let him think he can escape.

Or you just may regret it.

You’ll thank yourself later

When he grows up, it’ll be much easier to cut the nails or even brush the teeth. The last thing you want is a corgi that thinks he can escape just by fussing.

During the puppy phase, this is critical. If you don’t do it, he’ll be anxious or possibly even aggressive later on when you need to do maintenance.

Pair that with the shedding they do and not being able to brush. That’ll be fun, right?

Did you ever have trouble with this?

• Do they naturally have tails?
• Are they supposed to have tails?
• Why do some corgis have tails and others don’t?

These are very common questions that confuse a lot of people who are considering buying a corgi for the first time.

This post will answer common questions and explain why you see some Corgis with tails and some without.

We’ll talk about the two different breeds of corgis and why some have their tails docked and some don’t.

By the end of this post, you should have a clear understanding of why some Corgis have their tail intact and some don’t.

Sound good? Let’s get started.

Are corgis supposed to have tails?

By nature? Yes, corgis are supposed to have tails.

As you may know, there are two types of corgis that are classified into their own breeds.

You have the Cardigan corgis and the Pembroke corgis. Cardigan corgis are considered to be the older breed and many folks believe that Pembrokes were actually bred out of the cardigans.

The Cardigan corgis typically do not have their tails docked.

However, the Pembroke corgis do have their tails docked

Both breeds are supposed to have tails and are born with them, but only the Pembroke corgis get their tails whacked at about 3 days old.

What’s the difference between the Cardigan and Pembrokes AKC standards?

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is born with a tail and the AKC standards allow it.

Whenever you see a Cardigan, it will have a tail.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgis, on the other hand, are required to have tails docked by the AKC breed standards.

This is why if you buy an AKC registered Pembroke, it won’t have a tail. That’s what the standard requires.

Pembroke corgis were also bred with a gene that affects about two-thirds of all Pembrokes where they’ll naturally have no tail.

There’s a smaller percentage that will have a tail- and those corgis usually get their tails docked regardless.

Note that this depends on the Corgi you’re looking at and if it has the gene where it was intentionally bred to have no tail. It’s getting harder and harder to find Pembrokes without that gene.

Most Pembroke corgis nowadays will have a docked tail or are naturally tailless.

Why do Pembrokes get their tails docked?

The AKC standard for Pembroke corgis requires that their tail be docked.

The origin of this ritual was because their tails were traditionally docked as the breed was created as a cattle herder. The tail had no purpose in herding cattle and only served as a liability for the dog.

As a puppy, many folks argue that they don’t feel pain.

However, many pet owners disagree.

Some breeders are actually against the act of tail docking because they believe that puppies still feel pain even at 3 days old. There have been reports of puppies crying for days afterward after the tail was docked.

Some readers even called this ritual barbaric in nature.

This is why some countries search as Europe and the United Kingdom, tail docking has been banned entirely.

Unfortunately, in the United States, tail docking is still widely practiced among most US breeders. This is largely in fact to the American Kennel Club, or AKC.

Nowadays, how many Pembroke corgis are actually used to herd anymore? Since we don’t use them for herding, why are we still docking their tails?

We’re still exercising this ritual for a purpose that’s no longer relevant. A lot of people also don’t like the docked tail look on Pembrokes and consider it pointless and cruel.

Corgis are supposed to have tails

Most corgis are born with a tail.

It’s just that the breed standards for Pembrokes require having a docked or no tail at all.

Only the Cardigan Welsh Corgis have tails.

There are Pembrokes that exist with tails as they were never docked as a puppy. Corgi tails are typically present at birth unless they’re born without out.

The only reason you see some Corgis with it and some without is because of the species.

The AKC requires that the Pembroke Corgis have a docked tail while the Cardigan corgis are allowed to have one.

There some corgis that are naturally tailless

Naturally, they both have tails when they’re born.

It’s just the ritual that takes place in order to meet AKC standards. If you go to other parts of the world, you’ll see both species of Corgis with tails.

It’s only here in the US where the Pembrokes are missing tails.

Note that Pembroke Welsh Corgis do carry a gene for natural taillessness.

So up to two-thirds of all Pembrokes are bred for tailless and thus are born with no tail. And the one-third that are born with tails will have their tails docked.

Which Corgi has a tail?

Both corgi breeds have tails.

They’re born with tails and their tails are docked when they’re a puppy. But you typically only see Cardigans with tails.

The Pembrokes also are born with tails, though the majority of them are now naturally tailless.

You can find Pembrokes that are born with tails and some born without tails.

However, here in the United States, they’re docked so this leads to confusion over the two breeds and which one has a tail intact.

Depending on if the breeder registers the dog with the AKC- this is where the Pembroke will meet its fate. An AKC-registered Pembroke will have a docked tail. There are no exceptions to that rule because that’s the breed standard defined by the club.

However, a breeder that is not registering the dog with the AKC and had a litter born with a tail it’s entirely possible. The chances of finding a Pembroke with an intact tail aren’t bad.

How do their tails look like?

Pembrokes naturally have a short and fluffy tail that extends upward just like any other dog. The tails are bobbed tails that stick up into the air.

This is probably the reason why their tails were docked in the first place. Because they hang so high in the air, they were a liability for Viking and Flemish herders.

Cardigans typically have lower hanging short tails.

Do corgis have short tails?

The cardigan corgis typically have the lower hanging short tails.

The Pembroke Corgis have the fluffy or tails that are upright.

Both breeds have short tails, but the Pembroke stale is more noticeable since it’s stuck upright into the air.

This is likely why the practice of tail docking even began back when they were used extensively for herding purposes.

Cardigans vs. Pembrokes

Cardigans are the older of the two breeds and are actually descendants of the dachshunds or wiener dogs.

Pembrokes are actually more related to Swedish Vallhunds and Spitz dogs.

Both of them are herding dogs and Cardigans typically work behind the herd to move the livestock from the rear. Pembrokes, on the other hand, would gather to livestock and bring it toward the shepherd.

So they are two different species with two different roles.

Cardigans were also known to work with an entire family whereas Pembrokes were instinctively had to work with a single person.

The two breeds were separated some time ago and distinguished with their own sets of standards. Pembrokes are traditionally smaller and more yappy with red, sable, or black colorations. They also have pointed ears with a foxy look.

They also have some slightly different temperament and aggressiveness levels.

Cardigans are a little bigger and more quiet with a wider variety of colors. If you want a corgi with a tail, you should probably look into cardigans.

Then comes the question of actually registering the dog with the AKC.

Do the Queen’s corgis have tails?

The Queen’s corgis are a hot topic and whether they have tails or not is often asked.

There are many pictures of her with her corgis and they do have tails intact.

Rumor has it that the queen has actually sought out Corgis with natural bobtails when she breeds for dogs.

From the various pictures, we can see online, they do have tails intact. However, it is entirely possible that some of her dogs have docked tails before the band went into place.

Her newer corgis that were acquired after the ban have their tails intact. And that explains why we can clearly see them in her various pictures.

The corgis without tails may have been acquired before the ban was enacted.

Corgi tail docking ban

Some countries have already banned the practice of tail docking such as Europe and the United Kingdom.

The US is the only other first-world country where are corgis are bred and sold that still practices tail docking.

Because many prospective buyers look for an AKC-registered Corgi, they’ll end up with a docked tail.

Does that mean we shouldn’t buy an AKC registered Corgi?

It depends.

If you really want a Pembroke Corgi with a tail, you won’t find one that’s registered with the AKC. It’s not possible.

Not that there’s anything wrong with buying an AKC registered dog, because they do typically have much better health.

Most AKC breeders are also very experienced and know what they’re doing when it comes to corgis.

They can also provide pedigrees, paperwork, and a detailed record along with guarantees for the dog help.

So there are many reasons why you should buy an AKC-registered Corgi. But if the tail is a deal-breaker for you, you won’t be able to get one.

If this is the case, you should seriously consider getting a Cardigan Welsh Corgi rather than a Pembroke.

This way, you can get a registered dog with a tail. But if you really want to Pembroke that has a tail, you won’t be able to get an AKC registered one.

In this case, you need to do your research with the breeder or find another type of breed certification.

There are people, such as vets, that could inspect dogs for you. This is probably the best route to go if you don’t know what you’re doing.

What if I want a Pembroke with a tail?

If you want to buy an AKC-registered Pembroke, it will have a docked tail because that’s what the standard entails.

However, if you don’t buy an AKC registered dog, you may end up getting a Pembroke with a tail.

Although the genes favor the tailless variant, you still have a chance of getting a Pembroke with its tail intact.

So it’s really all up to you and what kind of dog you’re looking for. If you wanted to be AKC registered Pembroke then it will have a docked tail.

Or you can not play by the AKC rules and possibly find a Pembroke with a tail. It’s really up to you.

Personally, I like the look of the fluffy tail on the Pembroke.

I think all dogs should have tails and docking it shouldn’t be necessary because how many of us are actually going to use are corgis for herding?

The only gripe with this is that you have to buy a non-registered dog.

So there are definitely pros and cons to this. You’re going to have to trade off a lot of stuff just to get a dog with a tail. It really depends on your situation here.

Pembroke tails are upright and fluffy just like their ears and make them really look like foxes. I wish tail docking would be removed here in the United States in at the AKC would reconsider their breed standards for the Pembroke corgis.

Times have changed. Shouldn’t the standards change as well?

Just something to think about. Food for thought.

What do you think about tail docking here in the United States?

Does that answer your question?

Well, that’s about it.

Now you should know why some Corgis have tails and some don’t.

Note that depending on where you are in the world, you’ll see some Pembrokes with Tails and some without tails. Cardigans will always have tails.

But I hope this post does help you distinguish between the two breeds of corgis.

I hope this also makes you reconsider buying an AKC registered Pembroke.

If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment.

Thanks for reading.

This comes from people who are interested in buying a corgi, but can’t get over the thought that the corgi can be aggressive and bite, bark, or have a temper.

This post aims to explain the reason behind why they’re so often perceived as temperamental dogs.

Are corgis really aggressive?

For the most part, corgis are playful and friendly dogs.

But they do have a protective nature by instinct and will bark and be aggressive towards strangers (or other dogs) when they feel a threat is present.

Their primary job is to herd, and even though they’re a small breed, they’ve developed a bark much bigger than their body.

They’ll boldly face a person, dog, or animal many times bigger than themselves and possible even nip at their heels to get them to move.

Corgis will do the same to small children or even adults.

This is their instinct, so you shouldn’t get mad at your dog because it’s taking a nip at your foot. The behavior can be trained and corrected.

Corgis are definitely on the more aggressive side compared to other mellow breeds.

Why are corgis so aggressive?

Corgis have a generally playful and bossy temperament. When they’re bossy, this is generally when people start to think that corgis are aggressive.

They’re stubborn dogs and like to think for themselves and do what they think is right. Most herding dogs have the same traits.

You can’t generalize for this all corgis. There will be some that are super chill and just laid back.

And there will be some that just forward the “aggressive” stereotype. There is no “one size fits all.” That’d be like trying to say all humans are aggressive. It just doesn’t apply to everyone.

The same goes for these dogs.

Corgis can be playful, cheerful, and extremely goofy. Some more than others.

But they can be aggressive when they want things to go their way. Again, they’re herding dogs. They like to think for themselves.

Combine that with stubbornness, nipping, and barking. Then you’ll have a dog that many will consider to be aggressive. This is in their nature.

You can always train a corgi to be less aggressive as they’re adaptable dogs and will respond to training.

Are corgis friendly?

Yes, corgis are generally very friendly. The more the owner socializes the dog at a young age, the more friendly the dog will be.

Of course, this varies on the specific dog as they’re all unique.

Depending on how the corgi was raised, they can have a very friendly and happy spirit or a very aggressive and mean temperament. A lot goes into determining something like.

For example, if an owner never walks their corgi and always leaves it alone, the dog can become very destructive and aggressive.

No mental stimulation can also make the dog unhappy and maybe even psychologically ill. Corgis needs physical and mental exercise daily to keep them active and healthy.

Sure, they can be a couch potato. But their natural genes are screaming to get some exercise and mental activity going on.

Both cardigan welsh and pembroke corgis have similar aggressiveness levels. There’s no major difference between the two.

Do corgis bite?

Corgis tend to nip at heels more than bite. Just like any other dog, they can bite.

But how often is the question.

They’re generally peaceful and fun-loving dogs that are protective of their owners. If a stranger or other animals (such as a dog or cat) comes by that the corgi perceives as a threat, they may bite.

They’re not as aggressive in terms of biting everything that moves. They’re more on the nippier side just to exercise their herding mentality.

How do corgis respond to other dogs?

This depends on how they were raised.

A corgi that had no exposure to other dogs may be fearful, aggressive, or cautious of other dogs that are unfamiliar.

They can challenge dogs that are much bigger than themselves as they’re bold little things.

The key is to practice socialization for your corgi when they’re young. Exposure them to everything (safely, of course) after they get their puppy shots.

This will lead them to a much more relaxed approach towards unfamiliar dogs later down.

What about cats?

Corgis and cats can actually be a dynamic duo once they’re familiar with each other.

They’ll play and interact with each other assuming all goes well.

Cats like to be chased. And corgis love to chase.

So they’ll likely drive you nuts before you even start to worry about their temperament towards cats. If the corgi was socialized properly and raised around cats as it was growing up, the corig will have a much better disposition towards cats later on.

However, adult corgis will be pretty awkward meeting a cat for the first time.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not possible to teach them how to live with a cat. There will likely be some degree of aggressiveness from the corgi and cat at first.

So you need to introducement them carefully and cautiously.

Are corgis good family dogs?

Corgis are often confused over whether or not they’re good with children and families because of their aggressiveness. It really depends on the corgi’s personality and how it was raised.

Some corgis will be more aggressive and others won’t.

Most people will agree with the philosophy that because these are herding dogs who tend to bark and nip, they’re not good with children.

This is true for the most part, unless the corgi was raised and trained people.

Corgis are stubborn and do have a bossy personality and think on their own.

Thus, when kids try to play with them or run around, the corgi will chase and try to herd them together.

Corgis may also get annoyed with kids and ignore them entirely. Nipping, barking, and the stubbornness don’t make corgis a good combo with children.

Again, this varies depending on the training and the specific corgi. There is no exact and definite answer. That’s like asking “are kids good pet sitters?”

Well, it depends on the kid.

How were they “trained” to pet sit? How are their personalities? Are they patient and dutiful? Or flustered and impatient? There is no exact answer.

The general rule is that corgis are better for families with no kids. The aggressiveness of their natural herding instices may make them unsuitable for children.

Can corgis be left alone?

Corgis are social dogs and don’t like being left alone.

This will lead to separation anxiety and following could be destructive behavior.

Corgis that are always left by themselves will also lead to aggression and behavioral problems later down the line.

They should never be left alone for extended periods of time. If you can’t have someone present at all times, consider getting another breed or getting a pet sitter.

Why do corgis nip?

When family members are all in different rooms, corgis may get anxious or start barking.

This is because they’re a herding breed (once again) and like everyone to be together as a “flock.”

They may start nipping at heels just to move people together. This behavior can be corrected at an early age, though not always entirely.

For those who have a bigger home, you may have to deal with a corgi that’s always working overtime just to bring y’all together!

Corgis may also be a lifesaver for families that are distant as he’ll try his best to bring the family closer together- literally.

Do corgis bark a lot?

Corgis are known to be very vocal dogs, which means they do bark a lot.

They’re very attentive dogs and you can see them in deep thought a lot of times (or maybe they’re just thinking about their next meal).

Because of this, they’re very aware of their surroundings.

You can limit the barking if you train them well when they’re young.

This will help them control their barking when they’re adults. It’s difficult to completely stop them from barking entirely as these are vocal dogs. But you can limit them by training them.

Sometimes they just get too excited and bark at the fact that you’re coming home. Or maybe a stranger approaching. Or possibly a home burglar!

You never know when a corgi’s bark may actually be a good thing. The trick is to control when it’s unnecessary.

Corgis respond well to training from an early age and obedience training should be informed.

With lots of patience and persistent training early on, they can become very sweet and mannered dogs. The whole aggressiveness stereotype is just a bad combination of their herding nature.

This is usually heel nipping, barking, and probably a poorly-trained dog.

Don’t let this stereotype steer you away from them.

Can you stop a corgi from being aggressive?

Corgis respond well to training because they’re highly attentive and very smart dogs.

If you’ve been training the corgi correctly as a puppy, you probably never have to deal with aggressiveness. Other than the occasional barking and nipping, of course.

For untrained corgis, that’s where people will see aggressiveness. Untrained and unsocialized corgis may be very aggressive. This plays true, especially if they’re also suffering from no exercise and separation anxiety.

But this is the case with most dogs. What can you expect?

As long as the corgi is raised well, exposed to sights and sounds, and properly exercised, the aggressiveness is minimal.

Remember: People usually think they’re an aggressive breed because they bark, bite, and are stubborn.

The barking and biting can be curbed by training. Once those are controlled, the corgi’s overall aggressive nature is next-to-nothing.

The stubbornness and “mind of its own” thing can’t really be fixed since that’s their nature. But if you train your corgi well, the whole aggressiveness mentality will vanish and be minimized realty.

So there is nothing to fear here. Pair that with some daily exercises plenty of love and you’ll have one of the world’s nicest corgis (via BuzzFeedVideo):