Learn What a Corgi Dog Looks Like and Their Different Coat Colors

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Posted Oct 18, 2024

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Unrecognizable person with Corgi near tree
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Corgis are a beloved breed, and it's easy to see why - they're adorable, intelligent, and loyal companions.

Their distinctive appearance is a key part of their charm. They have a sturdy build and a short, stocky body that's typically between 10-12 inches tall at the shoulder.

Corgis come in a variety of coat colors, including red, fawn, sable, black and tan, and tricolor.

Corgi Appearance

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has erect ears that are in proportion to the equilateral triangle of the head, firm, medium in size, and tapered slightly to a rounded point. Their head is "fox-like" in shape and appearance.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis differ from the Cardigan Welsh Corgi by being shorter in length, having smaller ears, and being slightly straighter of leg. They also have lighter markings on each side of the withers caused by changes in the thickness, length, and direction of hair growth.

Their double-coated breed sheds heavily all year around, with peaks in the spring and autumn. Regular brushing can maintain their coat, which is also naturally water- and dirt repellent.

Discover more: Birds Ears

A Brown Corgi Dog on the Sand
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The breed standard indicates that tails should be docked no longer than 2 inches (5 cm), but some countries have deemed docking illegal, and intact tails are allowed in Conformation shows.

Here are the main differences in appearance between Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis:

Their coat can have various markings, including blazes of white on the chest, muzzle, and undercarriage, and collars of white around the neck.

Corgi Colors

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a distinctive coat color palette, with accepted colors including red/sable and tricolor. Tricolor features a black base coat with tan points.

Their coat colors are made even more interesting by the presence of markings, which highlight areas where color pigment is different. A blaze of white on the chest, muzzle, and undercarriage is a common marking in Pembroke Corgis.

Markings can also include collars of white around the neck and tan points, which are considered an acceptable marking rather than a different color. This creates many acceptable color combinations.

Close-Up Shot of a Corgi Lying on the Floor
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Here are the accepted colors for Pembroke Welsh Corgis:

  • Red/Sable
  • Tricolor (black with tan points)

Cardigan Welsh Corgis, on the other hand, have a wider range of colors, including red/sable, brindle, tricolor, and blue merle. Blue merle is a unique color caused by a gene that dilutes the black color in a Corgi's coat in patches, giving it a muted blue appearance.

Fawn

The Fawn Corgi is a beautiful sight to behold, with its very light version of the red coloring. Fawn and white Corgis can look almost creamy, especially when they have large bands of white around their necks and along their undercarriage.

Fawn Corgis are sometimes mistaken for pure-white dogs, but that's not entirely accurate. Corgis do not typically come in pure white.

The light fawn color of these dogs can be quite striking, and it's no wonder they're often mistaken for white dogs.

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Blue Merle

The Blue Merle color is a unique and striking coat pattern found in Cardigan Welsh Corgis. It's caused by a gene that dilutes the black color in a Corgi's coat in patches, resulting in a muted blue, mottled with black patches.

A Corgi Dog Lying on the Man's Lap
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This color is often paired with blue eyes, giving the dog an even more striking appearance. Blue merle is a gorgeous coat color and pattern only available in the Cardigan Corgi.

The blue merle color is a naturally-occurring color of Cardigan Welsh corgis, along with red/sable, brindle, and tricolor. Their markings are more extensive, including a black mask or a mask in another primary coat color.

Sable and White

The sable and white coat color combination is a stunning one, and it's a great example of how genetics can affect a Corgi's coloring. This color combination is found in the Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed.

The sable color in this combination comes from the dog's genetics at the A locus, which is responsible for the agouti pattern. The exact color of the coat is also influenced by other coat color genetics.

A dominant gene at the A locus allows the sable pattern to come through, resulting in the distinctive dark fur on the face and body. This color combination is often accompanied by white markings, which can include blazes on the chest, muzzle, and undercarriage.

Here are some common white markings found on Corgis with sable and white coats:

  • Blazes on the chest
  • Muzzle markings
  • Undercarriage markings

Corgi Markings

Brown and White Corgi Lying on Red Blanket
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The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is known for its distinctive markings, which include blazes of white on the chest, muzzle, and undercarriage, as well as collars of white around the neck.

These markings can vary in shape and size, but they're a common feature of the breed.

Some Pembroke Corgis also have tan points, which are considered an acceptable marking rather than a different color.

Cardigan Corgis, on the other hand, can have a range of markings, including tan points and brindle points.

The brindle pattern is created by black stripes and marks over the colored base coat, and it's often shown as a mask over the ears and eyes of the Corgi.

The sable color, which is also found in Cardigan Corgis, is created by genetics at the A locus and can come with white markings.

Here are some common markings found in Corgis:

  • Pembroke: Blazes of white on the chest, muzzle, and undercarriage, and collars of white around the neck.
  • Cardigan: Tan points, brindle points, and a melanistic mask on the face.

These markings can add a lot of character to a Corgi's appearance, and they're an important part of what makes each breed unique.

Information

A Woman Sitting on the Floor Beside the Corgi Dog Playing with the Yarn
Credit: pexels.com, A Woman Sitting on the Floor Beside the Corgi Dog Playing with the Yarn

So, you want to know what a corgi dog looks like? Well, let's start with the basics. There are two main types of corgis: Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Cardigan Welsh Corgis.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a bit more slender than Cardigans, weighing in at around 21-31 pounds. They're also a wee bit shorter, but both types range from 10-12 inches tall.

If you're looking for more visual inspiration, you can check out some pictures of Pembroke Welsh Corgis online. There are plenty of great resources out there, including Pembroke Welsh Corgi Pictures 1Pembroke Welsh Corgi Pictures 2Welsh Corgis that showcase their adorable features.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big does a corgi get?

A Pembroke Welsh Corgi typically grows to be 14-17 inches tall and weighs between 22-31 pounds, with a lifespan of 12-15 years.

Terry Williamson

Junior Writer

Terry Williamson is a rising star in the world of writing, bringing a fresh perspective to the topics she covers. With a passion for animal welfare and education, Terry has established herself as a go-to expert on canine companions. Her articles on the standard poodle and poodle breeds have been widely read and appreciated for their engaging style and informative content.