Did you know that I have two corgis?

If you don’t have corgis yourself, you may have wondered what it’s like to have these wonderful, zany little dogs in your life. You may be wondering if you should add a corgi or two to your own family. Let me share a few of my own experiences!

Walks will take longer than expected

First of all, because your corgis are low to the ground, it’s easy for them to sniff while they walk, which leads to lots of stops when they find a really interesting smell. But mostly you will be stopped by other people who want to ask you about your corgis, pet your corgis, and tell you stories about other corgis they know.

I took my corgis with me to the Mediterranean Fantasy Festival this summer and at one point I had to stop for 20 minutes because multiple people were petting them and talking to me (the corgis, of course, thought it was the best day ever).

You will have to get used to your dogs getting more likes on Instagram than you do

Face it, corgis are just cuter than humans. Tag that IG post #corgi and watch the likes flood in.

You will become that person who dresses up your dog

I never thought I would be the sort of person who would put clothes on a dog, until the time Daisy was recovering from a minor surgery in winter and had a big shaved patch on her side. I bought her a sweater to keep her bald spot warm, and she loved it so much and was so adorable. Now I buy or make Halloween costumes for my dog. I am that person. I also discovered that if you put a ribbed black tanktop on a corgi, it looks like she’s wearing a Little Black Dress.

Your furniture, blankets, pillows and clothing will all be covered in corgi fur

Corgis have a double coat, which means they have a coarse outer coat and a soft fluffy undercoat. It also means that at least twice a year they “blow” that undercoat, shedding it in huge clumps over a short period of time to make room for a new one. But even when they’re not blowing an undercoat, they seem to shed their outer coat whenever they’re excited… and they’re always excited! But really, are you going to tell this face that she can’t sit on the throw pillows?

You will constantly be amazed at the weird positions they sleep in

How… how is this even comfortable?

But seriously…

Corgis are excellent dogs, and I love mine. We consider their adoption fees, and the various vet bills they’ve racked up to be the best money we’ve ever spent. They make us smile and laugh every day.

That said, it’s important to do your research before adopting a dog. Corgis are a herding breed, which means they are intelligent and highly energetic. If you work long hours outside the home, your corgi may get up to all sorts of mischief while you’re gone. They can be pretty barky, too. Daisy and Maggie like nothing more than to sit by the back door and bark at squirrels, crows, and other people walking their dogs.

We adopted our corgis from a rescue group. It’s not always easy to find corgis for rescue though. If you do decide you must have a corgi and want to buy a purebred, it’s very important that you learn how to find a reputable dog breeder who puts the health and well-being of their dogs ahead of profits.

Adopting any dog is a serious commitment. We had a lot of difficulty finding an apartment that would allow two dogs and two cats. Many apartments want you to have pets that weigh 15 lbs or less, and most corgis will be around 25-35. Additionally, you are committing yourself to a lifetime of vet costs. One of ours has a major medical condition now and her monthly vet bills are around as much as our rent. It’s no joke to be caring for an ill pet, and you need to be prepared to dig into your savings account if that’s what it takes to give them a good quality of life.

All of that said, if you are prepared for the responsibilities of dog ownership and you like to go for brisk walks around the park (stopping to talk to everyone about how cute your dog is), corgis are a great choice. I really love how they combine the herd dog personality of an Aussie or Border Collie with a smaller body that I can easily pick up and carry in an emergency. Their long backs, short legs, and point ears are absolutely endearing, and my heart melts whenever they wag their little nubbin tails at me.