So… you’re thinking about getting a Corgi… but you’re wondering:
‘Do Corgis bark a lot?’
Smart question 😉
Here you’ll discover the truth. You’ll also learn:
- Reasons why Corgis bark (5 common triggers).
- Real-life experiences from Corgi parents all over the world.
- What to do if your Corgi barks.
- If a Corgi is the right dog for you (based on barking that is).
- And more…
Table of contents
Do Corgis bark (a lot)?
Corgis bark a lot! In fact, it’s common for you to regularly hear your pet express their feelings through barks. Much of their loud barking comes from their legacy as herding dogs. Their intimidating barks were useful in getting farm animals together in a line.
How do I get my Corgi to stop barking?
You can stop your Corgi from barking by removing them from the stimuli that might cause it. If they bark because they see people walking near your house, you should move them indoors. It’s also useful to teach them the “Quiet” command and give them a treat when they comply.
What Corgi parents say from experience
Corgis are known for being barkers… and who can prove this better than pet parents themselves? We’ve collected a few statements on the matter. Check these out:
Parent #1 says their Corgi is mostly quiet while they’re working and only starts barking once they get home. They also seem to bark on certain cues such as seeing people leave the house or items being placed on the counter. They’re really smart and able to guard the house well!
Meanwhile, Parent #2 says their Corgis start barking when anyone shows up at their doorstep: a friend, dog, even local delivery people when they honk at their house. Apparently, one of them barks at luggage, stepladders and pumpkins.
Parent #3 thinks the same way, too. Their Corgis are crate-trained, so they’re relatively peaceful at night, but they can bark at just about everything during the day. They can grumble, but it’s quite rare for them.
5 reasons why Corgis bark
#1: They want to play
Corgis are very active dogs, and much of it is because they were specifically bred and raised that way.
The American Kennel Club’s The Complete Dog Book (2007) says that Corgis served to guard their owners’ house and land from intruders and cattle.
Corgis would chase foreign cattle away by biting their heels. Their small size meant that they could easily ‘duck’ whenever cattle tried kicking them away.
To this day, they maintain the same energy, and they will often bark in order to let their owners know they want their attention.
They will also do other things, such as:
Leaning forward
Dogs that are anxious to go out will often point at your door or gate. It will look like they’re staring at it, but they will also bark to let you know that they want to go out for a walk.
Before going out, check the outdoor temperature first. If it’s too hot out, you should let your Corgi do their business. And then play with them indoors.
Note: A Corgi is most comfortable playing outdoors if the temperature is about 25-30°C or 77-86°F.
Exposing their belly
In addition to barking, Corgis will lie down with their belly exposed. Their eyes will also widen as they will open their mouths and hold their tongue out.
This means they are ready for some belly rubs and you should oblige them. Once you’re done, look away immediately. They will move elsewhere.
Taking on a pouncing position
Dogs that are pointing forward with their front legs and back lowered are a familiar sight. With their tails endlessly wagging and pointing upwards, it means they are ready to chase something.
Corgis will assume this position if you are holding something or otherwise want to run with you. You can tire them out to stop them from barking, but play on flat ground. Barricade the stairs if you play indoors.
#2: They’re anxious
For Corgis with anxiety, barking is a common symptom. Barking is typically triggered by certain kinds of stimuli or events that your dog is highly uncomfortable with.
There are 3 common kinds of anxiety in dogs. These include:
Noise anxiety
Noise anxiety means that your dog will bark or be scared of particularly loud noises. It’s usually hard to pinpoint first causes, however, there are plenty of noises that can trigger this including:
- Sirens.
- Car horns.
- Thunderstorms.
- Vacuum cleaners.
- Construction noises.
Typically, treatments for noise anxiety include medication and desensitization. Medication means temporarily sedating your dog with Benadryl or other sleep-inducing products.
On the other hand, desensitization means gradual exposure to the noise until they stop being afraid of it. Consult your vet to find the best treatment for your pet in these conditions.
Rescue anxiety
This anxiety is often the result of trauma. It occurs due to past abuse or abandonment. The rescue anxiety shows when rescuers come in contact with a certain traumatized dog for the first time.
Common triggers include:
- Sudden noises or moves.
- The presence of other people.
- Lack of experience with other dogs.
Rescued Corgis require constant reassurance. You have to be extremely patient with them. You also need to know as much as possible about these dogs’ backgrounds to provide the best treatment options.
Separation anxiety
Dogs with this anxiety often start barking or howling to get your attention when you’re about to leave the house. Barking is also triggered when trying to move from one place to another.
Treating separation anxiety depends on its severity. For mild cases, owners can desensitize their pets by rewarding them for not reacting to certain cues such as dressing up or applying perfume. Severe cases will require a behaviorist.
#3: Other dogs around them are barking
Corgis often bark when other pets or dogs in the neighborhood bark with them. They can either bark or howl in unison. Also, they might howl as the sound of other dogs becomes more audible.
Dogs can bark together for a variety of reasons including:
- Stray animals.
- Seeing strangers near your gate.
- Loud noises like sirens and horns.
Barking together means that your dog might feel lonely or scared. As a sign of their pack mentality, howling gives them reassurance that other dogs are nearby.
It could also be their way of simply calling their owners’ attention, while other dogs do the same.
Lastly, howling is also a sign that some dogs feel endangered. Thus, they feel like they require the collective security of the pack to repel an invader.
There are multiple ways of dealing with collective barking/howling depending on what bothers your Corgi.
If your dog howls near strays…
Coordinate with your neighbors and put up posters of these stray dogs online. It’s possible they may be missing and searching for their owners.
If your dog is vexed by strangers…
Barricade your gate or keep your Corgi indoors. This is useful if your gate has gaps that your dogs can see through. You can also discourage nightly visits to your home.
If your dog is bothered by loud noises…
Desensitize them. Play recordings of noises they’re scared of at lower volumes and reward non-reactions. Raise the volume higher until your dog can finally tolerate the noise without the need for rewards.
#4: Physical discomfort
Corgis can start barking or howling to express pain or physical distress. Since dogs are particularly good at hiding discomfort or pain, owners should take pained barking very seriously.
Common health problems which can induce barking include:
Osteoarthritis
According to research, Osteoarthritis accounts for 20% of all dogs in North America. It is a degenerative disease of the cartilage that supports a dog’s joints.
As Corgis age, their joints become increasingly susceptible to damage. This can eventually cause a loss of control over the affected joint.
Corgis with this disease will often bark when touched or petted in the affected area.
Note: Osteoarthritis can also be a complication caused by Hip Dysplasia.
Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Corgis can be allergic to a flea’s saliva. Whenever they get a flea bite, the bitten area gets irritated, causing itchiness. Without proper treatment, this can cause scarring, lesions, and matting around the coat.
Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
CHD essentially causes the hip joints to rub directly against one another. This causes extreme pain for dogs as they move, causing them to limp, whimper, or bark every so often. Without proper treatment, it can take away your dog’s ability to walk.
You can find out more about CHD in this video here:
#5: They’ve hit puberty
Corgis tend to hit puberty at around 8-9 months old. During this time, female Corgis will start being in heat, and male Corgis will start indicating they want to mate.
In female Corgis, barking can become a problem as they spray urine to lure potential partners.
In males, aggressive and territorial behavior will start to kick in. They may bark whenever someone tries to get into their personal space.
They may also start mounting female Corgis and bark whenever females distance themselves. Puberty also makes your dog generally more energetic as a result of their hormones. This causes barking when they are particularly excited or aroused.
Note: Check out tip #4 to find out how to deal with puberty in dogs!
5 tips to stop Corgi barking ASAP
#1: Tire them out
The easiest way to stop a dog from barking is to give them attention and tire them. Whenever they bark, go straight to them and play games together.
Corgis are usually active at the start of the day, so if you can, get them out for a brief walk. The typical exercise time for dogs is between 30 minutes – 2 hours each day.
To maximize this, spread it out evenly by having a detailed list of activities.
Here’s a sample schedule that you can try:
- Morning: Early jogs
- Noontime: Indoor games
- Afternoon: Outdoor games
If you have work during noontime and afternoons, you can consider getting a sitter or a relative who is equally comfortable with your Corgi.
Alternatively, if your Corgi is already crate trained, you can leave them in their crate with the door unlocked. Well-trained adult Corgis can stay in their crate for about 6-8 hours before having to take a leak.
Once you’re home, you can make up for it by spending part of your night playing with your Corgi. Studies show that there are stress-relieving benefits to playing with your dogs. You can make the most out of this by playing with them after a long day.
You should also use your dog’s playtime to train them with certain commands.
The AKC recommends that they learn 5 basic commands:
- Sit.
- Stay.
- Come.
- Lying down (‘down’)
- Staying close to their owner while walking (‘heel’)
Teach them these movements as you go along with your playtime. Give them special treats every time they do these commands successfully. Make teaching them a habit and you will be able to stay in control whenever they bark.
#2: Be patient in ignoring them
Another way to stop Corgis from barking is to ignore them even if they get too loud.
The reason is that they might think you’ll reward them if they bark. Thus, you should refrain from giving attention in order to discourage incessant barking.
This is particularly true at nighttime when tucking your Corgi in. They might bark the moment you leave their sight because they want to play or just want you to be around.
It’s also important to exercise patience, as yelling or expressing your frustration will only make them bark more.
If you need to, you can train them to not bark at night by doing the following:
- Leave your Corgi in their crate.
- Walk away without looking.
- Come back after 10 seconds.
- Give them a treat for not barking.
- Walk away again.
- Come back after 20 seconds.
- Give them a treat again if they don’t bark.
Rinse and repeat this method until they start to think that not barking is rewarding. Make the waiting time longer until they can tolerate not seeing you for about an hour.
#3: Help them cope
Corgis can bark whenever they feel unsafe or alone. Even without separation anxiety, it can be difficult for them to see their owner leave for the day.
One way you can prevent Corgis from barking is by leaving them with certain things that can help them cope when you’re not around.
Every dog wants attention from their owner, but you know you’re not going to be able to give it all the time and that’s okay. Here are some of the ways you can help your Corgi out:
Leave your scent
Used clothes with your scent will help dogs cope with being away from you. Try leaving those scented clothes during the night when you need to sleep separately. This will help deal with barking during night time.
Play ambient sounds
Ambient noise helps your Corgi think that there are people around them. This helps them feel safer and will prevent them from barking until you come back. Play TV programs, podcasts, or news in the background to help them out.
Give them toys to play with
Toys prevent dogs from being bored and requesting too much attention. They’re also useful for their teeth. Non-squeaky chew toys or balls will help stop barking.
Note: Make sure the toys are wide/tall enough to prevent accidental swallowing. You can ask your vet for recommendations on toys if necessary.
#4: Spay or neuter them
Puberty in dogs can cause problems for owners. As Corgis grow, they start to develop behaviors that are unique to their gender. Males and females alike can become aggressive and loud as a result of the need for mating.
Spaying or neutering eliminates this problem by removing the testicles or ovaries of the pet in question. Doing so will help keep your dog docile. It will also prevent other diseases such as prostate cancers or urinary tract infections.
Once your dog has been spayed/neutered, you want to give them time to recover. During this period, you should:
- Avoid bathing your pet.
- Prevent them from licking the treated area.
- Keep strays and other pets away from your dog.
- Keep them from moving around for 10 days (or more).
- Keep them comfortable with food, water, and companionship.
Note: Recovery times may vary between dogs. With the operated area exposed and vulnerable to infection, it’s important that you follow your vet’s instructions to the letter.
#5: Go for regular checkups
Regular checkups are crucial. Although it doesn’t stop them from barking directly, it helps you find potential causes for barking such as illnesses or broken joints.
Due to their small size and active nature, Corgis are prone to certain health problems. For instance, this can lead to infestation from outdoors and bone-related conditions.
As such, you should always observe the way your Corgi moves. Here are some common signs:
- Aggressive barking.
- Limping on one side.
- Starting to lose interest in play.
It’s highly recommended that you give them a full check-up yearly to prevent potential complications. Ask your vet for detailed X-Rays on points of interest such as their joints and hips.
If you think there’s something wrong with your dog after a checkup, don’t hesitate to send them again for a follow-up checkup. After all, it’s always better to prevent illnesses from becoming too difficult to treat.
You should also set up pet insurance to make sure you are always able to cover treatment costs. Nothing stops barking more effectively than investing in your Corgi’s health.