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Corgi Colors: 13 splendid variations you should know

Corgi colors can be divided into 13 types and we are going to look at all the exciting variations that you can possibly find under the sun. 

In case you don’t know, Corgis are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world.

This cute little dog breed finds its origins in Wales, England where they evolved as herding dogs.

With time, they’ve found their way to our hearts.

These little furballs are friendly, outgoing, playful, bold, and protective.

A quick look into all the Corgi colors!

There are 2 Corgi breeds and each has its own color types:

Breed 1: Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Corgi Colors: Pembroke-Welsh-Corgi

Breed 2: Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Corgi Colors: Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Physical differences between the two breeds

Pembroke Welsh CorgiCardigan Welsh Corgi
Tail is docked close to the body. Tail resembles that of a fox.
They have a squared-off back end that gives them a more linear and rectangular appearance.Because of the spherical bone and the slanting back, they are curvier.

The two breeds are easily confused, but the coloring helps make it easier to differentiate.

Fun fact: Did you know that Corgis are one of the oldest dog breeds in the world? They’ve been around the block since 1107. Of course, at that time, these dogs were smaller in size.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis

Corgi Colors: Pembroke Welsh Corgi!

This breed finds its origins in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

The spitz-type dog is one of the smallest cattle herding breeds in the world.

This breed became popular in the United Kingdom, thanks to Queen Elizabeth II’s fondness for these furry creatures.

However, among the British public their popularity has been on the decline. That’s not a bad thing since they are quite popular in the United States, ranking as the 15th most popular dog breed according to the American Kennel Club!

This breed is the youngest of the two Corgi breeds.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Colors

Pure Pembroke Corgis come in 5 coat colors
1. Red & White
2. Red-Headed Tricolor
3. Black-Headed Tricolor
4. Sable & White
5. Fawn & White

If a Pembroke Corgi has a coat that isn’t on the list, he may be a mixed breed. Of course, that doesn’t matter unless you’re looking to enter your dog in a show.

1. Red & White

Corgi Colors: Pembroke Welsh Corgi Dark Red & White

The red coat doesn’t have any black hair or spots on it, but there may be white parts. The underbelly and paws are usually white in color while the nose is black.

2. Red-Headed Tricolor

Corgi Colors: Pembroke Welsh Corgi Red-headed Tricolor

The majority of the dog’s fur is black in color but the head has a gradual blend of red fur on it. You find red and white fur on other parts of the coat as well which are blended well.

In this case, too, the paws and underbelly have white fur while the nose is black in color.

3. Black-Headed Tricolor

Corgi Colors: Pembroke Welsh Corgi Black Headed Tricolor

The majority of this Corgi’s fur is black in color, including the head. The coat also has some red areas, but they aren’t blended well and look more like spots and patches.

The underbelly and paws are covered with mostly white fur and the nose is black in color.

4. Sable & White

Corgi Colors: Pembroke Welsh Corgi Sable & White

The Corgi is mainly red in color but his head and neck have well-blended black areas with a stripy look. This dog’s underbelly is white in color while the nose is black.

5. Fawn & White

Corgi Colors: Pembroke Welsh Corgi Fawn & White

The dog is mainly fawn in coloring—dark and light—but has a few white areas on the coat. There aren’t any black areas on the dog’s body. The underbelly is white along with the paws while the nose is black.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis and shedding: Here’s what you need to know

The Pembroke Welsh Corgis aren’t hypoallergenic and have a double coat, meaning that they shed. A lot.

Corgis tend to shed as the weather changes which is during spring and autumn–you can expect to vacuum a lot during these times of the year.

Brushing your dog’s fur on a daily basis can help control the shedding. However, you’ll still find dog fur on your furniture and clothes!

Cardigan Welsh Corgis

Corgi Colors: Brown with white cardigan welsh corgi

Ranked at number 68 by the American Kennel Club, the Cardigan Welsh Corgis aren’t as popular as their younger cousins.

These dogs have a loyal, smart, and affectionate temperament and are graceful dogs.

Playful, these little dogs are extremely versatile as they can adapt to various settings.

Though small in size, these dogs are quite powerful.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgis have a medium harsh overcoat and a thick undercoat that keeps them warm.

These Corgis have a fox brushtail and upright ears.

They make playful and well-mannered companions. Even Buckingham Palace agrees with us!

Cardigan Welsh Corgi colors!

Cardigan Welsh Corgis come in the following 8 colors
1. Red
2. Sable
3. Brindle
4. Black Brindle
5. Black with Tan Points
6. Black with Brindle Points
7. Blue Merle with Tan Points
8. Blue Merle with Brindle Points

1. Red

Corgi Colors: Cardigan Welsh Corgi Red

These dogs have little to no black markings on their fur and are primarily red with patches on white. Their underbellies are covered with white fur while the nose is black.

2. Sable

Corgi Colors: Cardigan Welsh Corgi Sable

These Corgis are mainly sable and white in color but, depending on their genetic makeup, may have red or black markings. Black tipping may appear as Widow’s Peak on the head. You may also be able to notice some black on the tail and saddle.

The underbelly is white along with the paws while the nose is black in color

3. Brindle

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Brindle

While the base color may be red, black, or yellow, Brindle and White Corgis have a Brindle stripe pattern or markings on their fur. The underbelly fur is white and the nose is black.

4. Black Brindle

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Black Brindle

These dogs have shades of red as the base color with black stripes on top. The streaks of color are irregular and darker than the base color of the coat.

5. Black with Tan Points

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Black with Tan Points

While mostly black, this dog has tan areas at the ears, legs and parts of the face. The underbelly is white while the nose is black.

6. Black with Brindle Points

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Black with Brindle Points

Corgis are not completely black and white in color – they may also have some brindle or white in their coloring. A true black and white Corgi doesn’t exist. You’ll find different color markings, stripes, etc on the fur.

These dogs have white fur on their underbelly and paws while the nose is black in color.

7. Blue Merle with Tan Points

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Blue Merle with Tan Points

Also known as the Cinnamon merle Corgis, these dogs have fur that is primarily white and sable in color but may also have merle, red or other darker markings in certain areas.

The underbelly and paws are white while the nose of these dogs is black.

8. Blue Merle with Brindle Points

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Blue Merle With Brindle Points

The term Merlin means that the pigment that would have been pure liver or black in color is diluted. It expresses itself as uneven patches or markings on the coat, looking like a tie and dye t-shirt. These dogs are primarily black and white with grey or blue areas on their coat.

The paws and underbellies are white while the nose is black.

Cardigan Welsh Corgis and shedding: Here’s what to expect

  • The Cardigan Welsh Corgi sheds more often than not throughout the year but undergoes heavy seasonal shedding.
  • You should brush your dog twice a week to reduce the shedding and bathe him once every 6 weeks for the best results.
Corgi Markings

A quick look at Corgi markings

  • Corgi colors also depend on the kind of markings they have on their coat.
  • Markings generally refer to the areas on a dog’s coat that have different pigments that are the base color.
  • Every breed has different types of markings.

1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi and its markings

Pembroke Welsh Corgis, according to the American Kennel Club, only have white markings on their bodies. This is one of the differences in appearance between the two Corgi breeds.

2. Cardigan Welsh Corgi and its markings

According to the American Kennel Club, Cardigan Welsh Corgis have the following types of markings:

1. Black Mask As the name suggests, the dog has a black marking on his face which looks like a mask. The fur on  the muzzle or entire face is black in color
2. Brindle PointsThese appear as fancy brindle stripes over a brown coat and has an excellent effect
3. Tan Points You can find tan markings on several areas of the dog’s body including the muzzle, legs, tail, chest, and eyes
4. Ticked You can find the pattern of small spots that look like “holes” on the dog’s fur. You can find them on the white parts of your dog’s coat
5. Black mask & ticked Has both types of markings
6. Brindle points & ticked Has both types of markings
7. Tan points & ticked Has both types of markings

Beyond Corgi colors: Let’s take a look into maintaining that fur 

A soft and shiny coat is one of the biggest signs of a dog’s good health. Diseases and deficiencies have a great impact on your dog’s fur.

If your Corgi’s coat appears to be dull and lifeless, it is time for you to take your dog to the vet to figure out what’s wrong.

In most cases, this is the result of nutritional deficiencies in the dog’s diet.

Let’s find out how you can let the corgi colors pop out by maintaining the dog’s fur.

1. A balanced diet

A good diet is key to maintaining your dog’s luscious coat. Corgis need a diet that’s rich in protein and good fats. If your dog’s coat isn’t as shiny as it used to be, there’s a problem in the kibble you’re giving him.

Did you know that commercial dog food companies are allowed to use meat from dead, diseased, decaying, and disabled animals? 

You should go for food brands that use human-grade meat to ensure that your dog is getting the best. In addition to that, some food companies use cheap filler ingredients like rice and corn that don’t provide much nutritional value.

Go for dog foods that use quality ingredients including fruits and vegetables for micronutrients. These include blueberries, bell peppers, calcium chewing bones, etc.

You can find out more about your dog’s needs in this article.

2. Fish oil & other supplements

Fish oil is an excellent supplement to your dog’s diet and helps keep his coat fluffy and shiny. You can also add other supplements to your dog’s meals to make sure all his nutritional needs are met and that he doesn’t develop any deficiencies.

All about Corgi Colors

Grooming matters! 

In addition to brushing your corgi’s coat several times a week, you should also wash your furry friend as needed—at least once every six weeks–using a good shampoo and conditioner.

Some corgis need professional grooming and haircuts to look their best.

Want to pamper your corgi? Check out our article on Blueberry facial for dogs!

Final thoughts on Corgi colors

Did we answer all of your questions? 

To sum-up there are two Corgi breeds:

1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi: Their tails are docked close to their bodies and are more rectangular or linear in appearance. They come in 5 different colors.

2. Cardigan Welsh Corgi: Their tails resemble those of foxes and are comparatively curvier in appearance. Their fur is fluffier and they come in 8 different colors.

Maintaining a balanced diet ensures that your Corgi will have soft and shiny fur.

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