That long back on short legs is the same chondrodystrophic build that gives Dachshunds their disc-disease problem, and Corgis gain weight very easily — a serious combination, since extra weight is one of the biggest modifiable risk factors for the spinal injuries that can leave a Corgi unable to walk.
13.2years, median
0.7 years above the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 864 dogs of this breed. 95% confidence interval 12.7 to 13.6 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, small breeds as a group had a median of 12.7 years and medium-muzzled breeds 12.8. This breed is small and medium-muzzled.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.0Health tests to ask the breeder for
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America sets the tests a Pembroke Welsh Corgi needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Hip Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation or PennHIP Evaluation)
- Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist (results registered with OFA or CERF)
When to spay or neuter a Corgi: the UC Davis study of 35 breeds has a suggested guideline for the breed. For males it is 6 months or later. For females, any age. The spay and neuter page has the numbers behind it and what the guidelines say for a dog this size.
- von Willebrand Disease (vWD) DNA test
- Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) DNA test
- Elbow Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation)
- Cardiac Evaluation
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a Pembroke Welsh Corgi near you
Shelters and rescues list Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Pembroke Welsh Corgi mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
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Living with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Corgis are big-dog personalities and genuine herders in a small body — bold, vocal, and prone to nipping at heels (including kids' heels) when their herding instinct kicks in without training. They need real daily exercise and a genuinely controlled diet, because this is a breed that will eat past the point of being overweight, and every extra pound raises the odds of a serious back injury.
Health you should know about
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) — Corgis share the short-legged, long-backed build that predisposes Dachshunds to disc disease; breed health organizations flag it as a significant risk, particularly in overweight dogs, though breed-wide prevalence is less precisely studied than in Dachshunds.
- Degenerative myelopathy — a progressive spinal cord disease causing hind-limb weakness and eventual paralysis in older dogs; Pembrokes are among the breeds most commonly affected and genetic testing is available.
- Hip dysplasia — joint malformation that occurs despite the breed's small size; screening is recommended for breeding stock.
- Obesity — Pembrokes are notably prone to weight gain, which compounds both joint and spinal risk in a breed already built with a long spine over short legs.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a Pembroke Welsh Corgi? Welsh dog names, 80 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 3 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 3 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.