Thinking about getting a Corgi, but want to know more about Corgi barking first? That’s smart—because guess what? This breed does bark a lot, and this is true of both types of Corgi: Pembroke Welsh and Cardigan alike.
Does that mean that you should give up on the idea of getting a Corgi? Not if you are willing to do the work to train your dog and provide him with the emotional support he needs to thrive.
Corgis may be prone to barking, but it doesn’t need to be excessive. In this guide, we’ll talk about how much barking you can expect from a Corgi, what your dog may be trying to tell you, and how you can curb barking that gets to be too much. Let’s begin.
Why Do Corgis and Other Dogs Bark?
Have you ever wondered why dogs bark so much to begin with?
First of all, barking is healthy behavior and an important one too. WebMD explains, “No one should expect a dog to never bark. That’s as unreasonable as expecting a child to never talk … barking is one type of vocal communication that dogs use, and it can mean different things depending on the situation.”
How Much Barking Can You Expect From Your Corgi?
Listen, there is no way to put this delicately, because your Corgi certainly won't—Corgis bark a lot.
While they may not bark constantly, there are going to be times when it feels nonstop. Your Corgi may be set off by anything that moves. You might even suspect sometimes that your dog is barking at a puff of breeze!
How Much Barking From a Corgi is Too Much?
Here’s the thing—a Corgi is always going to bark more than some quieter dog breeds. How do you know when it has gone too far? Well, if your dog is barking every time a car drives by, that is excessive. You’re going to need to train your dog to rein it in.
What Makes Corgis Bark?
Corgis were bred as working dogs. As they helped herd animals, they needed to be on the lookout for predators and other threats.
That's pretty much why your Corgi barks too. He may not be herding sheep, but he still feels the call to alert you to every possible danger.
It is your job as your Corgi's owner to 1-help him recognize that many of the things he barks at are not threats and 2-to curb anxiety. Both will help him reduce his excess barking.
Like other dogs, Corgis also bark for a variety of other reasons. Your Corgi could be restless or bored, or wanting food, or maybe just some attention.
How Loudly Do Corgis Bark?
Corgi barks are super loud. So, be ready for that!
How Old Are Corgis When They Begin Barking?
Corgis can start barking loudly at everything when they are just puppies. So, however young your Corgi is, you can expect a lot of noise.
How to Interpret Corgi Barks
We’ve established that Corgis bark a lot, and barking is important since it is part of how your pet communicates. But how do you interpret the barks?
Since Corgi barks can mean many different things, you will need to pay attention to your dog's body language and the situation's context to figure out what each bark means.
For example, if someone is at the door and your Corgi is barking, he tries to alert you to a potential threat. Likewise, a Corgi barking in a thunderstorm is expressing anxiety.
Some Corgis bark if you leave them alone for a longer period than they like. With separation anxiety, you might also see destructive behavior and other signs of mental distress.
When you greet your dog, a bark usually means "hello," especially if your pet's tail is wagging. Haven't fed your Corgi in a while? Barking could signify that he's hungry.
Sometimes your Corgi may just be barking to get you to notice him and interact, or because he needs something to do.
Finally, Corgis have a unique type of bark where they produce the same sound, but they do it with their mouths shut. These closed-mouth barks are usually complaints. They mean that while your dog might be doing what you say, it is grudging.
It is up to you to decide whether the commands you are giving are unreasonable or not. It is important to strike a balance between discipline and a happy dog.
If you cave in to every demand, your Corgi will run roughshod over you. But if it isn't something super important for your Corgi to have to do, you might want to drop it in the future.
It is also important to note that Corgis make a wide range of other vocalizations aside from barking. These can include grumbling, whining, grunting, howling, even purring!
Your pup may seem to be chattering away throughout the day, following you around. Since Corgis are naturally chatty, this may be a sign that you have a happy dog, especially if he is playful, affectionate, and energetic.
What Real Corgi Owners Say About Barking
We’ve talked about how much Corgis bark. But you might be wondering about the experiences of real-life Corgi owners. Let’s take a look at what a few have said here about their Corgis barking.
“I've finally gotten a Corgi of my own since writing this answer and can now personally confirm that Corgis do bark a lot. My Corgi, Pino, is more on the alert and anxious side, so it was quite the challenge when she was in her fearful puppy stage. We are now in a much more peaceful age after lots of socialization and training her to behave more calmly. She can still be quite the barker but it's much more manageable.”
“I’ve had two, both well-trained. My male barked at anything and everything. He barked at air. My female only barks if someone’s at the door or to alert me to something.”
“Depends on the individual. I have two Corgis right now. The older dog came from the Humane Society. She was dumped there at the age of two years, the reason given being ‘Barks.’ The other dog, I got as a puppy. She very rarely barks. If she barks, she barks for a clear reason: someone is around, a weird noise can be heard nearby, or something bothers her. She is a watchdog. But she’s not a conversationalist.”
“Corgis are not excessive barkers. They do bark when someone rings the doorbell, or when they get excited. But if they get the proper amount of attention and exercise, they are not yappers.”
“My father raises them, he has had six. My experience with his is that they will bark at just about everything that interests them. If you yell at them for barking the dog thinks, Hey I'm barking and my master is too. I'll bark some more.’ That said, his Corgi's were pretty low energy, and they do stop barking after a minute or two.”
How to Reduce Excessive Barking from Your Corgi
So, what's the answer if your Corgi is barking too much?
The Humane Society offers several different ideas for reducing excess barking in dogs. These include ignoring the barking, desensitization to whatever you don’t want your dog barking at, giving your dog tasks to do that are incompatible with barking, and tiring out your dog with workouts.
Remember, Corgis are working dogs. The method where you make sure they have plenty of exercises and mental stimulation (i.e., puzzle toys) can work particularly well for this breed.
It is essential not to use negative reinforcement when you are training a dog. Instead, stick with positive reinforcement. When your dog does what you want, offer up a reward.
Rewards could include petting your dog and giving him some extra attention or perhaps a treat like Oxbow Simple Rewards Oven Baked Treats.
Conclusion
So, what’s the bottom line? Corgis are barkers. There’s no getting around it. They were bred to work farms and to bark at threats. They carry that proud heritage forth today. While they don't bark excessively, they are more prone to it than many other breeds as a rule.
But now you also know the solution, which is to train your Corgi well. Thankfully, Corgis are smart, so if you are consistent and dedicated, you should find success.
You also can make sure your Corgi is getting plenty of exercise and is staying mentally stimulated. A Corgi that is staying entertained and has a healthy outlet for all that exuberant energy will bark a lot less.
Corgis are affectionate, loyal, fun-loving companions that can bring an abundance of joy and love to your household. So, if you are up to the task of training a Corgi and providing him with the emotional support and companionship he needs, he will reward you back with the same in abundance.
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