Puppies are prone to getting dirty as they play and explore the world, and sometimes Corgi puppies can get especially dirty, due to their close proximity to the ground and their coat. How often you bathe your Corgi will depend on how dirty your puppy gets, as well as how well their skin copes with regular baths.
In this post we will cover how often it’s safe to bathe your Corgi puppy, as well as how to bathe, dry, and groom your Corgi effectively. By following the advice in this article, you’ll be able to successfully keep your Corgi puppy cute, clean, and fluffy!
How Often to Bathe a Corgi
You can wash your Corgi puppy anywhere from once per week, to once per month. The type of shampoo you use will also affect their bathing frequency. More regular washes will require a gentler shampoo so as not to dry out their skin.
When bathing your Corgi, one of the most important things is the type of shampoo or conditioner that you will be using. Especially if you will be giving your Corgi puppy frequent baths, it’s important to look for a moisturizing shampoo and to consider a conditioner as well.
Regular shampoo may dry out your dog’s skin, and irritate it. Shampoo also usually strips the coat of its natural oils, which can make your Corgi’s coat dull and breakable.
However, if you add a conditioner to your dog’s bathing routine, you’ll be able to prevent some of the damage caused by frequent usage of shampoo. The conditioner should be helpful to moisturize your Corgi’s skin, as well as protect their coat as they secrete their natural oils again.
It’s also important to make sure you use shampoo and conditioner that is specifically formulated for dogs. There are varieties made for wiggly puppies that are tearless, to prevent harm if you accidentally get the shampoo in your Corgi puppy’s eyes.
We recommend Burt’s Bees Tearless Puppy Shampoo as a gentle wash. But there are other options that are equally as good. You could also go with something like TropiClean Hypo-Allergenic Gentle Coconut Puppy Wash.
For a quality gentle puppy conditioner we use Zesty Paws Oatmeal Anti-Itch Conditioner.
As you bathe your Corgi, you’ll first want to ensure the coat is wet. Your Corgi will likely have a dense coat, so you will need to part the hair in order to get the shampoo and conditioner thoroughly down to the skin, instead of only on the surface of your dog’s body.
Once you’ve made sure the coat is wet, it’s time to lather up! Using the shampoo first, massage the suds into your Corgi’s coat, then thoroughly rinse. If your dog is especially dirty or shedding a lot, you can have even better success by doing this step twice.
After you’ve shampooed your pooch, it’s time to use the conditioner. Apply it to your Corgi’s fur, letting it sit for a brief moment before rinsing.
It’s important to make sure you thoroughly rinse out all the shampoo and conditioner, parting the fur to get all the way to the skin as you did before.
Leftover shampoo and conditioner are likely to make your Corgi puppy itchy and can contribute to dandruff and other skin conditions.
For more information on this topic you might like to read our post, Can My Puppy Take a Bath Everyday? (Pet Care Guide and Tips)
How to Dry a Corgi
Now that the bath is done, it’s time to dry off! You can use a towel to soak up most of the moisture, and then let your Corgi air dry the rest of the way, or you can blow dry your Corgi.
If your Corgi is shedding, blow drying is an excellent way to get rid of excess hair.
While a regular blow dryer may have some effect on the hair, and it will help dry your Corgi puppy, it’s not as effective for removing hair as a dog-specific blow dryer.
Purchasing a blow dryer specifically for dogs can be a great investment for owners with breeds that shed, such as Corgis, because the higher powered dryer is such an excellent tool to remove dead hair without brushing.
It’s an expensive investment but is well worth the trouble it will save you. Here is a great choice for you to consider.
It’s important to slowly get your Corgi used to the blow dryer, and it’s best to start getting them comfortable as a puppy. Starting on a lower setting and avoiding their face is the best way to start until they are comfortable.
You can also use a smear of peanut butter or other treats to keep your Corgi puppy happy and occupied while you use the blow dryer.
Other Corgi Grooming Considerations
Of course, even if you bathe and blow dry your Corgi, there are plenty of other things to consider when it comes to their grooming!
The most obvious additions are brushing and nail trimming. Frequent brushing in between baths will be important to keep hair from becoming impacted in your Corgi’s coat, and to keep them comfortable.
Two of the best brushes for Corgis are a slicker brush and an undercoat rake. Corgis have what is known as a double coat, where they have stiff outer guard hairs along with a shorter, fluffier, undercoat.
Too many brushes will simply remove the top layer of fur without brushing all the way to your Corgi’s skin and catching the undercoat. Brushing this undercoat is especially important because most of the shedding occurs in this layer, and removing the dead hair will allow air flow through your Corgi’s coat.
Sometimes, different coats can benefit from several different brushes, depending on the time of year and the status of their shedding. By having both a slicker brush and an undercoat rake, you’ll likely catch and remove much of the fur that is loose on your dog.
We recommend this undercoat rake for your Corgi pup: ConairPRO Undercoat Rake.
In addition to brushing, your Corgi’s nails will also need to be maintained. There are several types of nail clippers, including the scissors and guillotine types, as well as nail grinders.
In my experience, the scissors type of nail clippers are more versatile and easier to use without damaging your Corgi’s nails than the guillotine type. Be sure to see our post on the best method for trimming your puppy’s nails.
You can use nail clippers only, a nail grinder only, or a combination of both. In each case, you’ll want to avoid cutting or grinding into your Corgi’s quick, which is the bundle of blood vessels and nerves that exist inside of the nail.
If your Corgi has light colored nails, it should be relatively easy to see. Otherwise, take off only short pieces of your Corgi’s nails at a time, and stop when you notice the lighter inside circle where the quick is starting to appear.
For most dogs, they will need their nails trimmed every 2-4 weeks. You’ll want to make sure their nails are not digging into the ground as they walk, because it’s uncomfortable if their nails are left at this length.
If your Corgi already has nails that are too long, you should consider trimming their nails slightly every 3-7 days. Frequent short trimmings will make the quick recede, allowing you to trim their nails shorter and shorter.
Once you’ve gotten the quick to recede far enough, you can usually space out the nail trims again to a more regular schedule of once or twice a month.
Can You Trim a Corgi’s Coat?
The only time you should trim your Corgi’s coat is if it’s necessary for medical reasons. Because of your Corgi’s double coat, shaving your Corgi can lead to awkward patches of fur regrowth, and often takes many months to appear normal again, if ever. This is because the undercoat and outer layer of the coat grow at different rates.
In addition, shaving your Corgi won’t help them stay any cooler – the undercoat often grows back short and fuzzy, keeping air close to the skin, instead of allowing the stiff guard hairs to circulate air.
Instead, you should groom your Corgi with a bath and brushing. Trimming your Corgi won’t help with shedding either, since the fur is still there – just shorter.
Your Corgi puppy will be happier with their coat left natural as long as you brush it regularly.
Hopefully this has helped you with your Corgi puppy’s bath time!
