How much should a corgi weigh?
A Pembroke Welsh Corgi typically sits around 10-12kg, and a Cardigan Corgi a little heavier at around 11-17kg, though a hands-on body check tells you far more about a healthy weight than the number on the scale alone, especially given how easily this breed's shape can hide a few extra kilos.
Typical weight ranges
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi, the more commonly seen of the two breeds in the UK, usually weighs somewhere around 10 to 12kg as an adult, with males typically a little heavier than females. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a slightly larger, longer-bodied breed and tends to sit higher, roughly 11 to 17kg depending on sex and build.
Both are long-backed, short-legged breeds, and that body shape is exactly why weight matters more here than in many breeds. Extra weight puts additional strain on a long spine carried on short legs, which makes keeping a corgi at a healthy weight a genuine welfare issue rather than just a cosmetic one.
Why the scale number can mislead you
A corgi's thick double coat and low, compact body shape can hide extra weight surprisingly well from a glance, and the breed has a reputation for a big appetite relative to its size, which makes gradual weight gain easy to miss.
A hands-on body condition check tells you more than a number alone: you should be able to feel the ribs without heavy pressure, see a waist when looking down from above, and see a slight tummy tuck from the side. If you can't easily feel ribs, that's worth acting on regardless of what the scale says.
Common questions
- Is my corgi overweight if it's above the typical range?
- Not necessarily on the number alone — build and frame size vary between individual dogs. A body condition check, feeling for ribs and looking for a waist, tells you more than comparing to a breed average. If you're unsure, a vet can assess this properly at a check-up.
- Why do corgis put on weight so easily?
- The breed has a reputation for a strong appetite relative to its size, and its low, long body can disguise extra weight visually more than it would on a taller dog. That combination makes gradual weight gain easy to miss without regular hands-on checks.
- Are Pembroke and Cardigan corgis the same weight?
- No, Cardigans are generally the larger of the two breeds and tend to sit a little heavier than Pembrokes, though there's overlap between the two ranges. Sex and individual build make a bigger difference than which of the two breeds a dog is.
- Does a corgi's weight affect its back?
- Yes, and this matters more for corgis than for many breeds because of their long back and short legs. Carrying extra weight puts additional strain on the spine, so keeping a corgi at a healthy weight is a genuine welfare consideration rather than just appearance.
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Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.