How Much Should You Feed a Corgi? Feeding Chart & FAQs

Getting a new puppy is always an adventure—especially when it’s a Corgi! Corgis are wonderful little bundles of energy with great big personalities. But for them to grow up big and strong, they’ve got to have the right nutrition.

However, feeding them the right food just isn’t enough. Because underfeeding them will guarantee they don’t reach their full potential while overfeeding them can quickly lead to health problems such as obesity.

That’s why we’ve put together this article—to help you understand and follow a proper feeding routine for your Corgi from the time they can start solid foods through their twilight years.

Adult Feeding Chart

Important Note: The amount of calories each juvenile dog needs for healthy growth and development depends on many factors, including their age, breed, and activity level. These charts are general guidelines for healthy young dogs, but we recommend confirming them with your vet.

You can also complement this guide by using our dog food calculator here:

The exact amount of calories an individual animal needs to maintain a healthy weight is variable and influenced by many factors including genetics, age, breed, and activity level. This tool is meant to be used only as a guideline for healthy individuals and does not substitute veterinary advice 

What to Feed My Corgi Puppy

One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make is what you’re going to feed your Corgi puppy. Are you going to opt for dry kibble or wet food? Or maybe you’ll want to start them on a raw food diet as soon as possible?  Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Dry Kibble

This is the option that most Corgi owners will opt for as it’s very easy to control and the most affordable option. However, not all kibble is built the same. There are some kibbles out there that are much better suited for Corgis than others.

Since Corgis are small dogs—and even smaller puppies—you’re going to want to find kibble suited specifically for them. Look for small bite puppy blends. This will ensure that not only will your pup receive the best nutrition available but they’ll be able to easily crunch it as well.

For your Corgi, in particular, we recommend Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development Small Bites. It’s a formula that has been scientifically crafted to provide every bit of nutrition a growing puppy needs. Plus, it’s formed into smaller pieces to make it easier on their smaller mouths. But perhaps the biggest benefit comes in the form of added antioxidants.

It’s been shown that antioxidants can increase the efficiency of a puppy’s vaccinations.

Wet Food

Another common approach Corgi parents take is feeding them wet food. Sure, wet food does cost more than dry food in the long run; however, there are a bunch of great benefits that come with it.

Wet food has a much higher moisture content than dry foods which helps keep your puppy hydrated and free from urinary tract issues. Another major perk of wet food is that it has nearly the same amount of protein as dry food but with a minimal amount of carbohydrates. Some carbs are fine, but too much can lead to excessive weight gain.

When it comes to wet food, we like Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Savory Stew. As another recommendation for Hill’s Science Diet, this is wet food specifically designed to cater to the needs of growing puppies. Most wet foods you’ll find are geared primarily toward older dogs. But this formula—like the dry food—is scientifically created to ensure that your Corgi’s nutritional needs are all met.

Raw Food Diet

Raw food diets are becoming increasingly popular among Corgi parents. This type of diet comprises custom meals made out of whole-food ingredients specially crafted for your pup. These ingredients can include raw or cooked meats, veggies, and even fruits. However, this diet style requires a firm understanding of your doggie’s nutritional needs.

While this type of diet can provide one of the best sources of natural nutrition, if not done properly, your pup may not receive all the vitamins and minerals they need. We recommend doing some in-depth research and consulting your veterinarian before starting.

Corgis just love to eat! But sometimes, they just don’t know when to stop. And while overeating as a puppy won’t necessarily lead straight to obesity, it does present a bevy of other problems. Corgis that overeat as puppies put undue stress on their developing joints. And this could lead to problems later in life such as patellar luxation or hip dysplasia.

On the other hand, underfeeding your pup can also be a big issue. Puppies that don’t receive the proper amount of nutrition might not fully develop. They can also be weaker than other puppies, making them more susceptible to illness and disease.

Thankfully, it’s super easy to tell whether your puppy’s eating enough nutritious food. You should be able to feel their ribs without seeing them. And they should have a clearly defined waist. If your Corgi pup meets these quickly visible criteria, you probably have little to worry about.

Avoiding Underfeeding & Overfeeding

When to Switch from Puppy to Adult Food

It’s inevitable, your Corgi isn’t going to stay a puppy forever. And at 12 months (1 year), they should start the transition over to an adult-formulated diet. If your dog isn’t a picky eater, this might be as easy as just pouring new food into their bowl.

However, you’ll probably want to plan out a transition. You should start by mixing the new food in with your puppy food. Then slowly increase the ratio of adult formula and puppy food over a few weeks until your Corgi is fully in tune with the adult food.

Why Won’t My Corgi Puppy Eat?

You might notice that your pup just doesn’t want to eat. It’s a lot more common than you’d think. But that doesn’t mean they never will. You’ll just need to get creative. You might want to swap out foods, add a wet topper to their kibble, or even use an interactive dog bowl to make feeding fun.

Lack of appetite or desire to eat is often caused by stress. If you’re bringing a new puppy into your home, it’s not unheard of for your pup to not want to eat right away. But that should quickly subside within a day or two, and they’ll be eating regularly again as they acclimate to their new surroundings.

However, if your pup goes without eating or drinking for more than 12 hours, you should bring them to your veterinarian. There may be other underlying issues at play.

How Much to Feed an Adult Corgi

Feeding an adult Corgi is much easier than feeding a puppy. Puppies require coordinated feeding efforts with multiple meals throughout the day. Whereas with an adult Corgi, feeding becomes less tasking.

When feeding an adult Corgi, 1½ to 2 cups a day over two separate meals is generally all they need. However, there may be certain circumstances where your dog will require more food such as:

Corgi Feeding Guide for Seniors

Older Corgis have special dietary considerations due to their advanced age. So, to keep them happy and healthy through their golden years, you’ll need to swap up their food source. Fortunately, there are plenty of dog foods available made deliberately for seniors.

We like Diamond Naturals Senior Formula Dry Food for aging Corgis. It provides an excellent blend of lean proteins without any filler ingredients such as corn or grain. The blend also features tons of probiotics to help your Corgi digest their meals.

When feeding a senior dog, it’s best to keep them on a routine. Two meals a day—once in the morning, one at night—is a good standard when setting up your Corgi’s schedule.

Why Is My Corgi Always Hungry?

There’s a possibility that your Corgi is going to be a bottomless pit—meaning they just don’t want to stop eating. This can quickly lead to overfeeding if not properly dealt with. Fortunately, there are a few ways to combat this.

What Foods Are Bad for Corgis?

When it comes to feeding your Corgi, the best bet is to keep them on a strictly dog-safe diet. But that can be very difficult to do if you don’t have an idea of what to avoid. Keep your Corgi safe and prevent them from eating harmful foods such as:

Conclusion

While this may seem like a lot of information to digest about feeding your Corgi, it’s pretty simple once you get into it. But remember, these aren’t set-in-stone rules. They’re simply guidelines.

Every dog is different, and you may have to adjust to cater to your pup. But with a little bit of determination, you’ll be able to raise a happy, healthy Corgi.

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Featured Image Credit: Welshea, Shutterstock