Do Corgis Have Dwarfism? (All You Need To Know)

Corgis inherit Chondrodysplasia, a kind of dwarfism that affects other dogs with short legs. Although it was a genetic mutation initially, it is now an essential component of Corgi’s standard. To find out more about Corgis and their tiny legs, continue reading Do Corgis Have Dwarfism?

These herding dogs were bred with short legs to keep them low to the ground and enable them to avoid deadly kicks from livestock easily. When exactly did this begin? Have their legs ever been so short? What effects will this have on their long-term health? These are all outstanding inquiries, particularly for Corgi owners.

Do Corgis Have Dwarfism?

The early hardening of the growing tips of dachshunds’ limb bones stunts their development and causes chondrodysplasia, a kind of dwarfism. The same holds for at least 19 modern breeds, including basset hounds, corgis, and Pekingese, all of which have tiny, bent legs.

Do All Dogs Have Dwarfism?

Corgis are indeed dwarf dogs. Many people are unaware that a genetic disorder known as achondroplastic dwarfism is the cause of their tiny legs. Due to this ailment, bones grow abnormally, which contributes to the corgi’s distinctively low stature. Although it can seem like a drawback, corgis benefit from this in several ways.

For instance, their tiny legs enable them to run quickly and nimbly. They are excellent dogs for agility contests because they can change directions and turn swiftly. Additionally, they are perfect for living in tiny places due to their compact size. Please take a moment to admire the corgi’s adorable tiny legs the next time you see one since they are the product of years of breeding and evolution.

How Come Corgis Are So Small?

So now we are aware of the reason why Corgis are so small. However, why is it desired? It is believed that the first dwarf dogs appeared shortly after domestication started thousands of years ago. A genetic mutation is always an isolated event that only spreads through a population if it confers a survival advantage, such as a higher likelihood of procreation for the affected individual.

In the case of dogs, the dwarfism modification propagated not because it increased the likelihood of their survival but rather because it raised the possibility of the survival of their human owners. Short-legged dogs flush out animals from tight locations, including under shrubs and collecting small vermin.

Due to their appreciation for this, humans continued to breed dwarf dog generations and began developing new applications for them. That brings us to the creation of the Corgi breed. Sheep were domesticated after dogs, and the Corgi breed first emerged in Europe after sheep were domesticated. Sheep farmers prized dogs with strong herding instincts and short legs because they were ideal for chasing sheep and, if necessary, nibbling at their ankles to move them along.

When Did Corgis Get Short Legs First?

The short legs of the corgis are an excellent illustration of a deliberate accident. Their tiny legs were ultimately the result of a genetic abnormality. These Welsh Corgis have legs that are shorter due to a gene mutation that occurred at some point in time.

However, dog breeders were not those to pass up such a chance. Short legs obviously wouldn’t be ideal for climbing or long jumps. Additionally, because of their shorter strides due to shorter legs, they aren’t the best for running. The earliest short-legged corgis were bred for herding some 300 years ago, which is ideal for that task.

However, corgis may have existed for 3,000 years in some form or another. In particular, that refers to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, believed to have been introduced to Wales by a warring Celtic clan. Although it’s reasonable to state that those are only mythology and traditions, some Welsh people think that fairies invented these dogs far earlier, still, in our opinion, a pretty outstanding past for these dogs.

What Gene Causes Short Legs In Corgis?

Without delving into the specifics of medicine, one gene promotes the development of short legs. Its name is the FGF4. Achondroplastic dwarfish is a disorder that can occur if this gene is activated.

You’ve probably heard of other breeds with tiny legs, like Dachshunds or Basset Hounds. And as you suspected, it is. They, too, suffer from the same disease caused by the same gene. Although this is a genetic mutation, it’s not always a terrible thing. There are some drawbacks to having short legs, though.

Possibility Of Long Legs In Corgis

Yes, there were long-legged corgis in the past. They formerly had lengthy legs. However, they were gradually bred to have short legs. Nowadays’ corgis express the dwarfism gene, which has become the dominant gene.

Even if you could go back in time and bring a corgi to the present with long legs, it wouldn’t be regarded as a purebred corgi because the AKC recognizes the corgi’s short legs! Only 50 percent of corgi puppies would have short legs during the herding era.

Since the dwarfism gene is dominant, short-legged corgis will be born if at least one of the parents carries it. One gene is all that is required, and the gene is located on a non-sex chromosome. Corgi puppies that express just one dwarfism gene won’t be as short as those who speak two of the same genes.

Depending on how the puppy’s parents are acting, this. Naturally, as time passed, only short dogs were permitted to breed to achieve the desired characteristic. Additionally, since it is a dominant gene, there is a chance that the entire litter will be corgis with short legs. Punnett squares may be recalled from science class. Who thought that would be useful, huh?

Why Are There No Long-Legged Corgis?

It is estimated that around 300 years ago, the first corgis with short legs were bred. Corgis were produced by ranches and farmers primarily for use in the fields, and having a low stature was a desired characteristic.

They discovered that corgis were challenging to strike because of their tiny bodies and low to the ground legs. To breed more dogs with genetic flaws, dog breeders believed this was a particular trait.

Only the short-legged corgis remained prevalent over time as the traditional “long-legged” corgis vanished. The gene rose to the top of the gene expression hierarchy. This indicates that the recessive gene for long-legged dogs is “overtaken” by the short-legged FGF4 expression. In other words, breeding was prohibited for long-legged corgis.

Therefore, only those with short legs could. As a result, puppies with short legs were the only ones born. And as a result, all corgis we see today have short legs. There are still long-legged corgis around if you search hard enough. They either exhibit the long-legged gene or are mutts.

Can Corgis Be Found At A Variety Of Heights?

Yes, corgis have varied height disparities influenced by environmental and genetics. A corgi dog shorter than others can be “born” that way. And just slightly altering the environment, you can control how much the legs develop.

Your corgi’s development plates on their bones and legs are affected by factors like how much food you feed them, what you feed them, how much exercise they get, how high they jump, what nutrients they get, and whether they are male or female, and other factors.

What kinds of animals herd Corgis?

As they are now known, Pembroke Welsh Corgis were first used by medieval Flemish weavers to herd and drive their sheep. Dogs back then had to work to make a living because it was a luxury for most people to feed and house them.

Therefore, many Pembroke Corgis have also been effective cow herders. The less popular Cardigan Corgi is supposed to have originated in Scandinavia. It was mainly used as a cattle herder and occasionally as a guard dog and hunting partner.

Both varieties of Corgis are more likely to be kept as household pets nowadays than working dogs. Pembrokes consistently rank in the top 20 most popular dog breeds in America. Although Corgis kept as pets don’t have a flock of sheep to herd, it’s not uncommon to see them herding kids, guests, and smaller animals.

You can participate in herding training and competitions held by regional clubs and breed registries to stop this natural activity from becoming annoying. Your dog is less likely to misbehave at home if you give them a proper outlet for their natural inclinations.

Are Corgis Used For Hunting?

Although all Corgis have a strong desire to chase, they are not hunting dogs. Only Cardigan Corgis, one of the two Corgi breeds, are more likely to have any hunting heritage. They are slightly taller than Pembrokes.

And roughly 25% heavier, with most of that weight being muscular, making them more suitable for hunting work. Let’s quickly review some more disadvantages of Corgis’ short legs now that we’ve looked at what causes them and why they were first thought to be attractive.

Caring For Corgi Dogs’ Short Legs

Corgis make excellent pets, but before getting one with dwarfism, potential owners should keep the following in mind:

• Despite having tiny legs, corgis are not slow. They need power, endurance, and resilience to succeed as working dogs. Your pet Corgi will probably be quite energetic as well, but it’s a good idea to take a few straightforward safety measures to guard against harm to their short legs and, more crucially, their backs.
• Encourage children not to jump on and off furniture; instead, install ramps or steps for them to use. Maintain a healthy weight for them because carrying more weight strains the spine.
• Don’t just rely on physical activity to exhaust them; also utilize training games and activities that require them to solve problems, like puzzle feeders. If there is a suitable swimming area nearby, take the kids swimming. Swimming is a great physical task that helps to support their skeleton.

Conclusion

So, Do Corgis Have Dwarfism? Are long legs possible in corgis? Technically, the answer is yes. A corgi born without the gene that causes dwarfism is quite rare, though. Corgis typically have tiny legs, which are an attribute of the breed.

If a corgi has lengthy legs, it’s probably not a purebred and might even be a mix with another species. However, regardless of their leg length, these dogs are well-known for being amiable and making beautiful pets. You’ve probably seen corgis with lengthy legs.

Frequently Asked Questions