Smart, loyal, a great companion: the corgi is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world.
When going through the process of buying your first corgi one thing that might have you up at night is wondering: how much it’s all going to cost? Are corgis expensive to take care of?
That’s the same feeling that many future dog owners go through. When it comes down to it:
Most corgis cost $2000 and $3500. However, this can be considerably higher if you add in breeder costs, travel costs, and vaccinations. There are also ongoing costs including food, toys, activities, and training.
How much does it cost to buy a corgi from a breeder?
Corgis are among the most popular dog breeds in the world, so there is considerable demand for this breed of dog. So can you get a corgi without breaking the bank? Yes.
In the United States, corgis cost $2000 and $3500 when you buy them from a registered breeder. In Australia, this can go up to as high as $5000 for a corgi, due to the demand.
At the top end, you can expect to pay over well $2500 for a purebred show corgi. A corgi is this price bracket is expected to line up closely with the breed standard. This includes a low-set and strong body, a bold and kind disposition, and a smooth walk with a balanced gait (walking pattern).
It is important that when you are buying from a breeder that they are reputable. People who are breeding the family dog, or have a small scheme at their house (i.e. backyard breeders) are not a good place to buy a corgi.
Good breeders will often have a waitlist for you to be put on. This can mean your waiting up to a year to get your corgi. There may be a cost associated with this, typically around $100–$200 dollars.
Total = $2000–$3500
How much does it cost to adopt a corgi?
On the cheaper side, it’s possible to find corgis for as low as $100 if you adopt from an animal shelter or rescue.
If you’re sitting at this price range, the corgis you’ll be able to get are typically older adult corgis – rather than puppies. However, this is a win-win situation. You save money, but you also provide a home for a dog in desperate need of care.You’re also helping reduce the number of animals that get put down each year and get bragging rights to boot.
Total = $100–$500
Can I get a corgi for free?
There are many different ways to get a corgi, however, it is usually a bad sign to get one for free.
While you can get free corgis, free animals often do not have proper registration or vaccinations, and are likely to have health problems.
This can lead to very expensive vet bills down the line that will cost you far more than the cost of a registered and vaccinated corgi.
If you’re after a cheaper corgi, the best thing you can do is speak to your local animal rescue.
Total = $0 (but be careful)
How does a Pembroke Welsh corgi compare to a cardigan corgi in price?
There are two main types of corgi: the rugged Cardigan Welsh corgi and the softer Pembroke Welsh corgi.
Because the Pembroke is more popular, there are more breeders and therefore the price is cheaper than cardigan corgis. However, purebred Pembroke corgis that show-ready can fetch very higher prices.
If price is a big factor for you, consider looking at a cross or half-breed, as these often come in cheaper than a purebred of either type. They can also be more readily found for adoption in rescues or shelters.
Additional costs to own a corgi
There are a number of additional costs outside of buying a corgi. Some of these are one time costs and some are ongoing.
These are some of the most important costs that I have found to be important to consider when buying your corgi.
Buying a corgi is not just a set one-off cost.
There are also ongoing costs including food, toys, shelter, grooming, and training.
Shipping, travel, and relocation costs of buying a corgi
The number of breeders near you will depend on the country and region you live.
You may not have a local breeder in your area, and that means you need to look out of state or country. This means you may get charged for shipping and relocation.
If you can drive from city to city to pick up your corgi, then you’re only paying fuel and car costs. Otherwise, you need to find an airline to pick up your corgi.
Within the country, you can expect to pay $250–$400. Transport internationally is typically closer to the $1,000 mark and up from there.
You should always go out to see your corgi where possible. That will help give you a sense of where they’ve come from, and can help ensure your breeder is high-quality and reputable. It can also help make sure your corgi is healthy.
Total =$250–$400
Food costs of buying a corgi
Food costs are one of the main ongoing costs that come with owning a corgi.
As corgis are very active dogs that can have a habit of overeating if you are not careful. You should be aiming to serve your corgi around 1 cup of food per day.
This works out at around $30 per month to feed your corgi – a little more if they’re bigger, a little less if they’re smaller. The other cost is for treats – like beef, pork, or chicken snacks – which will cost around $10 per month.
Treats help supplement a dog’s diet and reward them for good behaviour. They are also a useful tool for when you are training your corgi.
It’s always worth investing in brands that are more nutritious for your corgi. These will often include ingredients like deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, ground barley, pumpkin, and peas.
Total = $40 per month
Shelter costs of buying a corgi
There are two types of dogs: inside dogs and outside dogs. Some owners think that by keeping their corgi indoors, it will solve all their shelter problems. That’s not true.
You still need to be paying for blankets and a dog bed. With the way that corgis shed, you don’t want to be sharing with the rest of the family.
A quality dog blanket and bed will cost you around $100. And if your corgi is planning on staying outside, a dog house will cost you around $150.
These are mostly one-off costs, although its quite likely you will go through your fair share of blankets with time.
Total = $250
Grooming costs of buying a corgi
Expect to pay roughly $100 per month in grooming costs, and shampoos for bathing your corgi. A nail trimming will cost around $15.
Grooming fees can quickly add up for many dog breeds, an in particular with corgis. Corgis have a dense double coat and need to be groomed every 1–2 months. You will also need to do their nails, which you can do yourself, or schedule an appointment.
You should also be bathing your corgi at least once a month, which needs to be factored into your ongoing costs. This can be booked in with your nail trimming, if you are getting a professional to do these.
Total = $115 per month
Fitness and exercise costs of buying a corgi
You can expect to pay a dog walker around $25 per session for your dog. For more ways to exercise, expect to pay around $10 for each of your dog toys depending on quality.
As corgis are one of the most active dog breeds, they need plenty of exercise to fend off their ferocious appetite. While walking is free, if you’re not able to walk your corgi every day, you may need to pay for a local dog walker.
This fee can very depending on your needs and dog’s personality. For example, if you need a dog walker to do nightly walks, or travel out of their normal area, this cost may be more. It can also be more expensive to do private dog walking compared to walking in groups.
Outside of this, you need to buy a few toys to keep them busy. No need to go overboard, but enough to have them occupied when you need to leave the house.
A word of advice from personal experience! You might be to run to the pet store and buy everything in sight for your new pup. Resist that urge. Buy the basics at first, and then you’ll slowly find out what your dog likes and needs. There’s no point buying an extra soft extra squeaky bone when they are more than happy with a line of hard rope.
Total = $185 per week (if getting a walker every day)
Training costs of buying a corgi
All dogs are good dogs, but some are more good than others. To make your corgi the best it can be, you’ll need to invest either some time or money (or both) into training.
Yes, training is one of the most important things you can do for you corgi, just be prepared for it to come with a price tag.
For group lessons, expect to pay anywhere from $50–$125 for 4-8 weeks. These classes usually consist of one-hour sessions.
The cost of your training sessions will depend on the temperament of your corgi, their willingness to learn, and how much time you invest into building their skills.
If you decide to go for private lessons with a personal dog trainer, be prepared to pay even more.
Total = $200–$1000
Health costs of buying a corgi
Another important factor to note in the corgi price: vet expenses.
Vet bills aren’t cheap, so it’s a good idea to know what health conditions are common in corgis before you dive in and buy.
Common corgi health conditions including elbow dysplasia, Von Willebrand’s disease, degenerative myelopathy, and retinal atrophy can cost up to $3000 per condition. More serious issues, like hip dysplasia, can cost in the ballpark of $15,000.
Preventative care, including heartworm prevention, flea and tick prevention, de-wormers, and annual vaccination may cost around $500 per year.
Before you get your corgi, check that your breeder has given them all their vaccinations and worming – and that they have their registration and change of ownership forms. This should be covered in the cost of the corgi – and it is important that your breeder does this.
This is to ensure the health of your corgi, as unhealthy dogs can end up costing thousands of dollars in surgery. And this is not even including rehabilitation and vet visits. Your dog, and your wallet, depends on it.
Once your dog is out of the puppy stage, vet expenses should only average a few hundred dollars in a typical year if your dog is in good health.
Total = $3000 per condition and $500 per year.
Final thoughts on the costs of buying a corgi
Buying a corgi is a beautiful step in the process, but it comes at a price to your back pocket.
While initials expense can cost $2,000 to $3500, you should budget an additional $500 to get your corgi.
The additional costs can quickly add up when you factor in health, food, shelter, training and grooming. This can come out around $100–$800 per month, depending on how many professional services you use, and how many you do yourself. By walking and grooming your dog, you dramatically cut down on monthly costs.
By knowing the costs upfront, you are more aware of the impact that owning a corgi will have on your budget, and be able to make the right decision for you and your family.
Let us know on Instagram or Facebook when you get your new corgi.
