Do corgis smell like dog?

Why Does My Corgi Smell So Bad? (Get Rid of the Odor Now!)

Does your corgi have an odor, smells fishy, or just plain stinks no matter what you do?

In this article, we’ll go over some of the most common problems with corgi odor:

  • Do corgis have an odor?
  • Why your corgi smells fishy
  • Why your corgi smells bad all of a sudden
  • How often you should give your corgi a bath
  • And more!

You’ll have everything you need to get rid of the dog smell after you read through this page.

Sound good? Let’s dive in.

Do corgis have an odor?

Why corgis smell and have odors.
Does your corgi stink or smell like dog?

Just like any other dog breed, corgis can smell and emit an odor from their coat over time.

Some breeds are known to stink more than others, and corgis are about average in terms of odor.

Corgis are known to easily become smelly due to their furry coat (corgi glitter). Similar to other breeds like pugs, mastiffs, basset hounds, boxers, saint bernards, beagles, and cocker spaniels, corgis an also easily become stinky.

Do corgis smell like dog?

Normally, corgis emit a slight odor that smells like dog. The smell isn’t repulsive, but it’s not pleasant either.

This is especially true if you don’t use scented dog shampoo and you exercise your corgi a lot (which is good to keep them calm).

But if the coat gets really dirty, they may start to smell rotten, fishy, or like wet dog. Their nails, paws, and breath can also be smelly like other dogs.

Why does my corgi smell fishy or rotten?

Corgi on beach smelling fishy and rotten like wet dog.
Does your corgi smell like wet dog or have a persistent bad smell?

Depending on many factors such as the environment, how often you exercise your corgi, bathing, and even the amount of sweat your corgi precipitates all affect the overall smell of your dog.

For example, if you exercise your corgi often and the dog park is messy and unkempt, all the dirt and debris collect into your corgi’s thick double coat, which will then start to smell over time. It may smell rotten, fishy, or just suddenly stink all of a sudden.

Sometimes, the scent can be stubborn to remove and your corgi will stink no matter what you do.

You’ll have to bathe your dog multiple times with powerful dog shampoo to get rid of the odor. Other times, you just have to let your corgi shed out the odor.

How often should I bathe my corgi?

Corgis have a dense double coat that repels a lot of dirt so they’re naturally very clean dogs. If you don’t want a smelly dog, a corgi is a decent choice.

They do have a baseline “dog” smell that’s neutral to the nose, but they can start to smell fishy or rotten if you neglect care.

You should bathe your corgi at least once per month or twice at most. Because their coat is thick and dense, a lot of dirt and debris simply fall off and never sticks to them.

Grooming keeps your corgi clean and odor-free

You can delay bathing by doing small cleanings of the paws, legs, and underside during regular grooming, which should be done at least once per day.

Frequent grooming during the shedding when they change coats (spring and fall) will help keep their coat nice and tidy.

If you keep your corgi well-groomed, you can get away with bathing it every 4-6 weeks to keep the hair clean. Bathing too much will dry or damage their hair and skin.

Spot wash dirty spots

Use spot-washes to clean areas that are prone to get dirty, especially after rain or a day out. The paws and undercarriage of your corgi get dirty fast.

The nails are also prone to dirt, so keep them clean and trimmed.

What shampoo should I use for my corgi?

There are countless dog shampoos on the market- some are marketed specifically for corgis.

Choose a high-quality, reputable dog shampoo backed by reviews with organic or natural shampoo compounds only. Look for something that doesn’t harm the coat or skin and has essential vitamins and nutrients made just for medium double coats. Or made just for corgis.

Because corgis are typically not a smelly breed, you can get away with generic dog shampoos.

How to get rid of stubborn corgi odor

Corgi outdoors with smelly coat.
Does your corgi stink no matter what you do to clean him?

Do you have a smelly corgi that just plain stinks? You can try doing a 100% deep bath to remove all the dirt. If your dog smells, there’s sweat, dirt, and debris trapped in the coat. This can happen because:

  • The corgi isn’t being bathed enough
  • Poor grooming habits
  • Poor quality shampoo
  • An active lifestyle (exercise)
  • An extremely dirty environment

Any of these factors can contribute to a smelly dog.

Step 1: Start with doing baths that completely cover all parts of your dog. Focus on the paws, legs, underside, ears, and nails. All of these areas trap dirt over time and can stink up the place. Use a natural or organic dog shampoo with odor neutralizing properties.

Step 2: After weekly baths for one month, practice grooming at least twice a day to remove trapped dirt and loose fur. This will remove any fur that’s often lodged with debris which will help make your dog smell better. Don’t skip this step.

Step 3: Do spot cleans whenever you take your dog out for extreme exercise or into dirty environments. When you notice dirt on your corgi, clean it. Don’t let it sit on the coat or else it’ll smell or the fur can become matted.

Pembroke vs. Cardigan corgi odor

Both Pembroke and Cardigan corgis have the same double coat that’s constantly shedding throughout the year. This means that neither dog smells worse than the other.

They both smell the same equally and largely depends on how you care for their coat, bathing, and environment.

They shed twice per year during the seasons change as they blow off their old coat. The rest of the year, they shed to a lesser degree but it’s still enough for you to end up eating corgi fur for dinner.

Don’t underestimate how much hair is shed- it’s a lot. And you should be ready for it.

Are corgis high maintenance?

Corgi on beach.
Corgis are relatively easy to care for, but requires experience.

Corgis are a moderately difficult dog to care for. For first-time owners, corgis may prove to be a challenge because of their constant shedding, constant barking, and stubborn nature.

Bathing poses to be a small problem when you think of the overall picture of corgi care. Corgis only need one or two baths per month, even if you exercise the dog twice a day. Their coat is constantly shedding and repels a lot of dirt to keep them clean.

Corgis are clean dogs that aren’t known to constantly smell bad. However, just like any other dog, they can get smelly all of a sudden if you don’t do regular bathing and coat maintenance.

Even though corgis are extremely smart and can learn commands quickly, they may not always listen to their owners because they’re known to think for themselves.

If you’ve never owned a corgi before, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. There are many pros and cons to corgi ownership.

Do your research

You should do all the research and reading necessary about corgi ownership (Corgi Adoption is an excellent resource!) and take your time learning about the breed.

You should NEVER adopt or buy a corgi without taking detailed notes and learning everything you can beforehand.

Some owners have had to give up their corgis because they can’t handle the constant barking, shedding, or stubborn nature of the breed.

They never expected it to be to a degree that they couldn’t handle. This breed is extremely popular right now, and many new owners are jumping into the craze without doing their due diligence!

And thus, the corgi needs to switch owners and go through a difficult change in its life. Don’t be that owner.

Further reading

Here are some other tips to keep your dog smelling clean:

Keep your corgi smelling super fresh

How to keep your corgi smelling clean and fresh.
You can keep your dog fresh and clean by doing basic corgi maintenance!

You should now have all the knowledge you need to keep your corgi clean and tidy (and free of odors!).

Remember that you can keep your dog smelling fresh 24/7 with just regular spot cleaning, grooming, and bathing. There’s no secret to it. Corgis are a clean breed and keeping them from being smelly is easy.

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Lakeisha Leeker
3 years ago

I am glad that I found this article well documented and very informative.