Do Corgis Bark A Lot? (The Answer is “Yes”)

If you’ve been thinking about adopting a corgi but always was thrown off by the thought that they just don’t stop barking, you’re right.

In this guide, we’ll talk about:

• How much do corgis bark?
• Do they really bark a lot?
• Why do corgis bark so much?
• What do corgi barks sound like?
• Can you control the barking?
• And more.

Sound good? Let’s dive right in.

How much do corgis bark?

Here, we’ll dive into some of the basics and everything you need to know about corgi barking.

As much as they’re famous for their sploot, they’re just as well-known for their barking.

This is an important concept to consider, as some owners have gone as far as giving up their beloved corgi because they couldn’t stand the nonstop barking.

Without sugarcoating it, corgis are very vocal dogs that aren’t afraid to express their emotions- through barking.

So basically, corgis bark. A lot.

They’ll bark at everything and nothing. Even the smallest things that are strange or “off” to them is worthy of barking at.

Sometimes, a corgi will bark when excited, such as you coming home from work.

Other times, they’ll bark when someone walks across the driveway.

Don’t be surprised if your corgi barks nonstop and loudly at something you have no idea about- it could very well be barking at thin air!

Why do corgis bark so much?

The point of the barking is to alert you to something- even when you already know.

They were raised to be herding dogs and to alert their owner about anything that’s strange or weird.

Since they were bred this way, it’s hardwired into your corgi’s genes. There’s not much you can do to control the barking or limit it.

How to tell if a corgi puppy will be vocal

Corgis are vocal dogs and the majority of them will bark at everything.

Sure, there are some that are quieter, but the majority will be loud and yippy.

There’s no real easy way to tell if your puppy will turn into a vocal dog either. But you should expect the barking, just like the nonstop shedding.

The easiest way is to check out the parents of the puppy on site.

Check out the parents of the puppy

Any reputable breeder that knows what it’s doing should have both the sire and dam available for you to interact and see. If both the parents are calm and collected, the corgi puppy may turn out to be the same.

But then again, remember that they were raised with the breeder in a professional environment. If you’re not a professional corgi breeder, your results will vary.

Socialization matters

How the puppy is socialized makes a huge difference in terms of how much and how often it barks.

Even though the gene to constantly bark is in the DNA, the corgi may be well-trained or socialized well, which may reduce the amount of barking entirely.

If the corgi is exposed to more sights and sounds when during the socialization period, it may grow up to be less fearful and recognize more objects.

This then may reduce the amount of barking in total. But this doesn’t always hold true for every single individual corgi.

Adopting a corgi?

If you plan to adopt one, the corgi you see at the shelter may already be grown up and you have a good idea of what you’re adopting. If it’s constantly barking at you, that’s probably what you’ll be taking home.

However, some corgis are completely different once they get settled into the household due to the change in the environment, so this isn’t always a good representation.

What does a corgi’s bark sound like?

A corgi’s bark is high-pitched, piercing, and will shatter your eardrum. Especially if it barks right next to you or directly into your ear.

By all means, a corgi’s bark isn’t pleasing to listen to. At all.

Pembroke vs. Cardigan barking

Although some people believe there is a difference between Pembroke and Cardigan corgis, they both bark about the same amount.

Cardigans are definitely less available and less popular here in the US, so because of sample size discrepancy, it may appear that one breed barks less than the other.

Both breeds were raised to bark and be vocal as they herd sheep and other animals, so they both bark the same in terms of amount and volume.

Again, it matters more about how the puppy was raised and socialized.

How to stop corgi barking

That’s like asking how to make a baby stop crying! There’s no 100% foolproof magical technique that can stop a corgi from barking.

Again, remember that the tendency to bark is high with corgis because it’s hardwired into their DNA. Thus, they have to bark.

However, depending on how the dog was socialized and trained, the amount of barking will vary.

Here are some tips to minimize and reduce corgi barking:

Acknowledge the barking

Recognize and thank your corgi for alerting you. When your dog barks, it wants to direct your attention to something.

Thank your dog and show that you’re well aware of the problem.

Try a bark muzzle

Use a bark muzzle. If your dog barks throughout the night, you can equip a bark guard or muzzle to cover its mouth.

This will hold the mouth shut and prevent your dog from barking.

Don’t depend on this solution. Even though it’s harmless to the corgi, you should train your dog not to bark and only use this as a temporary solution.

Never scold for barking

Don’t scold your corgi for barking. Your dog inherently has to bark to communicate with you.

You should never scold your dog with negative reinforcement because it barks. Only use positive reinforcement to train it to not bark.

You can use a “shush” command or make an annoying noise, but you shouldn’t punish your dog for trying to communicate with you.

Enroll your dog into a program

There are countless local programs aimed at accomplishing various obedience training, such as barking.

Find a local one led by a reputable professional and they’ll handle your dog 1:1.

They’ll also often be able to teach you the “tricks” to get your corgi to stop barking so you can learn it and practice it yourself.

Don’t excite your dog

When unnecessary, don’t make your corgi excited. They bark when they get excited, such as someone coming home or ringing the doorbell.

They can become yappy when this happens. If you keep calm and don’t get your corgi all riled up, it won’t bark as much as if it were excited.

Learn to be okay with it

Some corgi owners simply got used to the barking over time. This is probably the easiest method and most natural.

The barking surprises many corgi owners because they didn’t do their research or expect to hear so much barking.

But once they get over the shock, they learn to be okay with the corgi barks.

Barking is just one of the cons of corgis, but there are plenty of corgi pros that make up for it!

Other means

There are other more extreme measures such as surgeries to stop barking, but you should avoid these because most barking can be reduced simply through training.

Further reading

Here are some handy additional resources you may find useful:

• Do Corgis really bark a lot? – Reddit
• Corgi never stops barking – MyCorgi
• How to Get Corgis to Stop Barking – Cuteness

Corgis will bark

By now, you should have a better understanding of why corgis bark, how much they bark, and what you can do to stop the barking.

If you have any questions, post a comment below! I hope this guide has helped you gain more insight into the situation.