A Real-Talk Review: The Complete Guide to Corgis

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What Kind of Book is This?

First off, it’s important to understand the vibe of this book. David Anderson isn’t writing for show judges or people who want to win Crufts or Westminster. He is writing for what he calls the “Puppy Parent.”

He frames dog ownership not as a master-servant relationship, but as a journey. In the introduction, he hits you with a bit of reality:

“The road to being a great Puppy parent is a long and difficult one, this road map can help you navigate all the twists and turns as you start the most amazing journey of your life!”

This sets the tone perfectly. Anderson validates the fact that, yes, raising a Corgi is hard. They are stubborn. They are loud. But he also promises to be the navigator in the passenger seat holding the map.

The book is part of a larger series by LP Media, which publishes guides for all sorts of breeds. While that might sound like a “content factory,” it actually works in your favor here. The structure is incredibly organized because they’ve perfected the formula for explaining dog care to beginners.

The Big Selling Point: Two Breeds in One

One of the most confusing things for new dog lovers is that there isn’t just one “Corgi.” There are two: the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. They are totally different breeds with different histories, but they look similar enough that people mix them up constantly.

Most books only cover the Pembroke (the one the Queen of England had) because it’s more popular. Anderson’s book is unique because it covers both.

He tackles this confusion right in the first chapter. He gives you the cheat codes to tell them apart instantly. The biggest giveaway? The tail. As Anderson puts it:

“If you see a Corgi that appears to have virtually no tail, you are looking at a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.”

He goes on to explain that Cardigans have a long, fox-like brush tail and are generally a bit bigger and heavier. But he doesn’t just stop at looks; he dives into their personalities, too.

This is super helpful if you are still deciding which one to get. He describes the Pembroke as the party animal—“hail fellow, well met,” outgoing, and ready to be best friends with everyone. The Cardigan, on the other hand, is described as more of a “watchdog.” They are a bit more serious, and they like to sit back and assess a situation before they decide to join in.

Getting this distinction right is a huge pro for this book. It saves you from expecting your serious Cardigan to act like a goofy Pembroke, or vice versa.

Training: The “Puppy Parent” Approach

If you try to bully a Corgi into listening to you, you will lose. They were bred to herd cattle by nipping at their heels; they are tough, independent thinkers. If you get aggressive, they will just get stubborn.

Anderson’s training philosophy is perfect for this mindset. He advocates strictly for Positive Reinforcement. This means you reward the good stuff rather than punishing the bad stuff.

He points out a very important fact about Corgis: they are extremely food-motivated. He notes that you should never underestimate their intellect, “especially when food is involved.”

The book uses this to your advantage. It teaches you how to use treats to shape behavior. For example, Corgis love to nip at heels (it’s the herding instinct). Instead of yelling at the dog for being a dog, Anderson teaches you how to redirect that energy into toys or games.

The sections on “The First Week” and “The First Month” are absolute lifesavers. These chapters are basically checklists. They tell you exactly what to do when your puppy is crying in the crate at 3 AM, how to introduce them to the vacuum cleaner, and how to socialize them so they don’t become ankle-biting terrors.

The Serious Stuff: Health and Backs

This is the part of the review where we have to get serious, and thankfully, the book does too. Corgis are “dwarf” breeds (achondroplastic). Because they have long spines and short legs, they are prone to back issues, specifically Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD).

If there is one reason to buy this book, it’s for the health warnings. Anderson explains that you have to change your lifestyle to protect your dog. You can’t just let them jump off the bed or run down steep stairs.

He frames “jumping” not as a cute trick, but as a dangerous activity. This advice alone can save you thousands of dollars in surgery and save your dog a lot of pain.

He also ties this into nutrition. Corgis will eat until they explode if you let them. Anderson emphasizes that “controlling your pup’s weight” is the number one thing you can do to prevent back problems and arthritis. A fat Corgi is a Corgi at risk. The book is very strict about measuring kibble and limiting treats, which is advice every owner needs to hear.

The Visuals: The One Big Downside

So, why only 4.5 stars? Why not a perfect 5?

The issue is the printing. If you buy the paperback version of this book, you might be disappointed to find that the photos inside are often black and white.

This is a real bummer, especially when the text is describing beautiful coat colors. When Anderson talks about the “Blue Merle” pattern of a Cardigan or the “Red and White” of a Pembroke, looking at a grainy grey photo doesn’t really help you visualize it.

The hardcover edition usually has color, but the standard paperback often feels a bit like a photocopy. It doesn’t ruin the information—the words are still great—but for a book about such a visual topic as dog breeds, it’s a letdown.

The Pros and Cons Breakdown

To make this easy for you, here is the quick summary of the good, the bad, and the fluffy.

Pros

1. Dual Breed Coverage
   It is genuinely rare to find a resource that respects the differences between Pembrokes and Cardigans. Most books just lump them together. Anderson takes the time to explain that while they are cousins, they are not twins. Whether you have the tail-less Pembroke or the fox-tailed Cardigan, this book applies to you.
2. The “Cradle to Grave” Lifecycle Structure
   The book is laid out logically by time. It starts with “Before You Buy,” moves to “The First Night,” then “Puppyhood,” “Adulthood,” and finally “The Aging Corgi.” This makes it a great reference manual. When your dog hits 8 years old and starts slowing down, you can flip to the senior section and read up on things like Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) without having to re-read the potty training chapters.
3. Positive, Modern Training Advice
   Anderson’s focus on positive reinforcement is scientifically sound and emotionally right. He understands that you want a pet, not a soldier. By teaching you to work with the Corgi’s food drive and intelligence, he sets you up for a happy relationship. He treats the dog as a family member (“Puppy Parent”), which fits exactly how most Corgi owners feel about their “loaves.”

Cons

1. Black and White Photos (Paperback)
   As mentioned, the visual quality in the cheaper versions of the book is lacking. You are buying this for the info, not the art. If you are a visual learner who needs color diagrams to tell coat colors apart, you might find yourself googling images on your phone while you read.
2. Generic Template Feel
   Because David Anderson writes guides for many different breeds (Bernedoodles, Blue Heelers, etc.), there are parts of the book that feel a little “copy-pasted.” The chapters on basic crate training or general nutrition apply to almost any dog. While the advice is correct, it doesn’t always feel like it was written exclusively for Corgis in the way the history or back-health chapters do.

Final Thoughts

David Anderson’s The Complete Guide to Corgis is a winner because it is accessible. It bridges the gap between the cute dog videos you see on Instagram and the reality of dog hair, barking, and vet bills.

It prepares you for the stubbornness of the breed without scaring you away. It gives you permission to be frustrated when training is hard, but provides the tools (“treats, treats, and more treats”) to get through it.

If you are looking for a deep history of the breed’s lineage in the 12th century, buy a different book. But if you are looking for a guide that tells you how to stop your puppy from peeing on the rug and how to keep their back healthy for 15 years, this is the one.

Highly recommended for any “Puppy Parent” ready to embark on the journey.