Pembroke Welsh Corgis: A Guide to Chewing Bully Sticks

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are compact, sturdy herding dogs with short legs and powerful builds that reflect their breeding for driving cattle and sheep. These intelligent, energetic dogs possess moderate to strong jaw mechanics concentrated in their substantial heads, combined with herding instincts and determined personalities that make proper chew selection important for safety.

Compact Power in Herding Design
PWCs belong to the mesocephalic family, featuring well-proportioned skulls with moderately long muzzles that provide excellent bite mechanics despite their compact overall size. Their substantial heads house well-developed jaw muscles that create impressive leverage, allowing them to generate bite forces ranging from 200-300 PSI.

Their dental structure typically features good spacing and the classic scissor-bite alignment where upper teeth slightly overlap lower teeth, creating efficient chewing mechanics. Despite their short legs, their head size and jaw development are proportional to a much larger dog, giving them substantial bite capability concentrated in their compact frames. Their herding heritage means they approach chewing with the same determination and persistence they brought to managing stubborn livestock.

In Short—Which EverChew Holder?
Most Pembroke Welsh Corgis will thrive with the Small Dog holder for dogs under 25 pounds, or the green Medium EverChew Plus holder for larger Pems. Their moderate to strong bite force requires careful assessment of individual chewing intensity, and the occasional crazy-chewer PWN may need the durability of the nylon SuperChew holder despite their compact size.

Understanding Bully Stick Benefits and Why Holders Are Essential
Pembroke Welsh Corgis are natural, determined chewers with strong oral fixation tendencies that reflect their herding heritage and high intelligence. Their chewing behavior serves multiple important purposes: dental health maintenance, mental stimulation, stress relief, and jaw muscle exercise. Their herding background means they particularly benefit from chewing activities that provide both physical satisfaction and mental engagement, helping to manage their energy when herding opportunities aren't available (like if you just don’t have sheep out in the back yard).

Bully sticks are pure protein treats (similar to beef jerky) that provide an ideal chewing texture for Corgi needs and herding heritage. Their firm but gradually softening consistency allows these determined chewers to work systematically while effectively scraping away plaque and tartar buildup. The extended chewing time provides valuable mental stimulation for their active minds, while the high protein content supports their muscular builds despite their compact size.

However, Corgis' herding instincts, determination, and persistence—traits essential for managing livestock—can make them reluctant to give up chew items even when they've become dangerously small. That’s why a holder is essential to prevent them from gulping down a chew stub.

Life Stage Considerations and Energy Management
Puppy Phase (8 weeks - 8 months): Corgi puppies experience intense chewing during teething, typically peaking between 3-6 months. Their developing herding instincts mean they often practice gripping and holding behaviors on inappropriate items, making proper chew redirection particularly important. Early introduction to appropriate chew items helps establish good habits while providing outlets for their natural herding behaviors.

Adult Phase (8+ months): Adult Corgis continue active chewing throughout their lives, often using it as their primary stress-relief mechanism when separated from herding activities or during periods of insufficient mental stimulation. Their intelligence and energy mean they can become destructive if not provided with adequate outlets for their mental and physical needs.

Senior Phase: Older Corgis maintain their chewing interest and determination even as their overall activity may decrease, making appropriate chew items valuable for maintaining dental health and providing mental stimulation when their working opportunities are limited.

Selection Guidelines
Choose the Small Dog holder if your Pembroke Welsh Corgi:

• Weighs under 16 pounds
• Shows moderate chewing behavior
• Is elderly or has sensitive teeth

Choose the Medium EverChew Plus for most Corgis:

• Weighs 16+ pounds
• Demonstrates typical determined, persistent chewing
• Has shown no destructive tendencies with similar materials

Consider the Nylon SuperChew if your Corgi:

• Shows unusually aggressive chewing for the breed
• Has destroyed almost every other chew toys