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Are Corgis Born With Pink Noses? (9 Interesting Facts To Know!)

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There is no question that corgi puppies are absolutely adorable with their tiny little ears and bodies. Most people may not even notice the color of their sweet little noses.

Are corgis born with pink noses? Can they be black as well?

Corgis are often born with pink noses. But generally, most corgis will lose the pink color in their noses by the time they are a couple of months old, if not sooner.

Here are 9 interesting facts about corgis and their noses that everyone should know.

corgi nose

9 Interesting Facts to Know

Many corgis are born with pink noses, however, most will darken to solid black as they age.

A good portion of corgi puppies are born with noses that are pink and that is completely normal. This is common in dogs of pretty much all dog breeds, corgis included.

Typically, around 8-12 weeks, a pink-nosed corgi puppy will develop a black nose, although there are some corgis that can keep mottled pink noses throughout their entire lives. It all really depends on each corgi’s genetics.

Corgis With Lighter-Colored Fur Are More Likely to Be Born With Pink Noses.

Corgis often have light-colored fur, which accounts for the tendency for many of these puppies to be born with pink noses. The lighter the corgi’s fur is, the lighter the nose will be at birth, in many cases.

Corgis that have some black fur or very dark fur on their backs still have a significant amount of white on them, so it is not out of the ordinary for tri-color corgis to be born with pink noses.   

Corgis With Merle-Colored Coats Can Have Mottled Noses.

Some corgis have merle-patterned coats or often have merle-colored ancestors. The merle coat pattern is when a dog’s coat has various areas of solid colors and diluted colors, like gray and white.

Merle-coated corgi puppies will sometimes be born with or develop a mottled-colored nose with both black and pink areas.

These pink and black noses will remain the same color through the corgi’s life, apart from any natural lightening and darkening of the nose throughout the year. Merle corgis or those with merle ancestors are the only corgis that can have mottled noses.

portrait of corgi

Snow Nose Can Turn a Corgi’s Black Nose Pink.

Corgis that develop ‘snow nose’ suffer from a pigmentation disorder on their nose. This disorder of sorts causes a corgi’s normally solid black nose to lighten to a light brown or pink color.

There is no known cause for this issue, and while most people say it can occur any time of the year, it is noticeably prevalent in the winter months.

The depigmentation does not cause the dog any pain and it does not need to be treated by a veterinarian.

Cold Weather Can Affect a Corgi’s Nose.

Corgis that live in cold climates can develop lighter color noses, even pink ones, during extremely cold weather.

This is normal and nothing to be concerned with. Usually, they will turn solid black again as the weather warms up.

Only Registered Cardigan Welsh Corgis Can Have Merle Mottled Noses, while Registered Pembroke Welsh Corgis Cannot.

The merle color is not recognized in the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed but is allowed in the Cardigan Welsh breed by the American Kennel Club.

If someone tells you that their merle Pembroke Welsh is registered AKC, do not fall for it.

If you do come across a merle Pembroke Welsh corgi, you should question it’s lineage, especially if they tell you it is registered. This does not mean that there aren’t merle Pembroke Welsh corgis out there, it just means they cannot be registered.

closeup of corgi nose

Corgis Never Have Red, Tan, or Liver-Colored Noses.

Corgis should either have a solid black nose, a mottled pink and black nose, or a pink nose if they are still young. Corgis should never have a red, tan, or liver-colored nose.

While some corgis can have red or fawn-colored coats of fur, they should still have solid black noses.

A Corgi’s Black Nose Can Lighten In the Sun.

If a corgi spends a significant amount of time outside in the sun, its nose can lighten over time. The good news is the change is not permanent—its nose will darken back to black once the dog stops spending so much time outside.

Although their nose can lighten, it does not hurt the dog, nor does it require any medical treatment.

A Lighter-Colored Nose Can Be a Sign of Health Issues in Corgis.

While most lightened noses in corgis are no cause for actual concern, there are some health issues that will cause changes in the color and appearance of a corgi’s nose.

Infections like lupus and disorders like cancer can cause a corgi’s nose to lighten or change, although there will usually be other signs of sickness.

Any bleeding, sores, redness, and other painful changes to a corgi’s nose that occur along with any changes in color, should be communicated to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

corgi posing

Final Thoughts

You probably never knew there were so many interesting facts about corgis and their cute little noses.

Now you know that many corgis are born with pink noses but their noses almost always end up turning solid black over time.

Resources:

Learning about corgis and their noses was a truly interesting experience. These are the sources used to write this particularly nosey article.