The Loyal Exuberant Dorgi will Quickly Steal Your Heart!
Image: Young Dorgi
Are you looking for a fun-loving companion packed into a small energetic package?
Look no further than the Dorgi.
This mixed or hybrid breed is known to be a courageous, loyal companion with a big personality.
What makes up the Dorgi?
The Dorgi is a mixed breed of two breeds; the Dachshund and Pembroke Corgi. It’s a small-sized dog, weighing in at 12-28 lbs, standing 9-12” tall.
There is no traceable origin of the original parents. But, we know the Dorgi mix has been part of the royal family since 2007. Queen Elizabeth’s Corgi Dam mated with a Dachshund Sire from her sister Margaret’s dogs. The families considered this pairing so charming, they continued to crossbreed them.
Queen Elizabeth currently has two as her companions – Candy and Vulcan.
As with mixed-breed dogs, there is no consistent standard in appearance or temperament. But, looking at both the Dachshund and Pembroke Corgi traits will give you a good idea of what to expect in a Dorgi.
The Dachshund (The Hunter), ranks 13th on the AKC’s Favorite Dog List. It’s origins trace back to Germany in the 1500s. They were bred to hunt small prey like Badgers (giving them their name of “badger Dog”). But, they were also used in packs to hunt wild boar. Those were fierce little dogs!
The long back of these dogs is their most recognizable feature. Their well-muscled bodies and loose skin enables them to follow their prey underground.
There are two sizes of Dachshund:
The standard is 8-9” tall and weighs 16-32 lbs.
The miniature is 5-7” tall and weighs under 11 lbs.
The short smooth-coated Dachshund is considered the original coat of the breed. Today, you also see long-haired and wire-haired coat varieties. Colors range from tan to black and include dapple and brindle variations.
In spite of their small size, these dogs are quick to bond with their family and very protective.
Known for their large, deep bark, they can be loud and fierce if they sense something amiss in their territory. An intruder wouldn’t know what size dog was on the other side of the door!
Dachshunds have long been a favorite of royalty. Queen Victoria owned several and Princess Margaret owns a few today.
The Corgi (The Herder), ranks as 12th on the AKC’s Favorite Dog List. This breed is a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II who has owned over 30 Corgis in her lifetime.
Originating in Wales during the 10th century, the Corgi is a herding dog and considered the smallest of the working dog herding group.
They are short but powerful, weighing in at 28-30 lbs and 12-12 inches tall. Like the Dachshund, it has a longer back and short legs, but is very agile and quick.
Corgis have large pointed ears and a smooth short to medium-length coat. Their coat colors can range from red, sable, fawn, black and tan and most have white markings.
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This dog is a hard worker, intelligent, friendly, affectionate, and very loyal. Their loyalty, and alertness to their surroundings, make them excellent watchdogs.
The Corgi also shares a place in folklore. Tales have it the Corgi was the trusted mount of fairy warriors who rode them into battle. The brown marking on a Corgi back is believed to be where the fairies placed their saddles.
And of course, who can pass up a cute fluffy Corgi bum? The Corgi bum has a Meme cult following across social media.
How can you recognize a Dorgi on the street?
These delightful dogs have continued to gain popularity with dog fans. Could it be due to their fox-like looks?
Resembling the Corgi in their appearance, they have large pointed ears, and a sharp muzzle. You can also find floppy ears, but, since this is a cross of two breeds, it depends on the parent’s dominant genes.
Dorgi Common Characteristics:
- Classification: Working group – Hunting/Herding
- Breed Size: Small Breed
- Weight: 15-18 lbs.
- Height 8-12”
- Coat: Can be short and smooth, medium length, long-haired and wire-haired
- Color: Golden brown, dark brown, brown, brown/white, black/tan, black, dapple
- Shedding: Minimal to moderate
- Eyes: Dark brown
- Nose: Black
- Ears: Large, pointed or floppy
- Temperament: Intelligent, loyal, energetic, social, friendly, affectionate
- Life Span 12-15 years
- Not hypoallergenic
- Kid-Friendly
- New Owner Friendly
Be ready to share the spotlight!
The Dorgi is a loyal, playful companion. They need to be the center of your world, seeking out your attention with their hilarious antics.
These dogs make friends with everyone they see making walks an adventure. Being so cute in appearance, making friends with people is quite easy for them.
Because they are quick to bond with their family, they can suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for long periods of time. This can cause destructive behaviors if your dog isn’t socialized early.
Positive reinforcement training, mental stimulation and exercise keep these dogs well-balanced and happy companions. Without those, your Dorgi can become stubborn and willful.
Luckily, their intelligence and eagerness to learn makes training a breeze! But, we’ll talk more about training in a minute…
Is a Dorgi a good family dog?
Yes, they are excellent family dogs, but there’s a downside too.
As loving and loyal as the Dorgi is, they are also herding dogs. They will want to chase and nip at small animals and children if not socialized. Supervision is needed when there are small children or animals around.
The Dorgi is very alert and constantly watching their surroundings. – not a bad thing if you want a trusty watchdog. However, they are also barkers and will be very vocal when they sense an intruder in their territory. That can be a problem for some living situations.
This dog expects royal treatment!
His Home is His Castle, right?
Setting up the right environment is as important as training.
Here are some tips for preparing your Dog’s environment:
- Beds: Should be soft and large enough to stretch out. This protects their long backs – the most vulnerable part of the Dorgi physique.
- Burrowing: Burrowing is instinctual with them (like Dachshunds). Provide blankets and cushions to meet their burrowing needs
- Toys: Dorgis are very intelligent and quickly get bored. Providing different types of toys avoids destructive behavior from rearing its ugly head.
- Toys of different varieties provide both mental and physical stimulation.
- Examples are:
- Balls for fetching
- Mental stimulation toys like puzzles
- Trick training
- Command training
- Agility training
- Examples are:
This energetic breed will keep you moving.
The Dorgi is a very active breed. Plan for a 30-minute walk twice daily.
In addition to the walk, a rousing off-the-leash game of fetch in a large fenced yard will get all his energy out.
Watch the Waistline!
Dorgis love to eat and will gain weight easily if overfed. If allowed to gain weight, painful back problems can develop.
These dogs do well with two small meals a day and plenty of exercise.
Back problems in long-backed dogs
Every dog needs a spa day
This breed doesn’t shed a lot and requires minimal grooming compared to some other breeds. However, the coat of your dog will determine the grooming requirements.
Here is a schedule of grooming tasks your Dorgi will need:
| BRUSHING | FREQUENCY |
| Smooth/Short | As needed to maintain shine and cleanliness |
| Long-Hair | 2-3x/week to keep clear of tangles and mats |
| Wiry Hair | 2-3x/week to keep clear of tangles and mats |
| BATHING | Weekly or monthly as needed |
| EAR CLEANING | Weekly |
| NAIL TRIMS | Monthly |
| ORAL CARE | 3x/week or daily is best |
How Important is Training to a Dorgi?
As I mentioned earlier, these dogs are eager to please and food motivated. Training is pretty easy, even for a beginner. That’s always good news!
They enjoy learning basic commands, complicated tricks, and tasks. Who doesn’t awww over a cute little dog doing tricks? These dogs will bask in the attention!
Socialization is a significant training need. Proper socialization reduces barking and gives your dog the confidence they need. A good trainer will be able to help you socialize your pup. There are also many books and videos available to help you with this important task.
Basic Commands. These dogs have a strong herding/hunting instinct. If something captures their attention (like cats, hamsters, small children running) they will have selective hearing.. Teaching good recall skills will help keep your Dorgi safe.
As cute as they are, there are some downsides…
Health problems associated with Dorgis:
IVDD: intervertebral Disc Disease: Dogs with longer backs are vulnerable to this painful spinal disease.
Patella Luxation: One of the more common knee problems in dogs. The kneecap becomes dislocated from the joint.
Cataracts: Cloudiness develops in the lens of the eye causing vision loss.
Hip dysplasia: This happens when the ball and hip sockets are not aligned due to deformation.
Epilepsy: A neurological disorder causing seizures.
Where can you get your own Dorgi?
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Standard Prices:
Prices for these dogs range from $500-$700 from reputable breeders.
Breeders:
Getting a Dorgi from a reputable breeder ensures your trusty companion is healthy. The breeder will have documentation proving the genetic heritage and temperament of the parents.
UK
No Available Breeders Listed
USA
Rescues:
UK:
USA
Wyoming Dachshund Corgi Rescue
Adoptions/Shelters:
Because these dogs are a mixed breed and quite loud, they can be available from shelters
Dorgi Registers:
American Hybrid Club (ACHC)
Designer Breed Registry (DBR)
Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC)
Dog Registry of America (DRA)
Designer Canine Registry (DCR)
Other Corgi Hybrid Breeds:
A Corgi or a Dachshund mixed with any breed equals an adorable dog!
Watch this video to see some of the more common crosses for the Corgi.
Video: More Corgi Cross Breeds
Is the Dorgi your Dream Dog?
In doing my research on this breed, I found them very appealing – almost my dream dog.
Pros:
- There are so many pictures of Dorgis on the internet, and they all spell A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E
- Devotion
- Easily trained
- Intelligent
- Active/Energetic
- Ideal family dog
- Protective
I was sold…almost…
Cons:
- Barking
- Strong herding instinct (chasing and nipping)
- Stubborn/willful if bored
- Separation Anxiety – leading to destructive behavior
- Easily
- Hip and back problems
After considering all the pros and cons, I still think the Dorgi is as cute as can be! Their loyalty and protective nature make them appealing as family dogs or trusted companions.
The herding and nipping concerned me, as did the barking instinct.
An interesting piece of research I found said Dachshunds were bred for a loud bark. When hunting, they dig their way into the dens after the badgers. Their bark alerts their human companions of their location underground! Interesting huh? It seems more understandable, but would still be bothersome in some living situations.
Still, in addition to the barking, the health problems also concerned me. Spinal problems can be very painful and expensive.
For these reasons, I will not be looking at the Dorgi as my dream dog but will admire the ones owned by others.
What do you think?
Is the Dorgi your dream dog? Leave us your comments below.