Aussie-Corgi

20-45 lbs
10-18"
United States, United Kingdom
Australian Shepherd
Pembroke Welsh Corgi


Low to the ground but high on life, the Auggie is a joy of a dog: friendly, smart, and good with kids. With families who were enormously popular with royalty, this is a breed with a classy heritage.

Here, we’ll explain all there is to know about the Auggie dog breed. Along the way you’ll find out a few things you may not have known — including:

  • Despite being an Australian Shepherd Corgi mix, it hasn’t really got much Australian in it
  • Main health concerns with an Auggie dog are intervertebral disc disease, progressive retinal atrophy, and cataracts
  • An Auggie is particularly good with children
  • One of its parent breeds was hugely popular with Queen Elizabeth II

Auggie breed overview

What is an Auggie? You probably won’t have seen all that many around; this isn’t a hugely common breed. The Auggie dog is a special specimen, and likely to be a wonderful addition to your home. It’s an Australian Shepherd Corgi mix; more specifically, it’s a hybrid breed comprising the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Australian Shepherd

If you bring an Auggie into your life you’re almost certain to find the dog a fantastic companion with a great temperament. The makeup of your specific Auggie will depend on the way that its inherited traits have been divided up — more on that later — but you’re likely to have a pup who is friendly around children, happy to play, and relatively low-maintenance in terms of exercise and grooming. 

purpose Purpose
Companion
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Australian Shepherd, Pomeranian

Aussie-Corgi Health

Average Size
Male Aussie-Corgi size stats
Height: 10-18 inches Weight: 20-45 lbs
Female Aussie-Corgi size stats
Height: 10-18 inches Weight: 20-45 lbs

Aussie-Corgi Breed History

Like a large number of hybrids, we can’t be hugely specific about the exact provenance of this Aussie Corgi mix. We can be more specific, however, about the history of its parent breeds. 

Surprisingly, the Australian Shepherd isn’t Australian, really — it’s American. But unsurprisingly, it’s a farm dog — one who may have come from Australia to America originally in the early 19th century. When these herding dogs were bred with American stock dogs, the Australian Shepherd was born.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi, meanwhile, belongs to the ancient Corgi breed, of course. It has been claimed that we can date the Pembroke back to AD 1107. Often compared to the Cardigan Corgi (because of its shared Welsh origin) but more extroverted, the Pembroke is world-famous as the dog the former Queen of England, Elizabeth II, most adored. 

These are extremely popular dogs, especially in the US.


Aussie-Corgi Breed Appearance

Nothing is certain in advance about the physical appearance of this Corgi Aussie mix. The breed is relatively new, when compared with purebreds like Poodles, for example, and different dogs will have inherited different physical traits from each side of the (very different) family tree. Some may look more like the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and some may look much more like the Australian Shepherd.

Generally speaking, however, Auggies are medium-sized dogs that look longer than perhaps they are, on account of how low they are to the ground. (No surprise, given their Corgi ancestry.) Their muzzle is invariably tapered and their head tends to be big and rounded. 

The Australian Shepherd tends to have almond-shaped eyes but the Corgi tends to have round eyes, so an Auggie’s are often somewhere in the middle, and tend to be brown or blue. Its medium-length outer coat (it also has a thick undercoat) frequently appears in three colors — any combination of brown, white, tan and black — but it may be a bit less exciting a lot of the time, featuring only one or two of these shades.

Finally, their tail can be long, partial, or not there at all. It’s in the hands of genetics.

Similar breeds to the Auggie

So, you like the sound of an Auggie dog breed? Well, you might also like the sound — and everything else — of the following breeds, which are similar in various ways to this Corgi Aussie mix.

Aussie-Corgi Breed Maintenance

Maintaining an Auggie dog is about as easy as maintaining any other dog. Brush its fur every day — it sheds a fair bit, and you don’t want its hair to get matted — and regularly brush its teeth and inspect its ears for anything untoward. 

As this is a breed that’s particularly prone to infections of the eye, you will also need to be looking at its eye regularly, making sure that you quickly act on anything worrying.

As far as exercise is concerned, the Auggie is a pretty active breed but not one with extraordinary activity expectations. Make sure you’re giving it a daily walk and, if you can, give it room in the house to really stretch its legs. (Having said that, it’s absolutely not out of the question that this breed could be an apartment dog, so don’t feel like your building is holding you back. This isn’t a massive dog.)

Auggie health risks

The typical Auggie lifespan is 12 to 15 years but we hope you will have at least 15 years with your beloved pupper. As you know, however, no dog has an entirely illness-free life. In Auggies, as well as relatively common ailments like hip dysplasia, the following conditions are a little more prevalent than others, so do your utmost to keep an eye out for:


Progressive retinal atrophy

An Auggie affected by progressive retinal atrophy will gradually go blind because of the death of the rod cells in their retinas. Luckily, because the progression of the condition is so slow, your dog may not even let on that anything is wrong; they may adapt to life with increasingly poor eyesight. 

You will know eventually, of course. Your dog’s eyes will begin to succumb to cataracts, for example, and it will behave more tentatively as it begins to lose its day vision (the loss of night vision comes first). Be on the lookout at the early stages for bumping into walls, dilated pupils, and the eyes taking on a gray color.

As with any progressive condition, treatment here is about managing the problem. Your dog may be perfectly comfortable and happy if you make accommodations and slight changes around the house, so there is no need to feel sad about their declining eyesight. Antioxidants may help slow down the progression of the illness.

Generally, although a vet might be able to remove a dog’s cataracts, they may be reluctant to in this scenario because the removal may cause more issues than it solves.


Intervertebral or degenerative disc disease 

If you notice that your dog is suffering from back pain, they may be experiencing something called intervertebral or degenerative disc disease, a condition that often affects older dogs but is certainly common in some breeds at a younger age as well. 

If it’s suffering from disc problems, your Auggie dog may not be comfortable bending down to eat or drink from its bowl, and you may notice that he or she is struggling to turn its head in one particular direction.

If the discs between your dog’s spinal vertebrae begin to calcify, your dog’s flexibility will be reduced and it may experience pain and discomfort in the back, or the neck, or a combination of the two. In worst-case scenarios your dog can become incontinent, unable to use its rear legs, or paralyzed.

A vet who diagnoses this condition may prescribe muscle relaxants or pain medication, or may simply recommend that your Australian Shepherd Corgi mix take it a bit easy.

More serious cases, however, might require surgery — a recommendation that should always be acted upon as quickly as possible. The surgeon will remove some bone in the spine; removing the calcified disc material can relieve the pressure on the spinal cord.


Cataracts

Cataracts are an extremely common occurrence in dogs. If your dog has cataracts it’s possible they may exhibit one of the following symptoms: their eye may be cloudy in appearance; its eye may reflect light abnormally; and there may be some abnormal coloration of the eye, often of the light blue or gray variety. 

This is a condition defined by the clouding of the lens in the eye. As a result of this clouding, the retina struggles to receive light and create an image. With cataracts will come some vision loss, which will be identifiable if you notice your little Auggie bumping into things, being extra-clumsy, or walking around more cautiously than normal. 

If left unattended to, cataracts can lead to problems like glaucoma (to which the Auggie is also prone) and even blindness. 

In order to treat cataracts, a vet will want to perform surgery, which in the case of this condition has a fantastic 90+% success rate. 


Are you the pet parent of an Auggie ? Make sure your pup is covered for any health scares by comparing top-rated pet insurance plans in seconds

Feeding an Auggie — what’s the best diet?

Experts recommend getting around 2,500 calories into your Auggie every day. It ought to go without saying that these calories should be in the form of high-quality, nutrient-rich food full of animal proteins that will keep your dog healthy and full of energy. 

Do your research and avoid harmful ingredients and things like fillers and E numbers. If you can afford it, favor dog food brands that are transparent about how they source their ingredients and what goes into each packet. Try, if possible, to avoid giving your Auggie scraps from your plates — food tailored to dogs will always be preferable. 

And, if you want comprehensive information about the best dog foods out there, check out our friends at Dog Food Advisor — they have in-depth brand reviews that include ingredient analysis, so you know exactly what you’re feeding your pet.

Aussie-Corgi Temperament

You should have a wonderful time with the Auggie — and don’t get us started on beautiful Aussie corgi mix puppies. This isn’t an aloof breed; they’re typically polite, friendly, intelligent, and want to be with their pet parents all the time. 

There's a chance that with strangers they may be a little reticent, but this shouldn’t be a huge problem. As with most dogs, socialization is a great idea. And, fortunately, the Auggie is a wonderfully trainable dog, so you’re in luck. 

An Auggie dog may even get on quite well with other pets in the house. You should note that it has a tendency to bark a fair bit so, as with most dogs, the more space you have to yourself, the easier your (and your pup’s) life will be.

With children the Auggie is excellent company but the dog may attempt to ‘herd’ them a little, nudging them around — as it will for all humans. Watch out for this if your kids are very young and tiny.


Aussie-Corgi Activity Requirements

As far as exercise is concerned, the Auggie is a pretty active breed but not one with extraordinary activity expectations. Make sure you’re giving it a daily walk and, if you can, give it room in the house to really stretch its legs. (Having said that, it’s absolutely not out of the question that this breed could be an apartment dog, so don’t feel like your building is holding you back. This isn’t a massive dog.)

Be aware that, despite their general politeness, this Aussie Corgie mix's herding instinct means that they'll chase just about anything that moves quickly and try to herd it. This frequently includes small children and other household pets.

Now you know more about the charming Auggie dog, we recommend that you educate yourself on how much it will cost to look after one over the (hopefully) 15 years you have one in your home. On average, although it’s a broad spectrum, the Auggie is likely to cost you approximately $600 to $1,500 a year in vet bills, which is on the slightly high end for a dog. A pet insurance plan may cover some of those costs. 

Here, you can compare the best insurance providers to find the right quote for you and your furry friend. And, while you’re there, why not consider a wellness plan, which will cover the cost of your pup’s routine vet treatment and checks?

Aussie-Corgi Owner Experiences

Oliver, Lord Farqwaddle
16 Weeks
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
BRUSH DAY!
Playing with his 9YO big bro mini Aussie Winston
Chasing tail
Cuddling
Chasing ball
WALK TIME!
Highly affectionate, high-energy level, very social and so far quite easily trained (the only "accidents" thus far have been due to human error). This is a dynamic and curious breed of dog (my SIL breeds them as a profession, so I've spent plenty of time with her pups and pup-parents) which requires attention and consistent affection, petting, and play. Very much a one-person dog (that's the Aussie in him), and he and I bonded right away at our first meeting. Absolutely looking forward to this little maniac making my life even more joyful than it already is, and for years to come!
2 years, 6 months ago
Lacey
1 Year
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Running
Walking
Smart, brilliant, loves to play, herds our 12 yr old lab, who puts her in her place. Our Lacey is a rescued pup who loves to please, re-phrase, I think she rescued us after loosing our sweet 14 1/2 English Springer Spaniel.
2 years, 7 months ago
Derian
1 Year
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
loves to be cuddle,play,nipping and hide and seek
2 years, 11 months ago
Cindy
She passed about 15 years ago.
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Cuddling
Walk
Cindy had been purchased by her original owner as a herding dog but she was terrified of horses (and deer and anything livestocky). We believe her first owner may have physically disciplined her because she was scared and timid at first and would walk sort of doubled over sideways if she didn’t know a person. She was a very sweet and well behaved dog with a moderate energy level. She loved to cuddle. She was a bunch of shades of blonde and reddish brown mixed together and she was a beautiful dog. She was very sensitive to people with special needs and anxiety and so she became extremely attached to my mom (I lived with my grandparents) when she visited. She could calm my mom down out of a panic attack very easily. She would have made an amazing therapy dog.
6 years, 9 months ago
Flossie
1 Year
2 People
Condo
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Always wants to kiss and belly rubs
5 years, 11 months ago
Melly
2 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
One of the best dogs we have had so far. Trained fast, very smart, very stubborn. The sweetest, most loving, very energetic dog. Great with all people, searching for attention (like she doesn't get any at home-SPOILED)everywhere we go, get along will all the dogs at the dog park. Only negative thing is the shedding. These dogs need to be groomed every single day.
6 years, 8 months ago
Biscuit
8 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Dog Parks
Cuddling
Going to pets mart
Fetch
So we dont actually live in a house we travel so we live in a 32 foot camper with my fiance and our other dog. Biscuit has been the most amazing addition to our little family and we love him so incredibly much. He is still a puppy and he still has a lot to learn but he is so smart. He gets along so well with our other dog (corgi healer,lab mix). He has the funniest personality any little dog could have so we decided not to cut him and with not cuutting him he has acted pretty normally. I thinke he just respects that we arent taking his man hood away. Over all we love him and 100% recommend you get this breed
6 years, 6 months ago
DOLLARS
5 Years
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Running
Every morning take him for a walk
6 years, 5 months ago
Colt
18 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Swim
He is very stubborn yet very smart and lovable dog. He is very ornery but he has never been aggressive unless it’s chasing an animal such as a rabbit or bird, we live out in the county and have 5 acres which he loves to run, I like to wear him out by playing fetch so he gets his play and exercise for the day. He was not hard to train but does not like to listen when it comes to coming inside he will lay by the door and I’ll have to pick him up of shock him to come in.
6 years, 5 months ago
Maggie
18 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We've had blue heelers, shepherds, terriers, and collies for 50 years, but our little Aussie-Corgi, Maggie, is the best of them. She is friendly, affectionate, good-natured, and a dream to train.
6 years, 5 months ago
raven
3 Years
5 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing fetch
Walking
our aussie corgi is very affectionate but we have a 5 year old which he sometimes bites. he is very energetic. also, he is very protective of our household and barks when someone is at the door. he does not like big dogs
6 years, 4 months ago
Flash
3 Years
5 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
They are great dogs.
6 years, 4 months ago
Tally
1 Year
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Swim
Hide & Seek
Frisbee
We have had Tally now for over a year, and she has been a super special puppy. Highly energetic and demanding attention... She loves her owners and we have a strong loving bond, however she can be a little timid around new people and highly protective around unfamiliar people and other dogs. She tends to bark at everything that moves out the window, which has required ongoing training - however it is clearly in her breed. She loves running with you, playing fetch all day long and rubs and cuddling. The butt wiggles are the cutest thing! Intelligent but stubborn nature, training is key. Definitely would recommend this breed for an active family with a yard.
5 years, 10 months ago
Abbie
3 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Go on Vacation
Walk
Run
Frisbee
Road trip
Hike
Play
Nap
Fetch
Therapy Training
High Five
Speak
Shake
Bath time
Brushing
Eating Snacks
Shopping
Dressing up
Playing in the snow
Kayaking
Look out the window
Learn a new trick
Catch treats
Tug-of-war
Obedience classes
Agility training
Tracking
Off-leash
Bubbles
She is a wonderful dog. Full of energy and loves to keep moving all the time. She was a pup from an accidental litter between a purebred corgi and a pure Aussie. The first time we saw her she ended up being ours!
5 years, 9 months ago
Dasy
1 Year
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Watching tv
Running
Annoying people
yes she beautiful i lov her
5 years, 6 months ago
Daisy
1 Year
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Eating toys
treats
Yeeting toys
pet yes yum
I mispelled the previous post's name, my little baby is white and tan and very beautiful.
5 years, 6 months ago
reeree
1 Day
1 People
Condo
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
yesree
oooooo i lov fatttttttt
5 years, 6 months ago
Cooper
8 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Eating treats
training
Dog Parks
Social
Cuddling
Playing in the snow
He’s a good boy but tries to herd and is still a puppy but is very crazy. Not good for young kids jumps and nips. Good for older kids from 9 and up.
5 years, 4 months ago
Cash
5 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He is an excellent dog. Very smart, affectionate, & has such a great temperament. We live on a farm. He tries to herd, however, is very gentle with our pigs.
5 years, 2 months ago
Lilly
6 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
My baby is amazing! I've owned mini aussies but never this mix. She is wild and smart and incredibly loyal. She loved to play and surprisingly she gets on well with the horses, donkey, pig, sheep, goats, and cats. She is quite curious but never chases them. She loves being the center of attention and I haven't had a problem with her around kids of any age. I'm so thankful to have such an amazing dog in my life.
5 years, 1 month ago
Cindy
6 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
eating
she's too energetic bruh i love her so much
5 years, 1 month ago
Lucy Royse
7 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking, playing
Lucy has lots of energy, really fun and entertains everyone. She flips toys. She does have gum problems so has her teeth cleaned annually by a veternarian.
4 years, 9 months ago
Heidi
15 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Going for walkies
Frank discussions about life in general...
Cuddles
Heidi is one super-smart doggie!She's a good friend for sure!
4 years, 6 months ago
Atlas
11 Weeks
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Run
Road trip
Groom
training
Tug-of-war
Chase
Fetch
Off-leash
Snuggle
So far, our experience with Atlas has been amazing! He was potty trained within the first couple of days of having him at 8 weeks. He is super active and loves his morning and evening walks. He doesn't mind being in the crate and has been really easy to train. A great first dog for our home!
4 years, 2 months ago
Grizzly
7 Years
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Camping
Watching tv
Car rides
Getting treats
eating
He has been one of the best dogs I’ve ever had. He can be a butt at times and have his days but for the most part he’s calm and he’s great with our two year old. He also loves to eat so don’t leave your foot long sub unsupervised because he will get it and eat the WHOLE thing in the 15 seconds you’re away.
4 years, 1 month ago
Ziggy
15 Weeks
2 People
Condo
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She is the perfect mix, although she can be pretty stubborn already shes been using pads since the second day we've had her and is doing perfect with crate training. she doesnt whine at night and when its time for her cage and she adapted to our schedules the first week being so young its very impressive she still has alot of personality to gain.
3 years, 11 months ago
Bronx
11 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Best dog ever, very loyal, easy to potty train, so smart does alot of different tricks, loves to fetch balls, play with squeaky toys Very friendly and great around children of all ages!, fishing,& camping
3 years, 9 months ago
Nessie
11 Months
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I love my Aussie corgi, she's very energetic. We do love in an apartment, but we have a private backyard and we take her to dog parks. She's very vocal, but very affectionate. Everyone that meets her falls in love with her, She's very friendly like walk up to a stranger friendly, but will alarm us when someone is at the door or if she hears a noise outside. I learned how to groom her because she does shed a lot and her hair grows quickly. She's very energetic, so it helps that my husband loves to go on runs and takes her with him. She's great with kids and other pets!
3 years, 7 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd