15-22 lbs
9-11"
United States
The Dorgi is an adorable cross between the Welsh Corgi and the Dachshund. The look of your unique pet will depend on the influence of the parentage because the Dachshund comes in several varieties and the Welsh Corgi comes in two types. Their coat may be wiry, long, short, or coarse. They may be smaller than the average Dorgi if the parent breed was a Miniature Dachshund. However, the overall look will be a small dog with short legs, large ears, a long tail, and big personality. They like children and other pets but small children should be supervised. They are easy to train because they are very smart but they may be stubborn, so you have to be persistent.
The Dachshund originated in Germany in the 1500s and was known for their small game hunting ability. In fact, they were so good at hunting badgers that they used to be called Badger Dogs. There are several varieties of Dachshund. The original was the smooth variety from crossing the French Basset Hound, Pinscher, and Braque. The wirehaired and longhaired varieties were created by mixing the Dachshund with Terriers and Spaniels. With their long body and strong little feet, they were easily able to dig into badger holes. In the 1800s, people started keeping them as family pets instead of for hunting and they became very popular with the European royalty like Queen Victoria’s court. Because they were being kept as pets, the Miniature Dachshund was created. The breed became popular in the United States in the late 1800s and became registered by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885. There are two breeds of Welsh Corgis, which are the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. They both originated in the United Kingdom but the Cardigan was first known in 920 AD and the Pembroke was recorded around 1100 AD. The breed is thought to have been bred from mixing the Finnish Spitz, Norwegian Elkhound, Chow-Chow, Samoyed, Pomeranian, Schipperke, and the Keeshond. They were popular with royalty as well, with both Queen Elizabeth II and King George VI owning one. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was registered with the AKC in 1934 and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi was registered in 1935. Your Dorgi will be a cute mix of the parent breeds, with a spunky personality thrown in.
The Dorgi is a small dog that can vary quite a bit depending on the parentage. This may affect their height, fur texture, and even their coat color. However, they are usually long-bodied with short legs and pointed muzzles like a Dachshund. They can get fat if you let them, but they are normally stocky anyway. Their large, pointed, upright ears give them an alert appearance and they are always listening for something. Their coat may be long or short, fine or thick, or it can even be coarse and wiry, depending on the variety of Dachshund in the parentage.
Maintenance for your Dorgi depends on the type of coat they have. If their coat is wiry or coarse, you may have to strip the coat once in a while. This is done by removing the long hairs from the coat to just leave the undercoat. You can do this at home with a stripping comb or have it done professionally. You should also brush your dog with a stiff bristle brush two or three times a week. Once a week you need to clean their ears with a soft cloth or cotton ball and look for redness, mites, and moisture that can lead to yeast proliferation. Dental care for your Dorgi should not be neglected, nor should trimming of the nails.
Your Dorgi is a delight to have at home and loves to be around the family, both furry and human. They just want to be part of the group. They like playing with children but you should watch them around younger kids because they can be snappish if startled. They do like being the center of attention and may become lonely while you are gone so make sure you spend plenty of time with your Dorgi and give them something to do while you are gone if you will be away for several hours. They are hunters at heart and they are alert and energetic. They love to chase squirrels and rabbits around the yard or the park.
Your Dorgi needs at least 45 to 60 minutes of exercise every day taking part in activities such as playing fetch, taking a long walk, hiking, a trip to the beach or dog park, or playing Frisbee. Dorgis love to hunt and chase, and enjoy running around off the leash in a fenced yard. Do so for about an hour a day. Make sure you play with your energetic companion inside, too. Teaching them to sit or fetch a ball indoors is just as much fun for them and Their small size makes it possible. They are also good at agility and discipline training so you may want to enroll them in that type of activity.
Written by Loreziel Ortega
Published: 10/20/2017, edited: 08/18/2021
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