Dorgi: Your Complete Guide

Dorgis are a newer dog breed that many individuals may not have heard of. This cross between a dachshund and a corgi is small, affectionate, and very distinctive due to the characteristics of their parents. The dorgi has been rising in popularity as a family dog in recent years, and many individuals have fallen in love with their appearance, outgoing attitude, and lovable nature.

If you’re considering adopting a dorgi, or if you are curious about this interesting dog breed, our complete guide on the dorgi is here to help you out. We give you vital information below such as the temperament, care needs, and basic facts of this breed so you can make a decision about whether or not the dorgi is the right dog for you.

Quick Look at the Dorgi

Below is a quick glance at this special breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.

What Is the History of Dorgis?

A unique cross between the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the dachshund, the dorgi has a somewhat hazy origin.

The most notable, and possibly one of the first, instances of a dorgi occurred during Queen Elizabeth II’s range in England. One of the Queen’s beloved corgis mated with Princess Margret’s dachshund, Pipkin.

The resulting cross was named a dorgi in homage to the two parent breeds that created this pup. The Queen and Princess Margret bred more dorgis over the year, quickly falling in love with the breed.

In recent years, the dorgi has spread outside of England, and many individuals are falling in love with the dog’s small size, outgoing nature, and position as a family and companion dog. Because dorgis are a mixed breed, and a newer one at that, there isn’t quite a breed standard of appearance for what this pup is supposed to look like, something that makes this breed so unique.

The parent breeds that contribute to the dorgi, the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the dachshund, are both herding and hunting dogs, respectively. Dorgis may exhibit a unique combination of traits from either side of their lineage.

What Do Dorgis Look Like?

There are a range of appearances for dorgis, as these pups can be any combination of corgi and dachshund patterns due to a lack of standardization across this newer crossbreed.

Most of the time you can expect to see a dorgi in one color, with brown, fawn, red, and cream being the most common. Some dorgis may have a patch of a lighter color on their chest, a trait received from the Pembroke Welsh corgi.

Occasionally, dorgis will have a merle pattern or black and blue coats, but this is rarer and only attributed to the dachshund’s side of genetics in this breed.

Dorgis are small, and they have distinctive characteristics that belong to both dachshunds and corgis. With dorgis, it’s hard to predict exactly what they will look like, as this varies quite a bit depending on the genetics of their parents.

However, most dorgis will be small and stand between 9 and 12 inches tall while weighing between 15 and 28 pounds. You can expect a dorgi to have medium-length wiry hair, though some dogs might have fur that’s shorter and smoother.

Dorgis typically have longer ‘sausage-shaped’ bodies, as both Pembroke Welsh corgis and dachshunds have longer spines. They will generally have triangular ears that are either floppy or upright, elongated snouts, and a friendly, open expression with darker eyes.

What Size Is a Dorgi?

Dorgis are considered a small dog, and they average at about 15 to 28 pounds. They may stand between 9 and 12 inches tall, and there is some room for variation in the size of these pups due to the lack of standardization among dorgis.

That being said, both Pembroke Welsh corgis and dachshunds are considered small dogs, so your dorgi won’t grow much larger than the upper limits of these averages.

What Is a Dorgis Coat Type and Length?

Dorgis typically have medium-length coats, and their fur is straight and somewhat wiry in texture. You may encounter dorgis with short-haired coats, but this just depends on the genetics of the parent dogs. Most of the time, medium-length coats are the most common appearance of the dorgi.

What Is a Dorgis Temperament?

Dorgis are becoming a popular choice for family dogs, as they love to spend time with their owners, they are energetic, and they are relatively good-natured and outgoing. Dorgis love to be social, and they are happiest when they’re able to play with others and spend time with their families.

Dorgis can be quite intelligent, and they typically require a lot of mental and physical stimulation to keep them happy.

It’s important to note that dorgis may have a bit of a stubborn streak, as both Pembroke Welsh corgis and dachshunds can be willful from time to time. You will need to make sure your dog is trained from as early in life as possible to ensure they listen to you and aren’t too chaotic when they don’t get their own way.

Dorgis love their people, and they can become lonely when left alone for long periods of time. Loneliness can lead to destructive behaviors. This is why spending lots of time with your dog or ensuring they have friends and toys to play with when you aren’t around is essential to keeping this dog happy.

Are Dorgis Good With Kids?

In general, dorgis are good with children. They are friendly and outgoing, and they love to play, so they can likely handle a more active household. However, you will need to teach any younger children how to properly behave around this dog, as rough play and lots of loud noise might overwhelm your dorgi and lead them to bark or be frightened.

Are Dorgis Good With Other Animals?

Dorgis are generally good with other animals, especially if they have been raised alongside another dog or even a cat. They are social animals, and they love to be around their people. Another animal in the household may put them at ease and give them comfort when you aren’t at home.

Dorgis might have high prey drives or herding drives due to their parent’s historical roles as hunting and herding dogs. They might be prone to chasing animals outdoors from time to time. You should monitor your dorgi around smaller prey animals just in case, though cats and dogs are typically fine to live in the same home as your dorgi.

Are Dorgis Aggressive?

Dorgis aren’t generally considered an aggressive dog breed, though they can be stubborn and sassy from time to time. You may find that if your dog isn’t trained, they start to feel like they are in charge of the home, something that leads to territorial behaviors and excessive barking or snapping.

However, proper socialization, training, and lots of exercise for your dog will generally be able to curb these unwanted behaviors.

Do Dorgis Bark?

Dorgis are known for being quite vocal, as both dachshunds and Pembroke Welsh corgis are vocal breeds. This breed can be quite loud, and they might need to be properly trained if you want to avoid issues with violating noise restrictions.

Dorgis will bark when they’re happy, playful, or when they’re alerting you to threats, which is why training is necessary to teach them to bark only when necessary.

Are Dorgis Affectionate?

Dorgis are affectionate, and they love to spend time with their owners. They generally don’t have a problem with strangers, though they might bark a bit at new individuals that come into their home. Your dorgi will likely be happy to spend lots of time playing with you, and once they’ve got all of their energy out, they will love to sit on your lap and cuddle for the rest of the evening.

Are Dorgis Intelligent?

Dorgis are considered an intelligent dog breed, as both dachshunds and Pembroke Welsh corgis are fairly intelligent and easily trained. These dogs are curious and alert, and they love to spend time with their owners, in addition to being eager to please.

It’s important to note that while intelligent, these dogs can be stubborn. It’s likely they figure out the best ways to cause drama or get attention around your home if they feel like their needs aren’t being met. This is another reason why proper training and care are necessary for your dorgi.

Are Dorgis Energetic?

Dorgis are an energetic, playful breed, and they will need a fair amount of playtime in addition to regular walks. You should be spending a minimum of 30 minutes playing with your Dorgi each day, both inside and outside, and they should have interactive toys to keep them entertained while you’re not at home.

You will need to walk your dorgi two to three times per day for at least 20 to 30 minutes. You can further exercise your dog by taking them to a dog park regularly and letting them run around off-leash. Dog parks are also a great way to let your dog socialize and meet new dogs and people, which they generally love to do.

Are Dorgis Easy to Train?

Dorgis are one of the easier breeds to train, as these dogs are fairly intelligent, and they love working with their owners to learn new things. They may be able to complete agility training depending on their size, and a dorgi might be able to learn more complex tricks.

However, some dorgis may require extra patience and consistency with training. They can be quite stubborn and independent, and they might not want to learn what you are trying to teach them.

Are Dorgis Good Watchdogs?

Dorgis make decent watchdogs, as this breed is alert, protective, and quite vocal. They are outgoing and generally trusting of strangers, but if they sense that something is amiss or that there is a threat to themselves or their owners, they are brave and have no problem barking to alert their owners of the problem.

Are Dorgis Good Service Dogs?

Dorgis may be good service dogs, depending on the service tasks required. This breed is intelligent and they can learn complex tasks, though their smaller size stops them from being able to perform mobility support and guiding tasks as effectively as other dogs.

Dorgis may be able to work as a psychiatric service dog, as they can learn how to interrupt negative behaviors and retrieve items for their owners, among many other tasks. Or, they may work as emotional support animals and therapy dogs due to their friendly, affectionate, and social natures.

How to Care for a Dorgi?

Dorgis are relatively low-maintenance dogs, as long as they receive the proper amount of exercise and companionship from their owners. You will need to designate space in your home for your dorgi’s bed.

As this dog ages they may benefit from things like stairs to help them climb or jump onto furniture. Dorgis may have spinal issues that result from their elongated ‘sausage-shaped’ bodies.

Dorgis will need lots of exercise and playtime, averaging two to three medium-length walks per day and at least 30 minutes of dedicated play time each day. Plus, you’ll want to offer interactive toys to use when you aren’t around.

You will need to brush your dorgi regularly, especially if they have longer fur, as this helps remove shed fur and prevent any tangles in longer coats. Regular baths or professional grooming trips are also recommended as a standard of good dog care.

Take your corgi to the vet at least once a year for check-ups and feed them a nutritional diet of wet or dry food to keep them healthy. You should train your dorgi to keep them well-mannered in public and mentally stimulated, and be wary of potential issues such as separation anxiety.

Do You Need to Groom a Dorgi?

The grooming needs of a dorgi are about average, and they will need weekly brushings and regular baths every few weeks to months to keep their fur clean. You will need to trim their nails regularly, and you might want to visit a professional groomer every so often just to keep your feeling and looking their best.

Do Dorgis Shed?

Dorgis shed about an average amount, though regular baths and brushing help to curb the amount of fur you might find throughout your home. They aren’t considered hypoallergenic, which means they aren’t the best choice for individuals with allergies.

What Health Problems Do Dorgis Have?

Dorgis are a mixed breed, which means there is potential to inherit health issues from either side of their lineage. Both dachshunds and Pembroke Welsh corgis have longer backs, and this can lead to spine issues in dorgis, as smaller and shorter dogs with long bodies are at risk for something called intervertebral disc disease.

Like their parent dogs, dorgis are prone to obesity, and they may gain weight easily if not placed onto a controlled diet and receiving lots of exercise. Degenerative myelopathy and hip and elbow dysplasia are also common inherited health problems for dorgis.

Proper veterinary care, routine checkups, a healthy diet, and lots of exercise will help to prevent obesity and catch other health problems early before they become a serious issue for your dorgi.

How Long Do Dorgis Live?

Like many other smaller dogs, dorgis have a fairly long average lifespan. You can expect your dorgi to live between 12 and 15 years – a healthy lifestyle and regular veterinary care will help your dog live as happily and healthily as possible.

What Should a Dorgi Eat?

Dorgis are prone to obesity, which means they should be on a diet that takes into account their potential for weight gain. On average, your dorgi should eat between 3/4 of a cup and a cup and a half of high-quality wet or dry dog food each day. Split your dog’s daily food allowance up into two or three meals to ensure they remain happy and satisfied throughout the day.

Is a Dorgi the Right Dog for Me?

Dorgis are wonderful, friendly pups with an outgoing nature and adorable appearance. This cross between the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the dachshund is becoming increasingly popular due to their great fit as a family pup.

The dorgi might be right for you if you have lots of time to exercise your dog and play with them or you plan to adopt two dogs to ensure your dorgi won’t spend too much time alone. They’re also great if you have children that understand how to properly play with your dorgi.

Make sure that you have the time to dedicate to training your dorgi to ensure any excessive barking and stubbornness that leads to destructive behaviors around the home are deterred. Then, you’ll be sure to have a well-behaved, social, and happy pup companion that loves to cuddle and play.