Blue Merle Corgi is simply a Corgi with a Blue merle gene affecting the coat color. The name Corgi translates into “dwarf dog” in Welsh because of their short legs and long bodies. Corgis can be traced back to the medieval periods in Wales and were bred as herding and working dogs. They are cute, fluffy with striking bright orange coats and known to be loving companions. Corgis were beloved family members of the Royal family of England for a long time and were kept, bred, and loved by Queen Elizabeth II for most of her life. There are two types of Corgis – Cardigan and Pembroke Corgi, of which Pembroke is the most popular breed.
According to the AKC, Pembroke and Cardigan share common qualities but do not share a common ancestor and belong to different parts of Wales. AKC recognizes and lists the standard colors of both Corgis. The Pembroke has a short coat with red, sable, or tricolor with white markings. On the other hand, Cardigan comes with a medium-length coat with Blue merle, black, brindle, red, and sable with white markings. However, Blue merle is occasionally found in the Pembroke Corgis too in the present days because of the interbreeding of Cardigan and Pembroke. Blue merle Pembroke Corgis are called Blues and are not recognized by the AKC.
Table of Contents
Types of Blue Merle Corgis recognized by AKC
Blue Merle Corgis are of various types based on their coat type and colors.
Fluffy Blue Merle Corgi – These Corgis have a longer coat when compared to the Standard Corgis. They have more featherings on the chest, ears, underparts, and legs. These Fluffy Blue Merle Corgis are expensive because the gene that gives the long fluffy coat is recessive and rare to find.
Blue Merle Corgi with tan Points – In this type of Corgis, the coat has tan markings around the ears, eyes, cheeks, legs, and tail.
Double Merle Blue Corgi – Here, both the parents carry the Merle gene and hence the offspring is called a Double Merle.
Blue Merle Corgi is simply a color-modified tricolor Corgi with the Blue merle gene called M-gene. A normal tricolor Corgi will have the gene pair “mm” while a Blue Merle Corgi with a tricolor will carry an “ Mm” gene pair. The M gene is the cause of the Blue color due to the partial dilution of the dark pigment. In this case, “m” produces the normal color and “M” is the dominant gene. In simple words, the black coat color comes with irregular Blue-gray patches with one or both eyes, often in Blue. Other than the coat color, all Corgis share the same characteristics.
A Blue Pembroke Corgi does not exist. But rarely can one see a Blue Pembroke puppy due to the cross-breeding of Pembroke Corgi and Cardigan Corgi. The Blue coat is also called a Bluie due to the “d” gene. Here, “d” is the recessive gene and dominant, which causes the dilution of the dark coat color. However, a Blue Pembroke Corgi is not a pure breed and is not recognized by the AKC.
Other than the coat color, Corgis share the same characteristics. A Blue Merle Corgi carries white flashings around the neck, muzzle, chest, underparts, legs, and tail tips, and the coat is double-coated, weather-resistant, and medium in length. They are not hypoallergenic and shed a lot. The nose is usually black but sometimes can be seen with butterfly noses. One of the eyes or both are Blue or at least with a Blue flashing. Other than the coat color and the eyes, all Corgis share the same characteristics.
Blue Merle Corgis grow up to 10-13 inches and weigh about 18-30 pounds. The ears are smaller and pointing, and the tail is long and has a fox-like appearance. Overall, the Blue Merle Corgis have a face and appearance that would blow away all the Blues of the day.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level
High
Family-friendly
High
Kid-friendly
High
Dog-friendly
Medium
Stranger-friendly
Medium
Adaptability Overview
Good for apartment living
High
Good for new owners
High
Sensitivity level
Medium to high
Tolerates being alone
Medium
Cold tolerance
High
Heat tolerance
Medium
Blue Merle Corgi Temperament
Blue Merle Corgis are excellent family companions and have an adaptable personality. They can be less sociable and more territorial due to their herding instinct. They are highly vocal and bark or howl at anything and everything. Due to their herding tendencies, they tend to herd children and smaller animals by nipping and biting. Although he is wary of strangers, he is alert and can make an excellent watchdog. They do well with kids and love to play with children of the household. Blue Merle Corgis are also intelligent, independent, and easy to train. They do well with animals and other pets of the family. He loves to be around their owners and is prone to separation anxiety when left alone for a long time. The Blue Merle Corgi temperament includes
Intelligent
Affectionate
Lovable
Alert
Friendly
Blue Merle Corgi Training
Blue Merle Corgis are intelligent toy dogs and easy to train. They are naturally friendly and social and make a good candidate for obedience training. Training a Blue Merle Corgi does not take hard work and goes quite smoothly than other breed dogs. Like any other canine, they need early socialization and puppy training classes. The training requires patience and consistency during the period. They are sensitive to any adverse reactions and need positive reinforcement while training. They love being around people, and treats and cuddling do wonders while training. They are active and look forward to the training sessions, playing fetch, which helps in training regarding behavioral corrections. Obedience training and socialization help in behavioral correction and bring out the best in any dog. Blue Merle Corgi have high energy levels and become bored easily; hence it is necessary to keep the training interesting. Their training can include the following:
Blue Merle Corgis have small bodies yet need exercise due to their high energy levels. Enough exercise helps them to keep their body in shape without exerting it. A daily walk of 30-40 minutes will be ideal. Blue Merle Corgis live a healthy and long life with the right amount of exercise and activity. Above all this, they are happiest when around their human friends. Walking 2-3 times a day with a bit of running and play keeps the dog happy and healthy. They excel in canine activities like agility and flyball. Blue Merle Corgis are delighted with indoor games too and love playing ball, frisbee, fetch and excel in agility. They enjoy running, walking, hiking, agility, and indoor games. A proper exercise routine helps the dog with the following benefits.
Social interaction
Weight Control
Stress Relief
Behavioral Corrections like excessive chewing, persistent barking
Brain stimulation
Strengthening Muscles
Routine Toileting
Mental health and happiness
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy level
High
Exercise needs
High
Intensity
High to medium
Playfulness
High
Blue Merle Corgi Grooming
Blue Merle Corgis are heavy shedders and require frequent grooming. The coats are short, and they are low-maintenance dogs. Their coat needs brushing every couple of days. The hair at its paws has to be trimmed to avoid the floor getting dirty. They are easy to groom, and the coat needs to be brushed 2-3 times per week. They may need extra brushing during their shedding season. Brushing helps remove matted hair and pull out the loose fur during shedding. One of the essential parts of grooming is bathing which keeps the dog clean. However, frequent bathing causes dry skin and itches. Bathing your dog using shampoos with balanced ph. for dogs, pet wipes will keep your dog’s coat fresh, clean, and shiny. They can also be bathed once a week. However, daily brushing helps to keep the fur from knots and tangles.
They are prone to collect ear wax quickly. Hence,Ears should be cleaned and regularly checked as they are prone to ear problems. Brush their teeth daily to prevent plaque and other dental problems. Never brush the teeth with a stiff brush as it will harm the gums and teeth. Also, make sure to use dog-friendly toothpaste.
Also, clean their eyes and trim their nails as a part of everyday grooming needs. Their toenails need to be checked once a week as longer nails may harm and injure the dog. You can trim the toenails with a commercial dog nail trimmer or with the help of a vet or professional groomer.
Blue Merle Corgis are generally healthy dogs. Still, like any other dog breed, they are also prone to specific health conditions.
Health Overview
General health
High
Weight gain tendencies
Medium to high
Size
Small
Intervertebral disc disease: Corgis inherit this disease from their parents. The disc that separates the spine’s backbone weakens over time and affects the spinal nerve. This causes severe pain and is life-threatening.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy: An eye disorder causing blindness from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eyes. It can be detected earlier. A very later stage is blindness. Dogs with this condition can survive for several years since they have other senses to compensate.
Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is outwardly a painful disease that occurs when the bones of the back legs do not fit properly in the joints. While some dogs will exhibit symptoms, the majority of canines will not. Hip dysplasia is primarily genetic, although other causes such as accidents, excessive weight gain, and inappropriate training can also cause it. Even though this disease is fatal, therapies range from medicine to hip replacement surgery. To avoid this problem, avoid breeding dogs with hip dysplasia parentage and get annual examinations.
Other Causes of Hip Dysplasia:
Injuries
Excessive weight gain
Wrong exercises
This condition causes defects or damage to the hip bones and joints and worsens without treatment.
Obesity: It is a significant health condition in Corgis. Excess weight can cause joint problems, back pain, digestive disorders, and heart disease. The best way to prevent this lifestyle disease is a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Degenerative Myelopathy:Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disorder of the spinal cord, specifically the part of the cord that carries information to the brain regarding the hind legs. Dogs with DM behave as they don’t know where their back legs are and cannot move them well. The disease progresses to a case where the dog cannot walk. Most of the time, there is no cure, and the dog is put to rest. However, in a few cases, the condition is related to a lack of vitamin E or vitamin-12. In this case, vitamin supplements might uphold the situation.
Deafness: Dogs, like people, can develop hearing loss as they age. Because this is usually a slow process, it might be challenging to observe. The eardrums become less flexible, and sounds are less efficiently transferred. Chronic ear infections cause some dogs to lose their hearing.
Von Willebrand’s Disease: This genetic blood disorder impairs the blood’s ability to clot. The primary symptom is excessive bleeding after surgery. Nosebleeds, bleeding jaws, and intestinal or bowel bleeding are some of the signs and consequences. There is still no cure, and the only option is a transfusion from healthy canines. New treatments, including medicine, are being investigated. Most dogs with Von Willebrand’s syndrome can lead everyday lives. You must take your canine to the veterinarian for diagnosis
Spay or Neuter: In spay, the ovaries or uterus in females is removed, and in the neuter, the testicles of the male dogs are removed. It eliminates the possibility of pregnancy or fathering unwanted puppies and decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancer.
Recommended Tests for Blue Merle Corgi
X-Rays
CT Scan
Eye Examination
Physical Examination
Blood Work
Blue Merle Corgi Diet and Nutrition
Blue Merle Corgis are high-bred dogs and need a large quantity of high-quality food. They should eat 1-2 cups of food every day. Each puppy is distinctive, and the correct amount and quality of food depend on their age, weight, activity level, health, and more. You can split the meals into two 2 cups daily. Corgi pups can be given dry food, wet food, or both. High protein dog food helps the dog stay fit and healthy, improves digestion, and maintains coat shine. With the addition of nutrients, supplements, and vitamins, the dog lives a long, healthy, and happy life. They are prone to obesity, and hence overfeeding must be avoided. Blue Merle Corgi pups can be given dry food, wet food, or both. Make sure the diet contains omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, chondroitin, and glucosamine. They can also be given fruits and vegetables that provide carbohydrate energy.
Never hesitate to consult a vet to meet your pup’s dietary requirements to keep them happy and healthy.
Blue Merle Corgis love to be around their humans. However, they are adaptable and can live in apartments or homes with bigger yards. They love outdoor activities like walking, running, playing, and hiking. They love the attention of their owners and suffer from separation anxiety when left alone. They are fond of playing with kids and other pets. Blue Merle Corgis can tolerate heat and cold temperatures equally.
Adding Blue Merle Corgi to Your Family
Things to remember before adding a Blue Merle Corgi to your family
It is best to get a Blue Merle Corgi puppy from a reputable breeder to prevent unavoidable circumstances like health disorders and provide you with vaccination certificates. It is best to check with the puppy’s parents to ensure his health and happiness. Always remember the following red flags to avoid backyard breeders and puppy mills.
Puppies are available around the year.
You can choose from a variety of litter that is always available.
We recommend you visit the puppy and his parents and get health clearance and vaccination certificates, to avoid purchasing a weaker puppy.
Cost of a Blue Merle Corgi Puppy
The cost of a Blue Merle Corgi Beagle puppy ranges from $1200 to $2000.
