Border Collie Corgi is a mixed breed yielded from a Border Collie and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. A Border Collie Corgi is relatively smaller and has a double, thick coat with various coat colors. Borgis are loyal, defensive, and unfurl positive vibes. Coming to the ancestry of Borgis’ parents – Border Collies originated in the 1800s in Scotland and initially bred herding sheep. History says AKC marked them as brilliant dogs and Queen Victoria’s favorite.
On the other hand, Pembroke Welsh Corgis came from the dwelling of fairies and elves, and Corgis were treasured by the families that kept them and were used in herding cattle. Queen Elizabeth II had a Corgi given by King George VI, in the Buckingham Palace, a dwelling for Welsh Corgis. The Welsh Corgis descended from Swedish cattle dogs or the “Valhunds,” recognized by UKC and AKC.
Table of Contents
Border Collie Corgi Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Highly trainable and intelligent dogs
Prone to conditions like structural health issues
Excellent working dogs
Separation Anxiety
Affectionate and lovable family dogs
Unsuitable for families with little children due to their herding instincts
Border Collie Corgi Basic Information
Name: Border Collie Corgi
Height: 13 – 18 inches
Weight: 15 – 30 lbs
Coat: Double coated,short to medium coat, smooth or rough
Color: Black, white, gray, sable, fawn, red, or a combination of these.
Energy: High
Activities: Walking, running, companion, herding, tracking, agility training
Scottish SheepDog, Welsh SheepDog, and English SheepDog
Corgi,Welsh Corgi, Pembroke
Border Collie Corgi Personality
Borgi may possess the physical traits of both Border Collie and Corgi or either of the parent’s personalities. Most of them have Pembroke’s short legs, pointed and erect ears, fox-faced, dark brown eyes with intelligent gaze, and a black nose. The neck of Borgi is well muscled. Their teeth and bite may either be nipping due to herding instinct or a scissor-like bite taking over Corgi’s genes. Their mouths can have a black outline. They have a muscular, stout body that aids in Borgi’s athletic activities.
Borgis have sturdy, well-built fore and hindquarters that solve the purpose of carrying weight like the Corgis. The Borgis bear either a soft-footed gait like Border Collies or hopping style like Corgis. The Border Collie Corgi Mix can have a long tail like the Border Collie or be docked. The combinations of coat color are from both the breed’s parents. They range from black, white, brown, red to bi-colored, tri-colored, tan with white markings. The Border Collie Corgi coat can be short, thick, smooth, or long, wavy or coarse, wiry. They have a water-resistant outer coat with a soft undercoat.
Friendliness Overview
Affectionate with family
High
Friendly with pets
Medium to high
Friendly with kids
Medium to high
Friendly with strangers
High
Adaptability Overview
Adapts well to apartment living
Medium
Good to new owners
Medium
Sensitivity level
Medium to high
Tolerates being alone
Low to medium
Tolerates cold weather
Medium to high
Tolerates hot weather
Medium to high
Border Collie Corgi Temperament
Border Collie Corgi is an active, alert, high-energy, brilliant watchdog. The Borgis can be easily trained and they readily obey the pet parent’s commands. They love to be independent and herding instincts are alive in them. Borgis are fun-loving and protective dog breeds, suitable for families with kids. They are very patient in the presence of kids. Since they are intelligent, they can be stubborn and sometimes challenging to train for housebreaking. However, they are very friendly and can get along well with strangers.
Borgis are highly sensitive and can sense any strange sounds. They suffer from separation anxiety, so you should take care that they are not left at home for a long time. If done so, they keep barking and howling for a long time, or they may be destructive and bite the furniture.
Border Collie Corgi Training
Border Collie Corgis are agile and quickly pick up the commands. Early Socialization to adapt to situations, other pets, people from a young age is essential. While training, encourage your Borgis with appraisals, love, and rewards. This can subside their stubborn nature and help you handle them better. Patience is the key while training.
Tips:
Train Borgis to obey basic commands like “sit,” “come,” and “stay.”
Crate train your pet to adapt him to circumstances when you are away or have to do some work.
Potty train your dog so that they don’t pee or poop anywhere and everywhere.
Since Borgis can pull weight, you can teach them to help you with household activities like handing over newspapers and unbreakable objects.
Trainability Overview
Easy to train
High
Intelligence
High
Potential for mouthiness
Medium
Prey drive
Medium
Tendency to bark or howl
Medium to high
Wanderlust potential
Low to medium
Border Collie Corgi Exercise Needs
Border Collie Corgis are high-energy dogs. They need a lot of mental and physical stimulation. It is best to provide Borgis with 60 minutes of exercise every day. They are good companions while walking or hiking. Border Collie Corgi is a medium-sized dog and would not need much space. They will require a yard to run around. Pet owners should spend quality time playing family games, like hunting, fetching, swimming, chasing, hiking, frisbee, obstacle courses to keep their overall health. A tired dog is a healthy dog, but you should take care that they are not left unattended under the sun for long hours. This can cause severe health issues.
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy level
High
Intensity
Medium
Exercise needs
High
Potential for playfulness
High
Border Collie Corgi Grooming
Border Collie Corgis are high shedders, and you should brush them almost every day. Some Borgis may have long coats, and it is vital to brush regularly to avoid de-matting and detangling. Regular brushing during shedding season and otherwise releases the natural oils and keeps the skin shiny and healthy.
It is best to bathe your Border Collie Corgi once a week or when they get dirty. Clean their eyes and ears to avoid infections, and keep them moist free. It is also essential to maintain excellent dental health by brushing their teeth thrice a week. Clipping their nails is mandatory.
Grooming Overview
Amount of shedding
Medium to high
Drooling potential
Low
Easy to groom
Medium to high
Border Collie Corgi Health
Though Border Collie Corgi dogs are generally healthy, some exhibit diseases or illnesses acquired from parental genes. So, it is always better to check for any conditions before adopting or bringing a Border Collie Corgi home. Check the health clearances from Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and Von Willebrand’s disease; from Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) for eyes before buying the puppy. There is no assurance that designer dogs like Border Collie Corgi would or would not have any of these diseases in their lifetime, but you can keep your pet healthy by ensuring that you take them to a vet for regular checkups.
Achondroplasia is a condition commonly found in smaller breed dogs with stumpy legs like Corgis and Dachshunds—the condition where the dog suffers from hip or elbow dysplasia.
Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition in which the thigh bone would not fit into the hip joints. X-ray screening for hip dysplasia can be done in the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. It is challenging to breed dogs with hip dysplasia. Do not buy a puppy without asking the breeder for proof that the parents have been tested and are hip dysplasia-free.
Elbow Dysplasia: Elbow dysplasia occurs when the elbow joint bones are not aligned properly. This misalignment causes abnormal pressure at the joint, leading to chronic rubbing and severe osteoarthritis. Symptoms include:
Mild to moderate pain
Lameness in the forelimbs
Although the symptoms begin to show as early as four months of age, some dogs will not show these signs until later in life. Further, the disorder may also injure both the elbows, but one of them may be heavily affected.
Osteochondrosis of Knees and Shoulders: The condition of improper cartilage growth in the elbow, knees, and shoulder joints. The stiffness of the joints makes it unable to move or bend his elbows and knees. Osteochondrosis can be detected in puppies as early as four to nine months. Overfeeding of formulas causes this disease.
Epilepsy: A disease that causes mild to severe seizures, often an inherited neurological disorder. A long-term prognosis for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy is generally reasonable.
Hypothyroidism: An abnormality in the thyroid gland secretion can cause this condition. It holds responsibility for medical disorders like epilepsy, alopecia, obesity, lethargy, hyperpigmentation, pyoderma, and other skin-related diseases. A proper diet and medication help treat this issue.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy: An eye disorder that causes 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.
Allergies: Canines like Border Collies are usually allergic to various substances, from pollen to chemicals like shampoos or dog-body wash, since they are hyperactive and keep roaming. If your Border Collie Corgi is licking his paws or rubbing his face, get him checked by your vet immediately.
Border Collie Specific Health Conditions
Collie Eye Anomalies: This genetic condition in Border Collies causes eye issues and blindness. It occurs when the dog turns two years old, and unfortunately, there is no treatment for this anomaly. The disorders include:
Choroidal Hypoplasia: This is an abnormal growth of choroids.
Coloboma: This is a flaw in the optic disc of the eyes.
Staphyloma: Thinning down of sclera and retinal detachment.
Cerebellar Abiotrophy is an inherited neurological disease that affects certain dog breeds like Brittany Spaniel, Kerry Blue Terrier, and Rough-coated collies. Symptoms include, goose-stepping, falling, muscle tremors, and being unable to nurse, to mention a few.
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis: They are inherited disorders especially seen in Border Collies and their mixed breeds that cause neurodegenerative lysosomal disease. It is seen in cats, dogs, sheep, goats, humans, and cattle. The condition can show symptoms like change in gait, posture, muscle twitching, and even cause premature death.
Deafness: A genetic disorder seen in Collies. There is every possibility that the mixed breed pup inherits this disorder.
Anesthesia Sensitivity: Some Border Collies are sensitive to anesthesia. Hence before you adopt a Border Collie Corgi, it is better to check with the breeder and inform your vet accordingly.
Cataracts: The eye’s lens becomes opaque. Symptoms include poor vision and cloudy appearance.
Cutaneous Asthenia: The connective tissues of the skin become defective, fragile, loose, and stretchy. Symptoms include excessive bruising and blood blisters. It is also known as Ehlers- Danlos Syndrome or dominant collagen dysplasia.
Cystinuria is a condition in which high levels of cystine, a type of protein, are released through urine. It occurs mainly in male dogs. Symptoms include stone formation.
Degenerative Myelopathy: The nervous and supportive tissue of the spinal cord in the lower back region progressively degenerates. Symptoms include a lame rear leg and eventual paralysis.
Epilepsy: It is an inherited neurological condition that causes mild or severe seizures. Symptoms include running frantically as being chased, staggering, or hiding.
Intervertebral Disk Disease: It causes ruptures in the spinal disk. Symptoms include weakness, paralysis, and instability. The risks of joint and back-related health conditions are higher in this type of disorder. The increased risk is that stumpy legs can lead to further injuries.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) with Pulmonary Hypertension: The congenital disability in the vascular system causes deoxygenated blood to bypass the lungs. It can be corrected surgically.
Pulmonary Hypertension: The blood pressure in the lungs becomes high.
Retinal Dysplasia: The retina becomes abnormal and detached, causing blindness.
Von Willebrand’s Disease: A blood disorder that affects the clotting process. Symptoms include:
Bleeding gums
Nosebleeds
Occasional blood in the stool
Prolonged bleeding from the surgery
Von Willebrand’s disease affects the age group between three to five years. You cannot cure this disease, but specific treatments such as suturing or cauterizing injuries and transfusions before surgery can be helpful.
Health Overview
General Health
Medium
Potential for Weight
Medium
Size
Medium
Border Collie Corgi Diet and Nutrition
For highly energetic dogs like Borgis, three cups of high-quality dry dog food divided into two meals is required. Some things to be considered are the dog’s age, weight, size, and activities. While you feed them store-bought dog foods, kindly check for ingredients that are not suitable for your dogs. A rich, healthy diet should contain nutrients like healthy fats, protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins.
Purina Pro Plan Dry Dog Food for Border Collie-Corgi Mix
This sport formula dog food is recommended for dogs like Borgis that are very active. The kibble contains 26% protein and 16% fat that helps your dog maintain its overall health. It has chicken as one of the main ingredients that promote nutrient absorption and is easily digestible. It also contains antioxidants that are good for your dog’s immune system.
Border Collie Corgi Living Condition
Any weather condition is suitable for Border Collie Corgi Mix. However, too hot or too cold conditions are not ideal for them. They need a yard to play around. There should always be someone at home to avoid separation anxiety, or else they will howl, bark, chew, or bite the furniture. They need plenty of exercises to keep them physically and mentally stimulated. Considering their size, they are fit for apartment living. Still, a point to be remembered is they should equally need fresh air with regular exercise needs to keep them healthy.
Adding a Border Collie Corgi to Your Family
Things to Remember before breeding Border Collie Corgi
Though Borgis love their families, they still want to be stubborn and independent.
They are intelligent, and so they are easy to train.
They have high stamina and are suitable only for those pet parents who are athletic and lively.
Thanks to their parental instincts, Border Collie Corgis are great herders, and they should be monitored while they are with children.
Cost of a Border Collie Corgi Puppy
A Borgi puppy will cost anywhere between $600 and $2000. The price varies depending on the breeder’s location, dog’s size and coat color.
