Cowboy Corgi - Everything You Need To Know

Cowboy Corgi is a mixed breed dog that crosses Pembroke Welsh Corgi and An Australian Cattle Dog. Gaining popularity, Cowboy Corgis are a small pack of vibrant dogs. The Cowboy Corgi, also known as Corgi Cattle Dog, is suitable for apartment residents. Pembroke Welsh Corgi originated from Wales and the Australian Cattle Dog or the Australian Blue Heeler from Australia. Some astonishing facts about Cowboy Corgis are listed below:

Both Corgi and Australian Cattle Dog belong to the herding group.
They are a powerhouse of energy.
Both Corgi and Australian Cattle Dog are brilliant dogs.

Although AKC recognized Corgi in 1934 and Australian Cattle Dog in 1980, the Cowboy Corgi doesn’t meet the club’s recognition.

Corgi is a shepherd dog, initially bred in Pembrokeshire, Wale. Corgis are short in height but have a slender body. They are highly energetic, brilliant dogs. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi belongs to Spitz and Finnish families. The body is short, has erect ears with a pointed and slightly rounded end, feet oval in shape pointing straight forward, docked or without a tail. They are double-coated and come in various colors ranging from red, sable, fawn, black and tan with or without white markings. They are intelligent herd dogs but, at times, can be mischievous. Pembroke Welsh Corgis are always alert to pick up even the slightest sounds or notice a minor change to their environment and usually react by barking. They shed twice a year when their inner coat blows. Corgis are also prone to overeating. Pembroke Welsh Corgis love to walk and are relatively energetic. Since Corgis belong to the herding group, exercising them is necessary to keep them fit and agile.

The Australian Cattle Dog is watchful, intelligent, and courageous. They are reliable and loyal. They are viciously protective as a watchdog. However, they are barkless dogs. The Australian Cattle Dog can be fierce, dominant, and herd other pets and children. They are sturdy, compactly built, and bear solid feet. These dogs have a muscular head, modestly curved, and a broad skull that heralds his ancestry. Their cheeks show the powerful jaws and muzzle, muscular neck, shoulders wide, chest-deep. His erect, triangular ears, alert eyes, brawny teeth draw the image of a rough semblance. Their tails are set low and hung to the level of the hocks. The double coat consists of an outer protective layer of mediumly short, straight, moderately textured hair and a short, dense layer. The skin comes in two different colors, red speckle and blue. “Blue Heelers” is blue or blue mottled, with blue, black, or tan markings on the head. Their undercoat is tan. The red has red speckles, with or without darker red markings on the head. They need physical activities to keep them healthy and happy. They make good exercise partners in running. They excel in dog sports like obedience, agility, etc. They are brilliant, highly energetic dogs, and they can be trained for herding, obedience, and agility.

Cowboy Corgi Males Vs. Females

Physically, males tend to weigh a few pounds more than females.
Temperament-wise, male Cowboy Corgis tend to be more cool and relaxed. They do not exhibit extreme behavior. They are loving and caring. On the other hand, females tend to be the alpha by being more stubborn, aggressive and can show more extremities of their temperament.

Cowboy Corgi Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Quite Intelligent	Sheds Profusely
Highly Loyal	High Exercise Needs

Cowboy Corgi Basic Information

Name: Cowboy Corgi
Height: 13 – 20 inches
Weight: 26 – 40 Ibs
Coat: Double, medium length, thick, short, weather-resistant undercoat with a coarser, longer outer coat.
Color: Tri color, merle, sable, roan
Energy: High
Activities: Herding, running, chasing.
Group: Mixed Breed
Barking Level: Medium
Shedding Level: Medium to high
Hypoallergenic: No
Litter Size: Up to 8 puppies
Life Span: 12 – 15 years
Other names: Corgi Cattle Dog, Corgi Cowboys, Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Australian Cattle Dog Mix, Blue Heeler Corgi Mix.
Breed recognition: Not recognized by AKC

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Vs. Australian Cattle Dog Comparison

Blue Heeler (Australian Cattle Dog): Characteristics & Care

Cowboy Corgi Personality

Just like any hybrid dog, the Cowboy Corgi can either go with the Pembroke Corgi’s gene or the Australian Cattle Dog’s gene. Traits that Cowboy Corgis inherit from their Corgi parents:

Docked tail
Short stature
Short legs
Slender body

Traits inherited by Cowboy Corgi from their Australian Cattle Dog parents:

Coat color and patterns
Eyes

Some Cowboy Corgis may have erect ears, short and thick coats with a barrel-shaped body and a mask-like appearance on their face. They may range from 13 – 20 inches in height and weigh 26 – 40 pounds.

Friendliness Overview

Affection level	Medium to high
Family-friendly	High
Kid-friendly	Medium to high
Pet-friendly	Medium to high
Stranger -friendly	Medium

Adaptability Overview

Good for apartment living	Medium
Good to new owners	Medium
Sensitivity level	Medium to high
Tolerates being alone	Medium
Cold-tolerance	Medium to high
Heat-tolerance	Medium to high

Cowboy Corgi Temperament

Known for their intelligence and sharp brain, the Cowboy Corgis, can often outsmart their owners. They are great family dogs for active families. Cowboy Corgis need much physical activity to keep them physically and mentally stimulated. Cowboy Corgis are adventurous by nature and well known for their loyalty. Their herding instincts make them excellent watchdogs and guard dogs.

Cowboy Corgis are protective by nature and can be pretty aggressive to strangers and bark to alarm. They try to chase smaller animals. They tend to nip, chew and bite kids, older people, and other pets. However, early socialization and behavioral training can control their herding behavior.

Note: Please do not leave them alone for extended periods. They suffer from separation anxiety.

Cowboy Corgi Training

Cowboy Corgis are very active dogs, so daily physical exertion is necessary. They are fond of playing, running, flyball, frisbee, swimming, and other activities. These dogs love working since they inherit the quality of their parents. Keeping them busy lets them not be destructive. Early socialization and training are necessary. They are more disciplined and can make good show canines or join games.

You must teach your Cowboy Corgi puppy the four basic manners of staying, sitting, lying down, and waiting. These skills can be helpful when you choose to train them to herd animals. You can also opt for professional training. They can learn from their parents or on their own. Service, performing, and obedience are excellent roles for the Cowboy Corgis. They are fond of walking. The Corgi Cattle Dog can gel well with other pets when socialized.

Trainability Overview

Easy to train	High
Intelligence	High
Mouthiness tendencies	Medium
Barking and Howling tendencies	Medium
Prey drive	Medium to high
Wanderlust tendencies	Medium

Cowboy Corgi Exercise Needs

Cowboy Corgis are highly energetic dogs and thus need a lot of exercise to maintain their health. They can be an ideal partner for evening walks, hiking, or swimming. In addition, your Corgi would adore playing fetch with a competition disc. This will keep them mentally occupied. This can also prevent frustration and destruction.

Exercise Needs Overview

Energy level	Medium to high
Exercise needs	High
Intensity	Medium to high
Playfulness	Medium to high

Cowboy Corgi Grooming

Cowboy Corgis are uncomplicated to groom, although they have a double coat and are heavy shedders. The pet parents should brush them for at least 20 minutes a day. Both parent breeds are low-maintenance breeds. Cowboy Corgis are not hypoallergenic; hence they are unsuitable for those with allergies. They inherit their Corgi parents in producing a medium level of dander.

Cowboy Corgis should be brushed weekly once. This will keep the coat free from dirt and dead fur with the help of a slicker brush or brush glove as they have thick, double coats. They would not require regular bathing. Bathing once a month or every six months will be enough. Ensure that you use a shampoo preferred specifically for double-coated breeds.

Apart from their hair, the pet parents should care for their other grooming requirements, like trimming their nails, cleaning their ears and eyes, and brushing their teeth.

Grooming Overview

Easy to groom	Medium to high
Drooling tendency	Low
Amount of shedding	High

Cowboy Corgi Health

Generally, Cowboy Corgis are healthy breeds if you take appropriate care of them. As they are mixed breed dogs, they are relatively healthy. These dogs can live up to 15 years if proper care is taken. Unfortunately, this does not signify that they will be resistant to any disease. However, a balanced diet, healthy lifestyle, and regular checkups can avoid many health disorders.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a painful, life-threatening condition caused when the bones of the rear legs don’t fit properly in the joints. Hip dysplasia is primarily hereditary, but injuries, excessive weight gain, wrong exercises can cause hip dysplasia. Some dogs might exhibit symptoms, while some might not. Treatment ranges from medication to replacement of the hip through surgeries. To avoid this problem, do not crossbreed with a parent who has the issue of hip dysplasia. Regular checkups are suggested.

Other Causes of Hip Dysplasia:

Injuries
Excessive weight gain
Wrong exercises

This condition causes defects or damage to the hip bones joints and worsens without treatment.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs include:

Reduced activity and movements
Reluctance to rise, jump, run or climb
Lameness in the hind limbs
Reducing thigh muscle mass
Swaying, “bunny hopping” gait
Grating in the joint during movement
Enlarging shoulders
Pain
Stiffness

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

A degenerative 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.

Deafness

Deafness is prevalent in the breed, so responsible breeders will have tested the parents and the entire litter to ensure they are free from deafness.

A dog that is unilaterally deaf (deaf in one ear) may be able to live a relatively everyday life; a dog that is bilaterally deaf (deaf on both sides) may not be able to and will have unique concerns.

Intervertebral Disk Disease

The spinal cord is covered by a vertebral column. Between the bones of the vertebral column, intervertebral discs allow the movements of the vertebral, which often act like shock absorbers. They are made up of two layers, the outer fibrous layer and the inner soft jelly-like layer. This condition occurs when the inner jelly-like layer protrudes and pushes the spinal cord, causing spinal cord compression—symptoms like neck and backache, paralysis, loss of sensation, bladder, and bowel control. This treatment would be based on factors affecting the injury and treatment location, severity, and time gap. In addition, surgery helps relieve the tension caused in the spinal cord.

Degenerative Myelopathy

Degenerative Myelopathy is a progressive spinal cord disorder, 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 their back legs 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 rare cases, the condition is related to a lack of vitamin E or vitamin-12. If this is the case, vitamin supplements might uphold the situation.

Cowboy Corgi Screening Tests

Optical examination
BAER test to check for deafness
Physical examination
X-rays for hip dysplasia and back problems

Health Overview

Overall health	Medium to high
Weight gain tendencies	Medium to high
Size	Low to medium

Cowboy Corgi Diet and Nutrition

Cowboy Corgis are active, working dogs, and diet plays a significant role in such dogs. Food packed with protein and carbohydrates is the best fuel for your pet’s metabolism. While carbohydrates burn swiftly, protein takes time.

Always remember, 25 percent of your canine’s diet must be protein. You can include some protein-rich diets such as beef, fish, or chicken in your dog’s food. Vegetarian alternatives would consist of lentils, garbanzo beans, and black beans. You must also ensure that your Cowboy gets all the required vitamins. A diet that is rich in fibers is also recommended for these breeds.

However, the pet owners should also bear in mind that feeding the required amount without ample exercise schedules to your dog may lead to gaining weight and turn him obese. Therefore, it is always better to consult your veterinarian about the amount and frequency of feeding according to your dog’s age, size and activity levels. Some experts have analyzed and have drawn a feeding chart, helpful to pet owners for a quick reference.

Age	Amount / meal	Number of meals/ day
Newborn to 6 weeks	3.75 ml milk	6
8 to 10 weeks	0.33 cups	4
10 to 13 weeks	0.66 cups	4
4 months	1 cup	4
5 to 6 months	1 cup	3
7 to 8 months	1 cup	2 to 3
9 to 10 months	1.5 cups	2
10 to 12 months	1.5 cups	1 to 2

Cowboy Corgi Living Condition

Cowboy Corgis are unsuitable for pet owners with allergies as Cowboy Corgis are heavy shedders.
Cowboy Corgis require a large fenced yard for their outdoor activities.
They need a proper and regular exercise schedule since they are highly energetic dogs. So, pet owners should devote some time to their physical exertion. Else, they are sure to develop behavioral issues.
Cowboys are heavy shedders. They need around 20 minutes of daily brushing. However, regular bathing is not mandatory.

Adding a Cowboy Corgi to Your Family

Things to Remember Before Breeding

Cowboy Corgis are not hypoallergenic.
They are brilliant and can outsmart their owners.
Cowboy Corgi’s size will remain small throughout their lives.
They may turn destructive if left alone for a longer time.
Early socialization is necessary to keep them friendly with other pets.
Cowboy Corgis are often born with docked tails.
Cowboy Corgis are great herders and can herd small kids and breeds at home.
They are outdoorsy and adventurous dogs.
They only bark to alert, or otherwise, they are silent.

Cost of a Cowboy Corgi Puppy

The cost of a Cowboy Corgi puppy online is $500 to $1500

Cowboy Corgi

Find a Dog at Blueheeler and Corgi Lover