Dorgi puppies

About the Dorgi

The Dorgi crosses the Dachshund with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and Queen Elizabeth II is often credited with creating the cross. There is no breed standard. Both parents are long, low dogs bred to work, one to hunt badgers underground and the other to herd cattle and sheep. PetMD puts adults at up to 13.6 kg and 30 cm and gives a lifespan of 12 to 16 years. Coats vary, and every Dorgi sheds all year.

Dorgis need daily exercise, play and mental work, and a bored one barks loudly, digs and chews. The big bark can make apartment life difficult. Protect the long back: intervertebral disc disease from the Dachshund side is the main health risk, so keep the dog lean and fit. The Dachshund's prey drive can put small pets at risk, and the Corgi's herding can turn into nipping at children, so train early and supervise. Tempting as it is to laugh off barking and nipping in a puppy, deal with them early, before they become a habit.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Dorgi puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Intervertebral disc disease from the Dachshund side, which causes back pain, weakness or paralysis and is treated with rest and medication or surgery
• Periodontal disease, prevented by regular tooth brushing and found at dental checks
• Joint problems including patellar luxation and hip and elbow dysplasia, diagnosed on examination and x-ray
• Degenerative myelopathy, a progressive spinal cord disease that usually shows after eight years of age, with a DNA test available for the parents
• Von Willebrand disease, an inherited clotting disorder more common in Pembroke Welsh Corgis, detectable by DNA test and important to know before surgery
• Patent ductus arteriosus, a congenital heart defect usually picked up as a murmur in a puppy

Your Dorgi puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Dorgi.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the Up to 13.6 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 13.6 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the Dorgi

Previous: Dogue de Bordeaux · Next: Dorkie

Sources

• petmd.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• Health notes from Dorgi breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/dorgi. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

No published figure for coat type, the good with children rating, the good with other dogs rating and country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.

Photo: D.K. Britton, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.