When two different breeds of purebred dogs produce a litter of puppies, the result is a new breed that is called a designer dog or a hybrid dog.
These intentional breedings are usually to get the best qualities of both parent breeds all in one package, which can make a truly astounding pup.
What is a Great Dane Corgi Mix?
A Great Dane Corgi mix is a puppy that has a Great Dane parent and a Welsh Pembroke Corgi parent. The puppies are called a Corgane or a Dorgi by dog lovers and breeders alike.
The main reason for this hybrid dog is for families who love the statuesque appearance of the giant breed Great Dane, but who may not have enough room in their home for such a large dog.
The result of this cross is an extremely sweet dog that is beautiful, unique and just the right size to cuddle with.
The Great Dane is a beautiful giant dog breed that was first used in Germany and he was bred specifically to be one of the largest dogs.
He was used to hunt large wild boars that he could take down on his own because of his great size and weight.
Danes then became protectors of their families and homes and they are used now as family companions for their loyalty and guarding abilities to their family pack.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi, or Corgi for short, was first seen in history when the kings of Europe displayed textiles as a status symbol.
The masters of the art of weaving were invited from Flanders to relocate to Europe and they brought all of the necessary items needed, including their loyal dogs of Corgis.
The Corgi has very short legs and a stout body, which makes it perfect for herding sheep and cattle as their job. Corgis are now loveable family companions that are sought after by many people.
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Get a Great Dane Corgi Mix
A Dorgi has a high need for exercise since the origins of both parent breeds were working dogs.
You should have a backyard if you decide to get a Dorgi so it has the opportunity to burn off excess energy throughout the day.
This hybrid pup also needs to learn socialization and obedience at a young age to be able to fit in with family members, friends, and other pets.
If your Dorgi pooch takes after the Great Dane side of the family, it can still be quite a sizeable dog and, as such with the energy of the Corgi, he will need quite a bit of room to play inside. So a small apartment may not work out well.
Reasons Why You Should Get a Great Dane Corgi Mix
Dorgis are wonderful companion dogs as both parent breeds display affection and loyalty to their owners.
Corgis are especially great with single people, older people, and students and the Great Dane loves to be around lots of people and kids.
A Dorgi is very easy to train from a young age as a puppy. They are smart and intelligent and, above all, want to please their handlers.
Dorgis can also transform you from a couch potato to an active person or family member. They love to play outdoors, at dog parks and are great at playing fetch for hours on end. This breed also likes to take long and leisurely walks with its family.
Appearance, Coats, and Colors of a Great Dane Corgi Mix
The appearance of your Dorgi can differ quite a lot, seeing that the parents are almost completely opposite of each other in the looks department.
It depends on which of the two breeds that your particular pooch takes after more as to how he will look when he matures.
The Great Dane is very large and, at maturity, he will weigh somewhere between 110 and 175 pounds with a height of between 28 and 32 inches tall at the shoulder. The female Great Danes will be on the smaller side in both height and weight.
Great Danes are considered square as a body shape as they are equally proportioned in height and weight.
He has a well-muscled body with a long rectangular head and medium deep-set dark eyes. His ears are set up high on his head and they are generally docked to stand straight up.
A Great Dane can have many different colored coats, such as black, black and white, blue, brindle, fawn, harlequin, merle, silver, and mantle. Their coats are short and straight and easy to take care of.
The Corgi is a very low set with very short legs and a sturdy body. Mature Corgis weigh between 28 and 30 pounds with a final height of about 10 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder.
Their heads are shaped much like a fox with a very intelligent gaze. The ears are erect on top of the head and they taper down to a rounded edge. The overall shape of a Corgi is long and short to the ground.
Corgi coat colors are black and tan, fawn, red, and sable with white markings. He sports a double coat with a soft undercoat and a coarse overcoat.
Your new four-legged family member will be a mixture of these two purebred dogs and will be somewhere in between the two sizes, more than likely much smaller than the Great Dane but larger than the Corgi. Your new puppy may reach about 12 to 28 inches in height and be a medium to large dog.
If the Corgi gene is dominant, your pretty pooch will likely have short legs, a rounded body, and a short tail. If he takes after the Great Dane side more, he may be much taller with a longer body.
Personality, Traits, and Lifespan of a Great Dane Corgi Mix
It’s hard to tell what type of personality your Dorgi will have because he is a designer dog. He could take more after one parent or it could be a mixture of both.
As a whole, the Dorgi will love being around family and friends and be very loyal and protective as well.
He will be very adaptable, as both parent breeds are and will be very accepting of a change of routine.
He will be playful and a happy pup all in all with a higher energy level and a need for mental stimulation as well.
He will be good with other dogs and children if you socialize with him properly from a young age.
The Great Dane side of his heritage tends to drool quite a bit, but the Corgi side does not. So your pup will likely not drool or only slightly drool.
Great Danes have a lifespan of 7 to 10 years and Corgis have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, so your Dorgi will likely be a loving family member for somewhere between 10 and 13 years.
Great Dane Corgi Mix Puppies for Sale
Corgis cost somewhere between $400 and $4,000 depending on the bloodlines of the parent dogs.
Great Danes usually cost about $1,800 to $3,000 with the show dog quality puppies at the higher end of the price range.
You can expect to pay somewhere between $300 and $1,000 for a perfect little Dorgi puppy.
Grooming Your Great Dane Corgi Mix
The grooming needs will vary with your pooch as the Great Dane only requires a quick brushing once a week, but the Corgi has a double coat that takes more care.
If your pooch has the coat of a Great Dane, you just need to brush him about once a week, normally, and once a day when he is shedding twice yearly.
If your puppy has a double coat like the Corgi, it sheds a fair amount all year long and will need daily combing and brushing with a slicker brush to remove all the undercoat that sheds constantly.
You only need to bathe your Dorgi when he’s dirty or has gotten into something smelly–as puppies quite often do.
You can expect him to need a bath every 2 to 3 months or so and you should check his nails for clipping and keeping them short.
Great Dane Corgi Mix Health Problems
All purebred dogs have some health issues associated with their distinct breed. However, when you breed two different registered dog breeds together, the occurrence of these issues is cut in half if only one breed has them.
Great Danes can suffer from bloat and hip dysplasia where the joints don’t align properly because of their great size and weight. They may also have eye or heart disease.
Corgis are predisposed for some of the same issues as Great Danes with hip or elbow dysplasia, eye, and heart disorders.
The good news is that if you buy a Dorgi from a professional breeder, they will have screened both parent dogs for all of the health issues that can arise before breeding them for your particular pooch.
You can get a copy of the medical records as well as a health guarantee on your puppy from a reputable breeder.
If they refuse to give you this paperwork, you should look for your new family friend from a different breeder.
Great Dane Corgi Mix Food Requirements
You should feed your Dorgi a high-quality dry dog food that is appropriate for the life stage of a puppy, adult, or senior.
It’s best to feed him 2 to 3 small meals per day to avoid bloat, which is common in a Great Dane. Also, don’t exercise your pooch just before or after a meal to help in his digestive process and avoid bloat.
Avoid giving your puppy table food as they will beg for it with those beautiful expressive eyes, but both the Corgi and Great Dane are susceptible to being overweight as they love treats. Stick to dog treats and keep them down to about 10 percent of his daily diet.
Great Dane Corgi Mix Exercise Requirements
Since the Great Dane is very laid back and calm and the Corgi is very excitable and full of energy, you can expect your Dorgi to need quite a bit of exercise on a daily basis.
If you live in a home with a fenced backyard and a doggy door, then your pup can go outside to burn off energy any time he wants to, even when you are away from home.
Daily exercise of at least 1 hour per day is required to make certain your dog doesn’t get overweight and you can achieve this by 2 brisk walks per day if you aren’t at home during the day.
Great Dane Corgi Mix Training
It’s best to start training your new family member soon after you adopt him and take him home.
He should learn the basic commands, starting with how to sit. This is especially important if he will become quite a large dog on the Great Dane side.
Both breeds of dogs learn very quickly and are very intelligent and want to please their owners, making them very easy to train.
Your Dorgi will be susceptible to being overweight, but the good news is that he likes positive reinforcement training with lots of love and praise over treats, as he thrives on attention.
Great Dane Corgi Mix and Families
Both Great Danes and Corgis are loving family members who are very accepting of all, no matter if they are children or adults.
Your Dorgi will get along well with the entire family and all of your friends too if you socialize him at a young age by taking him for walks and allowing him to meet other people you may encounter.
Your Dorgi will also be very protective of his family but will not have any aggression towards strangers.
Great Dane Corgi Mix and Other Pets
Both Great Danes and Corgis get along exceptionally well with other pets. Introduce your new puppy to other dogs of other breeds and sizes at the dog park so they get to know that other pets are okay to play with.
This type of socialization will also help your puppy to learn not to be jealous of other animals, making it easy to adopt another pet to your family.
You should now be able to make a decision if a Dorgi is the right new family member for your home.
It’s a smaller version of the gentle giant of a Great Dane and they love their family members and want to spend as much time as possible with them.
They also get along great with children and other pets. You may have just found your next four-legged family member.
