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Akita Corgi Mix: Pictures, Care, Temperament & Traits

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Parent breeds of Akita Corgi Mix - Featured Image

Both Akita and Corgi dogs are cute and have adorable personalities. Although the prevalent genes in a mixed breed cannot be guaranteed, the Akita Corgi mix often combines a large breed’s brilliance with a small dog’s charm.

The result is a friendly, active, playful, intelligent, and goofy furry companion designed to melt your heart.

Read on for a broader perspective of this mixed breed. We will take a deep dive into its traits, care needs, and what it’s like living with the Akita Corgi.

Height: 12 to 25 inches
Weight: 25 to 100 pounds
Lifespan: 10 to 14 years
Colors: White, brown, tan, pied, brindle, fawn or bi-colored
Suitable for: Active families or individuals that can provide lots of mental and physical stimulation
Temperament: Affectionate, friendly, playful, intelligent, and energetic

Like most designer dog breeds, the exact period when the first Akita Corgi was created remains a mystery. What is well-known is that crossbreeding became a widespread practice among breeders in the United States in the mid-20th century.

Mixing breeds increased the genetic diversity of purebreds and lowered their susceptibility to common congenital health concerns.

Akitas are large dogs that arrived in the United States in 1937. They were formally recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1972 and ranked as the 52nd most popular dog breed in 2021.

On the other hand, Corgi dogs, native to Wales, have enjoyed steady popularity since they arrived in the United States. In 2010, the AKC ranked the Pembroke Welsh Corgis as the 11th most popular dog.

Most Corgitas have the compact physiques of their Corgi parents and the playful and energetic nature of Akitas. They are family-friendly and have fantastic temperaments. However, as a mix of two fierce work dogs, they are best suited for active families that can provide lots of mental and physical stimulation.

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Akita Corgi Breed Characteristics

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Akita Corgi Puppies

Corgita puppies are highly energetic, playful, and curious. They need plenty of avenues to blow off excess energy if you don’t want them wreaking havoc in your home.

Training them as soon as they are eight weeks old is crucial. Be generous with treats when your pup does an excellent job, and keep your sessions short and exciting. Sessions will be of little value if your puppies get bored and lose focus.

Establishing yourself as the alpha before your pups turn into adults would be best. This will make them more inclined to learn and listen to your commands. Akita Corgis can be stubborn, although they are easier to control once they accept you as their leader from a young age.

Parent breeds of Akita Corgi Mix
Image Credit: Left – Aleix Plana, Pexels | Right – MolnarSzabolcsErdely, Pixabay

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Akita Corgi 🧠

Akitas and Corgis are work dogs with powerful instincts and strong prey drives. Corgitas follow suit, making it crucial to train and socialize your dog. The mixed breed is also super energetic, playful, and affectionate.

Although Akita Corgis love spending time with people, they would rather play than cuddle with you. They can tolerate hours of solitude but can get stressed if left alone for too long. Also, they don’t like being confined in a cage and are happier roaming freely and acting busy.

The intelligent nature of Corgitas makes them easy to train. However, their brilliance also makes them stubborn and quick to challenge their owners for the alpha position.

It is necessary to be firm and use positive reinforcement training methods. Additionally, treat your dog like an equal and avoid using harsh words or punitive methods when giving commands.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Early socialization is necessary for a Corgita. Exposing your pet to different people and environments can enhance its tolerance to children.

Still, remember that the Akita is an avid hunter, and the Corgi is a herding dog. As such, the mixed breed can circle and nip at the heels of your children, especially if it is not well-trained and socialized.

Like with any other dog breed, it is crucial to supervise interactions between your pet and kids. Also, teach your children how to handle the dog and discourage rough play. When treated with love and dignity, Corgitas are excellent for families, especially those with older kids.

They make wonderful guard dogs and can do whatever it takes to keep their family members safe.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Again, whether your Akita Corgi will get along with other pets highly depends on how well it is trained and socialized.

With proper training and socialization, your Corgita will view other household pets as play buddies. It can even behave appropriately around small pets, like bunnies, during supervised interactions. Still, don’t trust your dog to cuddle with your bunny unsupervised.

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Things to Know When Owning an Akita Corgi

The Akita and Corgi mixes are interesting hybrids that have gained tremendous popularity in the country. They have a fox-ish look, and most have the classic Akita tail that curls upwards.

If this mixed breed has swept you off your feet, here are a few things you should know before bringing your puppy home.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Proper nutrition is crucial to ensuring your pet is healthy and happy. Corgitas are prone to diet-related health concerns like bloat and obesity. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor what they eat and how much they feed per serving.

Generally, you should provide foods with animal-sourced proteins as the first ingredient. This includes kibbles made from turkey, chicken, beef, and salmon. Ensure your food products of choice are low in starches and fillers like soy and corn.

Treats are great, especially during training. However, note that the Corgita has a big appetite and can get a little too chubby. It is vital to use low-calorie treats to lower your dog’s susceptibility to weight-related problems.

Exercise 🐕

As an active and energetic dog, providing lots of mental and physical stimulation is essential.

Corgitas are happier after a long work day, making them unsuitable for apartment living. Instead, they prefer homes with yards where they can run around.

You should provide at least one hour of vigorous exercise daily. Mature adults require even more physical stimulation, and you can extend their play session by an hour. Your pet can also make an excellent jogging and hiking companion.

Training 🎾

Dogs need early socialization and puppy training to become good citizens and family members. The Akita Corgis are no exception.

Exposing them to a wide range of places, situations, and people at an early age gives them the best chances of growing into well-mannered and well-adjusted adults.

Training this mixed breed can be challenging because of its independent alpha-like attitude. This makes it imperative to provide consistent training and firm instructions.

You must establish leadership and authority for your furry friend to respond desirably to instructions. Moreover, provide plenty of petting, praise, and treats throughout training.

Grooming ✂️

Akita Corgis have a fluffy appearance because of their short, double coats. Although they are moderate shedders, they can shed epic amounts of fur during the shedding seasons in spring and fall.

Before adopting the mixed breed, be ready to brush your dog’s coat every other day and vacuum your interiors routinely. Fortunately, your pet won’t need haircuts, and you can reduce the amount of fur flying around your home by merely brushing its coat with a slicker brush.

Apart from coat brushing, Akita Corgis don’t have other grooming needs that are out of the ordinary.

Remember to brush your pet’s teeth twice or thrice weekly and trim its nails at least once a month. You’ll also want to bathe your furry friend twice monthly or whenever it starts producing an offensive doggy smell.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Although Corgitas are relatively healthy, you must beware of potential conditions they can inherit from the parent breeds. Some of these concerns cannot be screened during puppyhood, making it crucial to partner with a qualified vet and invest in routine checkups.

Minor Conditions
  • Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
  • Weight Gain
Serious Conditions
  • Von Willebrand’s Disease
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

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Male vs Female

Akita Corgis are friendly, active, affectionate, and loyal regardless of gender.

They are also brilliant and eager to please. Although there are visual and temperament differences between males and females, they are subtle and will not significantly influence your overall experience as a pet parent.

Male Akita Corgi

Male Corgitas are friendly and have lots of energy compared to their female counterparts.

They are also more protective and loyal, increasing their tendency to bark when they see a new face. Still, their boldness, energy levels, and eagerness to please make them the best jogging and hiking companions.

In terms of care needs, Male Coritas require more maintenance because their coats are longer. They require more brushing and bathing and can benefit from coat trims, especially during summer.

Female Akita Corgi

Female Corgitas are calmer, which makes them better for families with kids and other pets. Although they also make excellent guard dogs, they bark less and are less likely to turn aggressive. Also, females are more likely to cuddle with you instead of running off with the boys to play.

The calmer and more independent nature of females can make training challenging. While Corgitas are intelligent and can learn numerous tricks irrespective of gender, females are more stubborn. They are slower to comply, which can frustrate a first-time pet parent.

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3 Little-Known Facts About Akita Corgis

1. They Are Highly Intelligent

Both Akitas and Corgis are brilliant canines. It’s no wonder the Akita Corgi takes after both parents and is relatively easy to train if you are firm and consistent with your instructions.

By six months, most puppies are ready to learn basic commands like “stay, “sit,” “stop,” and “come.” With some patience and determination, you can even teach complex commands like “drop it.” The intelligent nature of Akita Corgis makes them excel in tracking, obedience, and agility training.


2. Corgita Puppies Are Rare and Expensive

Akitas are a well-natured breed, and Corgis enjoyed the spotlight for being the furry companions of bigwigs like Queen Elizabeth, Stephen King, and Jerry Brown.

While Corgi puppies can cost as much as $2,000, Akita pups cost nearly twice as much. Reputable breeders that uphold ethical breeding practices charge between $500 and $ 4,000 for an 8-week-old puppy!


3. Akita Corgis Have Big “Attitudes”

Akita Corgis are active, bold, and independent. Most people interpret this as stubbornness, although it’s not the case.

On the contrary, Akita Corgis are happy to follow commands, provided they perceive you as the alpha of their pack. They don’t feel obligated to obey people they don’t respect, which can make training a nightmare. It would help if you were firm in your instructions to make the most of your training sessions.

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Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a furry friend that can occupy your home and heart, it’s hard to go wrong with the Akita Corgis.

They are strong-willed like their Akita parent and as cheerful and playful as their Corgi parent. Although it’s difficult to determine the prevalent genes, this unique mashup often delivers the best traits of both worlds.

So, does the Akita Corgi make an excellent furry companion? Absolutely! But. . .

A Corgita with pent-up energy can overwhelm you with mischief and unpredictable behavior. However, if you provide plenty of activities and company, you will never have a more loyal, affectionate, and well-mannered pet!

See also:


Featured Image Credit: Left – Charlotte Rush, Unsplash | Right – lucioliu, Pixabay

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