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Corgi Dalmatian Mix: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament, & Traits

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Parent breeds of the Corgi Dalmatian Mix - Featured Image

To create a Corgi Dalmatian Mix, you’ll need a healthy Dalmatian and a Cardigan Welsh or Pembroke Welsh Corgi. All three dogs are not rare breeds in any way, and they are popular dogs around the world.

They do have several similarities, one of them being the fact that they are all considered intelligent, and thus easy to train. Speaking of training, these breeds do enjoy the process, as they regularly require physical and mental stimulation. If you’re interested in learning more about the Corgi Dalmatian mix, read on.

Height: 10–12 inches
Weight: 20–50 pounds
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Colors: Fawn, brown, black, white
Suitable for: Athletic individuals, families
Temperament: Loyal, shy, sensitive, intelligent, athletic

The Corgi is a chondrodysplastic dog. That’s to say, it usually comes with slightly bowed limbs and is very susceptible to back complications. However, that doesn’t mean that they prefer staying inactive, or that their energy levels are below average. Believe us when we say that this is an animated dog that always wants to be part of any action in its vicinity.

Couple that with the fact that you’ll be borrowing half of your designer breed’s genes from a healthy Dalmatian. Suffice it to say, the name Dalmatian in itself should tell you more about the kind of breed that you’ll be getting. Even if your Corgi Dalmatian is still at the pup stage, you’ll still be able to see the Dalmatian traits—intelligent, fast, watchful, and sensitive.

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Corgi Dalmatian Mix Breed Characteristics

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Corgi Dalmatian Mix Puppies

A Corgi Dalmatian puppy is what’s often called a “designer” dog. To create one, you have to bring together two healthy thoroughbred dogs with desirable traits.

This crossbreed is not yet popular, and that also means that they are not very common. Sadly though, this also implies that finding a reputable and experienced breeder can be a tall order. You might be forced to travel to other cities, states, or even countries.

But you have to do your due diligence first. Don’t just settle for the first breeder’s name that pops up, even without finding out if they have a good reputation. A good breeder will have a license (usually issued by the United States Department of Agriculture) and is willing to offer a list of past clients.

Them telling you that they rear pups from healthy parents is not enough. You must meet the parents, in addition to checking out the conditions they live in. Corgi Dalmatian puppies are always high-spirited and attentive, so if they are not, that’s a red flag.

Parent breeds of the Corgi Dalmatian Mix
Image Credit: Left – MolnarSzabolcsErdely, Pixabay | Right – Lorren & Loki, Unsplash

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Corgi Dalmatian Mix 🧠

Since the Corgi Dalmatian is a crossbreed, its temperament will hinge on its dominant gene. If the gene was contributed by the Corgi, most of the traits that you’ll see will be very similar to those of the Corgi. And the same applies in cases where the Dalmatian gene is the dominant gene.

That being said, the Corgi Dalmatian is almost always energetic, intelligent, and sensitive. They all seem to have the same traits, including shyness. Reducing their anxiety around strangers is not that difficult, as all you’ll be required to do is expose them to more social environments.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Both the Dalmatian and the Corgis are remarkable companion dogs. Corgis were bred to herd in the company of their owners while Dalmatians are carriage or coach dogs. They used to trot alongside carriages to protect their owners against various threats such as banditry.

Their loyalty and loving nature are the things that make it easier for families to bond with them. But you’ll have to be careful with the Corgi, as they are known to be “heelers”. A heeler breed is a dog that likes to nip at the heels of the animals it’s herding.

That’s how they sometimes make the livestock obey their commands. They might think your kids are meant to be treated as livestock, thus “heeling” them. The good news is that this sort of behavior can easily be nipped in the bud with early training.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Pet compatibility should only be a concern if one of the parents was initially bred to hunt small animals. Rarely was a Dalmatian or Corgi used to hunt rabbits, foxes, deer, squirrels, or raccoons.

However, you can never be too sure about anything, especially when dogs are meeting their new playmates for the first time. You must keep a close eye to prevent accidents from happening. Also, even though these breeds don’t have a strong pack mentality, they often get along with other dogs.

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Things to Know When Owning a Corgi Dalmatian Mix

To understand the Corgi Dalmatian, you have to be well-acquainted with the needs of the parent breeds. It’s important to understand their active lifestyle, how much food they need to eat, and more notably, all the health conditions that they are susceptible to.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Your Corgi Dalmatian should be getting at least 1.5 cups of dry food per day. Of course, this is a ballpark figure, as the true numbers normally depend on several factors.

You’ll have to take into consideration your pooch’s weight, level of activity, health, age, and the type of nutrients found in the food. If you feed them more than you should, they’ll put on weight. It’s a lot easier for the Corgi Dalmatian to gain weight in a very short period because the Corgi side of the family is prone to obesity.

Anyway, once you’ve figured out how much food they need, you’ll have to split them into two or three meals.

Exercise 🐕

If the Corgi Dalmatian is anything like the parent breeds, you’ll have a huge problem on your hands should you decide to deny them their daily dose of physical or mental exercise. All that pent-up energy will need a release, and they may turn to destructive behavior.

Hire a professional dog walker to help you out if you’re too busy. You should also sign them up for agility classes, and purchase toys that will challenge them mentally and physically.

Training 🎾

The Corgi Dalmatian is a highly trainable dog. They are relatively intelligent, obedient, food-driven, and ready to please their human companions. You’ll even get the sense that they enjoy the process as long as you keep using positive reinforcement techniques. Some trainers find them stubborn to a small degree, but that’s only because the Dalmatian side of the family is known for being independent.

Grooming ✂️

These dogs are fairly heavy shedders. This natural process is important to them because that’s how they get rid of old and/or damaged hair. To minimize shedding, you’ll have to brush them regularly. And by “regularly” we mean every day—or every couple of days at least.

Their nails have to be trimmed around once every month, but the frequency will mainly depend on the surfaces on which your dog walks. If the surface is usually abrasive, like concrete, those nails won’t grow fast. But if they mostly walk on gentle surfaces, like grass, you might have to trim them more than once.

Don’t forget about the teeth—they have to be cleaned with dog-safe toothpaste at least three times every week to protect them against decay and other dental conditions.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Both parent breeds are susceptible to different health issues. The Dalmatian, for example, is known for having congenital hearing problems. And on the Corgi side, we have obesity as well as various back complications. These are areas that you need to research, and don’t forget to watch out for the signs and symptoms as your hybrid may inherit some of these issues.

Minor Conditions
  • Eye Issues
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Allergies
Serious Conditions
  • Unilateral and Bilateral deafness
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy
  • Bladder Stones
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Degenerative Myelopathy

Male vs. Female

There are no significant differences to report on this front. Another reminder that sexual dimorphism is not as pronounced in the canine community as it is in other species. Having said that, the males tend to be a little bit larger than their spouses.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Corgi Dalmatian Mix

1. Corgis Were Bred to Herd Livestock

Corgis were once skilled and revered herders. To ensure livestock didn’t deviate from their path, they would nip at their heels. They also loved spending time around farmers who later adopted them as family dogs.


2. Dalmatian Puppies Don’t Have Spots

The Dalmatian breed is one of the most beautiful dogs out there. What makes them stand out is the spots covering their white-coated bodies. But did you know those spots only appear later on in life? All their puppies are born with spotless white coats.


3. Dalmatians Are Coach Dogs

Dalmatians were once tasked with protecting carriages and horses against banditry and wild animals. No carriage or passenger would feel safe traveling from point A to B, without a Dalmatian by their side. This is what earned them the “Spotted Coach Dog” moniker.

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Final Thoughts

The Corgi Dalmatian Mix is a hybrid created using two working breeds—the Dalmatian and the Cardigan Welsh or Pembroke Welsh Corgi. It often relishes an active lifestyle, is easy to train, and is very intelligent, loyal, and has a loving personality. Unfortunately, it can be prone to the same health conditions that affect the parent breeds, although they are typically healthy dogs that make wonderful family pets.


Featured Image Credit: Left – Jus_Ol, Shutterstock | Right – RebeccasPictures, Pixabay

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