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St. Bernard Corgi Mix: Pictures, Temperament & Traits

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Parent breeds of St. Bernard Corgi Mix - Featured Image

Dubbed the “Saint Corgnard,” the St. Bernard and Corgi mix is a newer designer dog breed that arose in the early aughts. Though unlikely, combining the impish, medium-sized herding dog with the large, loyal working breed produces a mix on the bigger side of medium with tons of energy, a love of the outdoors, and a thick, fluffy coat.

Because the St. Corgnard is a mixed breed, there’s no breed standard or expectation for the puppies, but they can take on the personalities and looks of either or both parents. Generally, these dogs are a great choice for active owners who love the outdoors as much as they do.

Height: 12–14 inches
Weight: 30–40 pounds
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Colors: Brindle, fawn, red, black, tan, or a combination
Suitable for: Active families, active singles, not suitable for apartments
Temperament: Loyal, friendly, active, calm

Immortalized in movies like “Beethoven,” the St. Bernard is one of the most famous mountain rescue dogs. Historically, these dogs were trained by monks for search-and-rescue missions in mountain regions, particularly in the St. Bernard Pass of the Western Alps, where it got its name.

Conversely, the Corgi comes in two distinct dwarf breeds: Pembroke and Cardigan, both of which came from Welsh mountain regions of the same names where they were reliable herding dogs for sheep and other livestock. Together, these two breeds split the size difference and produce puppies with thick, lustrous coats and affectionate, adventure-loving personalities.

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St. Bernard/Corgi Mix Characteristics

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

St. Bernard/ Corgi Puppies

Due to the size difference, these mixed puppies are always carried by the female St. Bernard. Otherwise, the puppies would be too big for a Corgi female to carry safely. Not an official “designer” breed yet, St. Bernard Corgi mixes are rare and don’t have many breeders beyond accidental litters. If you come across an available litter, you can expect to pay around $500 to $1,000 for a puppy.

Keep in mind that both breeds have possible genetic health issues, more so the Corgi. Unless the parents have been screened for issues, there’s no guarantee that you won’t end up with an unhealthy puppy from this mix. It may be best to look for available puppies or adults from a shelter or rescue, giving you an idea of the size, personality, looks, and overall health of the dog before bringing it home.

Parent breeds of St. Bernard Corgi Mix
Photo Credit: Left – Rita_Kochmarjova, Shutterstock | Right – MolnarSzabolcsErdely, Pixabay

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Temperament & Intelligence of the St. Bernard/Corgi Mix 🧠

If you’re wondering what to expect from a mix of these two breeds, we can consider what the parent breeds are like.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Both Corgis and St. Bernards are generally good with children with proper socialization. They love to run and play outside, so having an active family will be good for them. It’s important for children to be taught to play appropriately with these dogs, however, and learn not to pull on ears or tails or ride on the back of the dog.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

St. Bernards and Corgis can get along with other dogs and cats. But, like children, early socialization is key. Neither dog has a particularly high prey drive that will make them inclined to chase a cat, but it’s best to supervise interactions to see how they respond. With the Corgi influence, it’s possible that the mix will try to “herd” other animals in the home.

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Things to Know When Owning a St. Bernard Corgi Mix:

Considering bringing home a St. Bernard/Corgi mix? Here’s what you can expect for care.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

St. Bernards and Corgis are prone to obesity with overfeeding. They’ll need high-quality commercial dog food with plenty of protein and carbohydrates to support their energy needs but be mindful of portion control. Excess weight could be detrimental to a mixed breed, especially if the pup inherits the dwarfism of the Corgi, and may make it vulnerable to joint problems, heart problems, and certain types of cancers.

Exercise 🐕

As mentioned, both parent breeds are extremely energetic and active breeds. The mixed pups aren’t likely to be lounging a lot and require a lot of physical and mention stimulation to release their energy. They’ll need walks and a lot of playtime, particularly with games like fetch or even agility training. These are not apartment dogs.

Training 🎾

The St. Bernard and the Corgi are known for high trainability and intelligence, so a mix of the two will likely be easy to train. These dogs excel in work roles, so you can easily make a mixed puppy suitable for canine competitions like rallies, agility, diving, and scent work. They may even be suitable dogs for therapy, search-and-rescue, cadaver, or other specialized uses, depending on the dog’s individual temperament.

Grooming ✂️

Corgis and St. Bernards have thick double coats to help them survive in extreme climates in the mountains. Puppies with these parent breeds will also have thick double coats that shed heavily and require a lot of brushing. Otherwise, your dog could end up with mats that irritate the skin. Their coats are good at self-cleaning, but they will need regular baths if they spend a lot of time outdoors. Their ears will need to be cleaned at least once a month, and their nails should be trimmed about every two weeks. Corgis can be touchy about their paws, so it may take some training to get your pup used to nail trimming.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Corgis and St. Bernards are prone to similar and different health conditions that may be a risk for a mixed puppy. Hip and elbow dysplasia are present in both, as well as certain eye conditions and cancers. Individually, the St. Bernard is prone to immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and thyroiditis, as well as bloat. Corgis are prone to cardiac issues, degenerative myelopathy, and Von Willebrand’s disease, a clotting disorder.

Minor Conditions
  • Weight problems
  • Joint problems
  • Parasites
Serious Conditions
  • Cancer
  • IM anemia and thyroid issues
  • Cardiac issues
  • Bloat
  • Degenerative myelopathy
  • Von Willebrand’s

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Male vs Female

There’s virtually no difference between a male or female St. Bernard Corgi mix other than size. Like the parent breed, a male St. Bernard mix puppy may be larger than the female, but that’s not always the case with a mix. As far as personality, it depends more on the individual dog than the sex, especially if it’s spayed or neutered. This is important for preventing not only behavioral problems related to sex hormones, such as roaming and marking, but reproductive cancers.


3 Little-Known Facts About the St. Bernard Corgi Mix

1. Both Dogs Were Named for Their Regions

The St. Bernards were named for St. Bernard’s Pass in the Alps, where they were trained for mountain search-and-rescue work. This led to the depiction of the St. Bernard with a whisky or brandy barrel around its neck. The two Corgi breeds are similar. The Pembroke was named for Pembrokeshire, while the Cardigan was named for Cardiganshire in Wales.


2. Corgis Were a Favorite of the Late Queen

Part of the Corgi’s rise to popularity came from Queen Elizabeth II and her fondness for the breed. The only mixed Corgi she had was a Dorgi, which is a mix of the Corgi and the Dachshund.


3. A St. Bernard/Corgi Mix Is a Mixed Bag

St. Bernard/Corgi mixes are rare and don’t have established breed standards that govern what breeders are choosing in pairings. With the dramatic differences between these two breeds, it’s difficult to determine what the puppies will look like, what personalities they’ll have, and how big they’ll be, since they could inherit more of one parent’s genes than the others. That said, it’s reasonable to expect that these mixed pups will take on the traits of one or both parents.

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Final Thoughts

St. Bernard Corgi mixes are adorable but rare dogs that came about with the popularity of crossbreeding in the US. These dogs aren’t bred often, especially given the size difference, but the puppies can be the perfect combination of both parents in looks and personality. Unfortunately, accidental or irresponsible breeding of these two breeds can lead to some health problems that can negatively affect the puppies.


Featured Photo Credit: Left – Aneta Jungerova, Shutterstock | Right – Jus_Ol, Shutterstock

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