Westie & Corgi Mix Dog Breed: Pictures, Care Guide Temperament & Traits

The West Highland White Terrier, commonly known as the “Westie,” is a small compact bundle of joy with a coat as white as snow. They are friendly, confident, courageous, loyal, and one of the most popular Terriers. The Corgi is another popular small dog that packs a lot of energy, affection, and companionship without being needy.

Put these two together, and you have a well-built lapdog with the temperament of a big dog in a small body. If this Westie and Corgi mix is on your radar, read on to learn more about owning this incredible companion.

Breed Overview

The Westie and Corgi mix is a fantastic breed created by crossing a West Highland White Terrier and a Corgi. These two dogs are remarkable in their own right, so bringing their wonderful qualities together creates a hybrid with traits that any small dog lover will adore—intelligence, affection, loyalty, and high spirits.

This mix inherits a medium, coarse coat from both its parents, primarily white, because of the dominant white in the Westie’s genes. Its coat can also include patches of color such as tan, black, brindle, and sable from its Corgi parent. On rare occasions, the Westie-Corgi can even have blue eyes, a trait most dog owners love.

Westie & Corgi Mix Characteristics

Westie & Corgi Mix Puppies

Corgis and Terriers are popular breeds for crossing, and there is no reason that the Westie and Corgi mix should be difficult to find. However, you are more likely to find one from a breeder rather than a shelter, but if you are patient enough, a Corgi and Westie mix might find its way there for you to adopt.

It is important to look for a reputable breeder. A reputable breeder will allow you to meet both parents in their breeding home and should be able to provide you with their history, health documents, and vaccination status.

Both parent breeds have sprightly temperaments, which will be amplified in a puppy, but with early socialization and training, the Westie-Corgi can develop into a well-behaved pet. Being a small breed, they should be monitored around young children, and kids should be taught the proper way to handle them.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Westie & Corgi Mix

The Westie and Corgi mix inherit appealing traits that make them friendly, outgoing, and affectionate, and they’re also known for being mischievous. They make great lap dogs that enjoy attention from their owner but can be needy. They adapt quickly to most environments, and for the most part, they are sociable and friendly pets. They also make excellent little watchdogs as they are unafraid to be vocal if their home feels threatened.

The Westie-Corgi is also an intelligent dog that is very eager to please. This makes them relatively easy to train. However, they can have a stubborn streak that requires patience and perseverance to overcome.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

The Westie and Corgi Mix are excellent lap dogs but also playful, sociable, and friendly dogs. They love children, which makes them a great addition to all types of families. A large, dog-loving family is ideal since they love attention and hate being alone. It is important to note that if your Westie & Corgi mix inherits its herding instincts from its Corgi parent, it may nip at the heels of young children or small pets. However, this can quickly be resolved with early training.

They also make fantastic watchdogs since they can get loudl if they feel their humans or home is threatened. However, they quickly make friends when they learn the stranger is welcome.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

All dogs need early socialization, which will significantly affect how well they get along with other pets. If your current dog is well-socialized, introducing a puppy shouldn’t be a problem. However, it should still be done gradually. Cats will typically shy away for a while, but they will usually come around when given some time. It is also always best to raise new puppies with other pets for them to get along.

However, because they are a small breed, you will need to be extra careful around larger dogs that are boisterous or may intentionally play too hard with your small Corgi & Westie mix. Westies also typically have a strong prey drive which is something to be mindful of if that trait is dominant in your pup.

Things to Know When Owning a Westie & Corgi Mix

Below, we’ll discuss some vital aspects of caring for a Westie and Corgi mix, including the food and diet requirements, exercise, training, and more.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Corgi-Westie mixes need a high-quality, well-balanced, age- and size-appropriate diet throughout their life. Your vet can recommend the best food available and the correct portions, but any commercial food with the AAFCO stamp of approval is sufficient.

Because of the small body size of the Westie & Corgi Mix, they can quickly gain weight, so it is essential to watch your portions, as well as your treats. It is best to break up their meals into two meals a day; treats should only make up 10% of their diet.

Exercise 🐕

Both parent breeds of this hybrid are playful and active. The Westie & Corgi Mix is also highly intelligent, so it must be mentally and physically stimulated. About 45 minutes a day of physical activity, such as walking, playing fetch, or playtime in the yard, should be sufficient. You can also purchase puzzle feeders and snuffle mats to reduce your pet’s eating speed and improve mental stimulation.

Training 🎾

With any new puppy, training should start as soon as possible, especially obedience training; it sets the foundation for training further down the line. The Westie & Corgi Mix is an intelligent breed with a willingness to please, which makes them easy to train, but they can be stubborn at times.

Like all dogs, they respond best to positive reinforcement training, but you must watch the treats as they can gain weight easily. Westie-Corgis excel at agility and obedience training and love a game of fetch.

Grooming ✂️

Westies typically shed minimally, while Corgis are known to be heavy shedders, so your mix could be somewhere in between. Give your dog a brush at least once a week to remove loose hair and keep shedding under control. You can also use a de-shedding tool to remove hair from the undercoat. If your mix has the same long hair around the mouth, ears, and eyes as the Westies, then you must trim them when needed.

You can bathe your dog once a month and clip its nails every 6 to 8 weeks. It’s also best to brush its teeth every 3 days and provide chew toys to maintain oral health.

Health and Conditions 🏥

The Westie & Corgi mix is typically a healthy breed and has a lifespan of 12–13 years. However, all dogs are prone to genetic health issues, so it’s vital to know and understand them so that you can keep an eye out for the signs and do your best to prevent them. That is why keeping up with annual check-ups and vaccinations is also important.  Some of the health issues that can affect the Westie & Corgi Mix are:

Male vs Female

Male Westie-Corgis are typically bigger than females, but females reach maturity faster, which may make them easier to train. What also makes the difference is whether or not your dog is fixed. This can make a difference in its behavior and its health. Intact males usually mark their territory and can display behaviors associated with mating, such as humping.

It also helps to prevent testicular cancer. Intact females are more at risk for pregnancy and associated health issues such as uterine infection and mammary cancer, and getting them spayed will also eliminate heat cycles that attract male dogs.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Westie & Corgi Mix

1. Westies Were Bred to Be Hunters, and Corgis Were Bred to Be Herders

Which has resulted in a very intelligent breed.

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2. Some Corgis Are Born Without Tails

And there is also a chance that a Westie and Corgi mix could also be born without one.

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3. Most Westie & Corgi Mixes Are White

But, they can also have patches of color from the Corgi coat.

Final Thoughts

The Westie & Corgi Mix is one incredible canine. The parents are spectacular lapdogs, and the mix of the two creates a brilliant dog that is hard not to love. You’ll love this mix if you’re looking for a friendly, intelligent, playful, spunky, and affectionate dog. They can easily be trained if you know how to navigate their stubbornness, and they make excellent little watchdogs.

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