A German Shepherd Corgi mix may seem a little weird at first especially when you look at the stark difference between the two breeds. Corgis have this short legs, making them look really small. On the other hand, a German Shepherd looks proud and tall.
But this designer dog, also known as Corman Shepherd, is definitely one of the most adorable pups you’ll see now. If you want to have one, there are things you should know about these cute dogs.
Table of Contents
German Shepherd Corgi Mix Key Characteristics
- Adaptability: 60%
- Affection Level: 80%
- Apartment Friendly: 60%
- Barking Tendencies: 60%
- Cat Friendly: 40%
- Child Friendly: 80%
- Dog Friendly: 60%
- Exercise Need: 100%
- Grooming Needs: 40%
- Health Issues: 40%
- Intelligence: 100%
- Playfulness: 100%
Corgi German Shepherd Breed Highlights:
- The German Shepherd Corgi mix is also known as the Corman Shepherd.
- Corman dogs are small to medium-sized dogs that are a mixture of German Shepherd and Corgi when it comes to physical appearance. They often acquire the German Shepherd’s color.
- Coming from two herding dogs, Corman dogs are really intelligent and can learn fast. Training is important and should start from when they are pups.
- Calm and cool, these dogs are really good family pets. However, they can become really possessive of their owners and can get aggressive when another person or pet approaches you.
- To avoid their possessive traits, you should train them to be social and let them associate good things with your friends and relatives. To do that, you can let your family or friends give them treats, pet them, and give belly rubs.
- As with most designer dogs, Corman pups tend to acquire any diseases their parents have or have been exposed to. Among the most common health issues are cataracts, hip dysplasia, and epilepsy.
- They can get vaccines to eradicate any pathogens and virus that cause several health problems and risks, including rabies. You should also bring them to a vet once in a while for a regular check-up.
- These Corgi and German Shepherd mix breeds don’t require extreme grooming maintenance. However, they do shed moderately to heavily so you’ll require daily use of the vacuum.
- Daily upkeep is also essential, especially when they are shedding really bad. They need around 10 minutes of proper fur brushing just to make their coat more manageable and beautiful.
- These dogs will require daily exercise. Spend at least 20 minutes walking them around the neighborhood or bring them to a dog park so they can run around and use their muscles.
- Mental stimulation is also a good practice for intelligent dogs to keep them entertained and avoid nuisance behaviors.
Appearance
Hybrid dogs often look different from their siblings and from other litters. This is because there is a huge variation of genes between a German Shepherd and a Corgi. Some of their pups would look a lot more Corgi than German Shepherd and vice versa. From the same litter, you can even find smaller pups and one that grows into medium-sized dogs, almost like a German Shepherd.
Since both breeds have upright ears and pointed nose, Corman pups acquire these traits as well. Nonetheless, their eyes follow that of a German Shepherd’s eyes that’s almost almond shaped and dark-colored.
Size and Weight
The height and weight of every Corman dog can differ. However, the average German Shepherd Corgi mix is bigger than a Corgi but smaller than a German Shepherd.
To be more specific, they can be between 12 to 15 inches at the withers and can weigh around 20 to 70 pounds. They often acquire the Corgi’s short legs so they look smaller than they are. Although of course, some pups acquire the German Shepherd’s longer and leaner legs.
Looking at the normal German Shepherd size, we have between 22 to 24 inches for the females and 24 to 26 inches for the males. They weigh around 50 to 70 pounds for female dogs and 65 to 90 pounds for male ones.
Meanwhile, male and female Corgi dogs reach the same height of between 10 to 12 inches. However, male dogs could reach up to 30 pounds while female dogs often only reach 28 pounds.
Seeing both their sizes, we can say that Corman Shepherd dogs are rather stuck in between their parents, unlike other hybrid dogs that are either the smallest of their parents or the biggest. These usually happen when there is a small difference between the parents’ sizes.
Fur and Coat
The German Shepherd Corgi mix has a dense but thick coat. It can either be short or medium, but usually medium-length with some areas with a longer coat.
These dogs often acquire the fur color of the German Shepherd with golden shades, deeper brown, and tan hues.
German Shepherd Corgi Mix History
Much like any other designer dogs, Corman Shepherd pups didn’t really have that much of a history. All that we know is that they originated in the USA and was caused by breeding a pure German Shepherd and Corgi.
However, both parent breeds have rather rich histories from herding cattle to becoming heroes and royalty favorites.
German Shepherd
This breed originated from Germany, as many would have guessed. They are part of the herding group and were originally bred to help farmers herd cattle and sheep. These dogs descended from local German herding dogs that were varied depending on the district they were from.
It wasn’t until the late 1800s that Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German officer, found the perfect breed for a herding dog. These dogs are the ancestors of the modern-day GSD.
These dogs became popular in the USA during the 1900s, in some ways because of literature and pop culture. They also left their main work herding livestock. GSDs are now more known as canine police dogs, army dogs, guard dogs, and a part of search and rescue.
They are extremely courageous and brave pooches, no wonder humans have found confidence in them when it comes to protecting other people.
Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi (or more popularly known as a Corgi) was also originally bred to be a herding dog and a farm guardian. Due to their size, they were able to nip the heels of the livestock while avoiding their kicks. For that, they were prized dogs by their owners and later on, became so loved that they became house companions.
Apparently, their ancestors were brought from the mainland and were brought to England by Flemish weavers in 1107. It is believed that the Corgi’s ancestors looked like Schipperkes. These dogs were descended from the family which included the Samoyed, the Chow Chow, the Pomeranian, the Keeshond, the Norwegian Elkhound, and the Finnish Spitz.
You may notice an uncanny similarity between the Pembroke and the Cardigan Corgi. This is because they were actually crossbred sometime during the 1800s. However, modern breeders kept the distinction between the two breeds and kept them apart.
One of the many fans of the Corgi was Queen Elizabeth II, even when it is reported that her Corgi dogs have nipped the palace staff and even herself, consistently. Since then, the breed’s popularity skyrocketed until it became more famous than its Cardigan cousin.
Corgi German Shepherd Mix Trainability
They are highly trainable, thanks to their intelligence and ability to pick up commands. This comes from its highly-intelligent parents. You can start training them basic commands as pups.
It’s also smart that you train them to be social, especially around unfamiliar faces, animals and pets, and even certain kinds of situations. However, this should be an easy training since Corman dogs are known to do well with other animals.
Training a dog isn’t always hard, except when your dog has a stubborn streak. With both parents as herding dogs, they have this mentality that they are the boss and they can lead a flock of sheep or cattle. They’d often assume the role of Alpha and will get away with what they want if you don’t become the leader.
Remember that you still need to show that you are the master and not just a friend. This helps them understand the situation and make them good students. You can try several approaches, even reprimanding them for a bad habit. Just try to be more positive with your methods as much as you can and be firm.
Exercise
Exercising can be a huge part of a dog’s training, especially when you’re training them physically and mentally with obstacle courses. Since Corman pups have a German Shepherd gene, they can get active and energetic. Let them run around your yard, bring them to run or walk at least 20 minutes a day, or bring them to the park.
Mental exercises are also helpful, especially with intelligent pooches. You can let them solve a few puzzles before they can get a treat or prepare obstacles for them. Even changing your route every day while walking them stimulates their brain.
Temperament
When it comes to temperament, you’re really lucky with the German Shepherd Corgi mix. They are very loyal and sweet dogs — two things you will need for a good home companion, especially for your kids. But apart from that, they have this calm and cool demeanor.
Generally, they are active dogs. Plus they’re very bold and brave, making sure their family is safe.
The only thing is, they will want your attention and they really can’t be left behind alone for so long. Corman dogs can get bored easily and when this happens, they can learn bad habits such as chewing on household items, ruining your sofa, breaking things, and quite possibly a certain degree of destruction at their wake.
Corman dogs can also get extremely possessive of you. Although they are good with other people and pets, anytime someone comes near you, they might see it as a threat. That’s why socialization is vital for their growth. You can also give them a treat or two whenever there are other people. Better yet, let your visitors give them the treat, a few pats, and belly rubs. They will associate good things with new and familiar faces.
Therefore, a Corman can be rather high maintenance. They need companions and when they ask for attention, they should have it. Otherwise, they would feel like they aren’t valued anymore and might become aggressive.
That being said, consider that fact and try to see whether your family can keep up with their needs.
German Shepherd Corgi Mix Nutrition
Your Corman Shepherd can get quite hungry, so if you give in to their cuteness, you might end up giving them more than what they need and they’d end up overweight or obese. Sticking to a feeding plan avoids just that.
Most German Shepherd Corgi mix breeds like their dog food try. Find reliable and high-quality kibbles that are filled with the right nutrition. They’ll need protein, carbohydrates, some fatty acids, and vitamins.
When it comes to a protein source, it should be an animal-protein and it has to be the number one ingredient. You can choose from various protein source but the most common are chicken and beef.
The average Corman adult dog should have 2 to 4 cups of dry dog food every day, split into portions. They can eat 2 to 3 times a day — that should keep them satisfied. Puppies need less. They can eat twice a day as well with 1 ½ cup of dry dog food split evenly for the morning and the afternoon.
Choosing a dog food
If you want them to be safe and healthy, you need to choose the best dog food for them.
Always read the label. This helps you ascertain whether there are harmful ingredients and chemicals in the food. As much as possible, avoid artificial colors and flavors, wheat and corn gluten, and preservatives. Reading the label also helps you know whether it can provide your dog with the nutrition they need.
If your dog has allergies, the best choice is to feed them grain-free dry dog food. These work well with allergic dogs and pooches with sensitive tummies.
Consider the age of your dog. A lot of dog foods support all life stages, but some are age-specific. The advantage of age-specific dog food is that it was made with your pup, adult, or senior dog in mind — that also means the nutrition they need.
Lastly, and rather a commonly forgotten one, is to consider the dog food’s availability. Remember that you can’t just feed your dog with different brands whenever you want to. Re-introducing a dog food can have certain complications with their digestion. That’s why you should stick to a dry dog food that you can easily find.
Corgi German Shepherd Mix Health and Care
Hybrid dogs, including the German Shepherd Corgi mix, are generally healthier than purebred dogs. But that doesn’t mean they are entirely free from diseases. Their immune system might be stronger but they are still at risk when not properly taken care of.
Another thing is that designer dogs often inherit any diseases that their parents might have. That being said, let’s look into the most common health issues both the German Shepherd and Corgi encounters.
German Shepherd
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Bloat
- Epilepsy
- Hemophilia
- Diabetes
- Cataract
- Degenerative disc disorder
- Panosteitis
- Allergies
- Pancreatitis
- Thyroid issues
- Cancer (such as melanoma, lymphoma, and osteosarcoma)
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Cherry eye
- Sub-aortic Stenosis
Corgi
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Cataracts
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Hypothyroidism
- Retinal dysplasia
- Persistent pupillary membranes
- Epilepsy
- Cryptorchidism
- Degenerative Myelopathy
- Intervertebral disc disease
- Obesity
- von Willebrand’s disease
- Cutaneous asthenia
- Cystinuria
- Patent ductus arteriosus
Given a number of possible diseases from both parents, breeders should be careful when choosing a German Shepherd or Corgi to avoid pups with health issues.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are important when you have a dog, that includes a Corman Shepherd. These protect them and you from various diseases and pathogens, and this includes rabies.
Vaccines are normally given at 8 to 10 months. They also get booster shots which are administered 12 months after their first vaccine.
Apart from that, bring them to a vet every once in a while for a check-up.
Corgi and German Shepherd Mix Grooming
Thanks to its dense coat, the Corman doesn’t require heavy grooming but they do shed moderately. Seasonally, they shed more which means you’ll have to vacuum every day to avoid allergies. However, you should have time for your pet’s upkeep every day. Brushing their fur maintains a healthy-looking, shiny, and tangle-free fur.
If your dog’s shedding is getting particularly bad, bathing them more might help. Nonetheless, bathe them at least once in two weeks or when they really require it.
Apart from the daily brushing, everything else falls at least once a week or when they badly needed it. This includes clipping their nails, brushing their teeth, and cleaning their ears.
Brushing their teeth works best three times a week with a toothbrush and toothpaste made especially for canines. It’s not really hard so you can do the work yourself. Same goes for ear cleaning. You only need a damp clean cloth and wipe their ears. Do this as often as needed since dirt could cause ear infections, which in turn, could cause health risks.
Meanwhile, nail clipping isn’t a task for everyone. It requires experience and knowledge since you can end up hurting your dog if you accidentally cut too low. The best option is to bring them to a specialist and let them do the work.
Speaking of specialist, bringing them to a professional groomer once in a while is also needed. They might need a trim to be more comfortable and good looking. Plus a deeper clean keeps them free from harm.
German Shepherd Corgi Mix Puppies
Corman puppies already show signs of intelligence even when they are young. That means you can start training them for positive behaviors at a young age. But a word of precaution: don’t bring them out until they are ready.
A week is too early. Even a couple of weeks is a big no. You can only start bringing your pet to your yard for a few minutes for potty training when they have reached four weeks. They are allowed to be out longer when they reach seven and eight weeks. By this time, they have a more developed immune system and a stronger line of defense.
You can also start their socialization training when they are puppies. In fact, this is encouraged. But wait until they are at least three months old before you let them play with other dogs. And always, monitor them to avoid any accidents.
Of course, puppies need their sleep in order to grow fast. And they are pretty much like your own kids, so don’t forget to make them comfortable and safe at all times.
German Shepherd Corgi Price
If you want to buy a German Shepherd Corgi mix, the average price is between $250 to $750. But this is the initial price and does not include several services and add-ons.
For example, you can get a puppy that has already been through deworming, microchipping, initial check-ups and vaccines, neutering or spaying, as well as accessories like a leash, collar, or creates. This would cost you more around $450 to $550.
Apart from their selling price, you’ll continue shelling out money for your Corman as time goes by. Every year, you’ll likely spend around $1000 to $1500 for their food, medical needs, and extra accessories and necessities.
If you don’t want to spend as much money initially, you can start looking at your local shelters for a possible Corman pup. You don’t even have to visit these places since they now have an amazing presence online. If possible, start off with high-kill shelters and help save a life.
Corgi and German Shepherd Mix Breeding Organizations
There aren’t any breed organizations that have registered the Corman Shepherd.
Nonetheless, several local groups in your area might recognize the breed and help you learn more about them. Also, here are some rescue organizations:
- Corgi Rescue of Arizona – Glendale, AZ
- AZ Corgi Rescue – Peoria, AZ
- St. Anthony’s Canine Rescue & Corgi Matchmaker – Lomita, CA
- Charlotte Cocker Rescue of NC – Kannapolis, NC
- West Star Ranch – Pahrump, NV
Conclusion
German Shepherd Corgi mix dogs are adorable in every way – even their possessiveness can get endearing unless they actually become possessive. They are also very smart and can easily get bored which is a bad thing as it’s often the root of bad behaviors. But apart from these flaws, the Corman Shepherd is an amazing family pet, even for first-time dog parents.
