Athletic, adorable, and affectionate, the Auggie — a cross between the Australian Shepherd and Corgi — is quickly becoming one of the most sought out mixed dog breeds by pretty much everyone.
In particular, their smaller size, high energy levels, easy-to-train nature, and long lifespan make them extremely desirable for families with younger kids.
When we say these guys and gals are insatiable cute, we mean it. They typically have piercing blue eyes, big ears, long tails, and medium legs that can make them resemble a fox. Their size, durability, along with their personality makes them perfect for pretty much any living environment.
So, is an Auggie-Corgi pup in your future? Let’s find out!
Aussie-Corgi Breed Characteristics
| Other Names | Aussie-Corgi, Auggi, Augie, |
| Breed | Crossbreed / Designer |
| Group | Herding |
| Size | Small-Medium |
| Recognized | N/A |
| Lifespan | 12-15 Years |
| Weight | 20-40 Pounds |
| Height | 10-16 Inches |
| Coat Colors | White & Brown, White & Black, Black & Brown, Merie & Brindle |
| Grooming | Medium-High |
| Suitable For Apartments | Larger Ones |
| Suitable For Families | Yes |
| Suitable For Singles | Maybe |
| Exercise Needs | High |
| Training | Highly Trainable But Requires Daily Training When Young |
Meet The Parents
Since the Auggi is a mix between two different dog breeds, to figure out what their personality, look, etc, will be like you have to meet the parents and get to know them. So let’s do that!
The Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd or the cowboy’s dog of choice is one of the best working dogs around. Their speed, agility, dedication, and focus puts them in a class that few dogs can match.
Gorgeous, lean, but incredibly tough, the Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog breed that comes in a wide range of coat patterns and colors. The recognized coat colors are “blue merle, red (liver) merle, solid black, and solid red (liver) all with or without white markings and/or tan (copper) points with no order of preference.”
While some dogs’ instincts are perfectly made for family living and a laid back approach to puppy parenting, The Australian Shepherd isn’t one of them. Their instinct is to herd whether it’s livestock, other dogs, and yes, kids.
Dedicated training is a must for these incredible breeds, and unless you’re able to give them quite a bit of attention in the beginning and continue to give them lots of exercise for the rest of their lives, then this breed is unlikely the one for you.
However, fulfill their training and exercising needs, and you have a dog that excels others in obedience, agility, and intelligence.
This is the dog you take to the park and throw the frisbee with when you want to watch other dog owners gawk over your pup flying around like Superman.
8 Fun Facts About The Australian Shepherd
1. Despite the name, the Australian Shepherd isn’t originally from Australia. While they did come to the Americas from Australia, they came to Australia from Spain – mostly likely the Basque region.
2. While they might just be the best herding dog around, they didn’t become popular in America for it. Instead, it was their appearances in rodeos where they would herd bulls and perform tricks for the crowds.
3. Besides their excellent herding abilities and rodeo skills, Australian Shepherds are great at a load of other jobs, including seeing-eye dogs, hearing dogs, and search and rescue dogs.
4. They are considered sacred in many Native American communities, earning them the name “ghost eye” thanks to their blue eyes.
5. Speaking of their eyes, it’s common for the Australian Shepherd to be heterochromatic, meaning they have two different eye colors — typically blue and brown.
6. While they demand a little more effort from their owners than many dogs, the Australian Shepherd is the 15th most popular dog breed according to the AKC. That makes them more popular than the Chihuahua!
7. The Australian Shepherd is often confused with the Australian Cattle Dog and sometimes the Blue Heeler, but they are different breeds.
8. The Aussie sometimes gets the name “velcro dog” because when they aren’t herding or working, they’re mostly found by their owners’ side.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Meet the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. This pint-size adorable pupper is filled to the brim with a high-spirited personality. There doesn’t seem to be a dog lover that can’t get enough of the Welsh Corgi and for good reason.
These little cuties are super friendly, great with kids, and their small size makes them perfect for smaller households, but their toughness can let them ride with the big dogs on a farm.
In fact, the Corgi is perfect on a farm where they were first bred to herd livestock as big as cattle. It makes sense now why they can hang with the biggest dogs around.
The Corgi is always on alert making them attentive watch dogs. And don’t let their small stature fool you, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a bark that matches a big dog’s.
Most Corgis stand between 10-12 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 25-30lbs. Their medium-length coat comes in a few colors with a reddish fawn being the most common followed by black & white.
8 Fun Facts About The Pembroke Welsh Corgi
1. Their origins date back to the 10th century where they either descended from the Swedish Vallhunds or present-day Schipperkes.
2. The origin of the name “Corgi” is hard to pin down, but we do know the suffix “gi” means dog while the prefix “cor” either means “watch over” or “dwarf”.
3. There is another type of Corgi called the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, who has some very distinctive differences across the spectrum from the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
4. Myth has it these dogs used to pull coaches for fairies, and you can even see the infamous “fairy saddle” on their shoulders.
5. In the early days of the company Amazon, Rufus, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, served as the company’s mascot.
6. The Corgi is the smallest dog of the herding breeds.
7. Queen Elizabeth II has owned more than 30 Corgis dating back to when she was just a child over 80 years ago.
8. Their short stature may fool you, but the Corgi is actually very closely related to the Siberian Husky.
The Aussie-Corgi Temperament
Both of the Auggie’s parent breeds fall into the herding group so you can expect a hard-working, active, and obedient dog.
Like many intelligent breeds, which this one resoundingly is, the Auggie can be stubborn when bored or if their owner has a laid back approach to training.
The Auggi is always alert, and even with their streaks of independence, they make fantastic friendly watchdogs — they’ll let you know when you have a visitor, but they’ll greet them with a friendly face.
Their playful and loyal nature makes them perfect for kids. This is a dog you can trust to always walk by their side.
The Aussie-Corgi really loves being with people and is quite sensitive to being left alone, so families or those that work at home are really the best fits for these dogs.
There is one caveat, however, and that is the Augi needs regular training when young to ensure their herding instincts don’t come out. Let’s find out more about that below.
Training
While the Auggi is a highly sought out dog for families, beware that they aren’t the best for first-time owners or those that prefer a hands-off approach to training. If you’ve never owned a dog before, it’s highly recommended you consult professional training.
The Auggi can be stubborn when untrained, and this, along with the instinct to herd small children or animals, can quickly turn a fantastic family dog into a nightmare.
They may nip at the heel to herd them if you don’t train them otherwise. Some Auggies are more prone to just booping things with their nose or body to herd, but that can still stress out smaller animals.
Fortunately, training is a breeze with a gentle, friendly, but stern approach. They’re quick learners, and when you’re training them every day — as recommended — you’re unlikely to have any disobedience issues.
If the herding instinct worries you too much, but you want a similar dog then the Corgi German Shepherd Mix might be right up your alley.
Breed Variations
There are several breed variations of the Aussie-Corgi mix, with most frequent being the first-generation (F1) Aussie-Corgi mix.
However, it’s becoming more common to find second-generation (F2) Aussie-corgi puppies whose parents are both generation 1 or maybe even gen 2 Aussie-Corgi mixes. Soon, after enough generations, the Aussie-Corgi may just become known as the Auggie.
Let’s take a look at a few kinds of Aussie-Corgi mixes we can have.
- Mix 1 – Parents: Standard Australian Shepherd & Pembroke Welsh Corgi (Gen 1)
- Mix 2 – Parents: Miniature Australian Shepherd & Pembroke Welsh Corgi (Gen 1)
- Mix 3 – Parents: Mix 1 & Mix 1 (Gen 2)
- Mix 4 – Parents: Mix 2 & Mix 2 (Gen 2)
- Mix 5 – Parents: Mix 1 & Mix 2 (Gen 2)
How Big Do Auggie Dogs Get?
The Auggie can be anywhere between the size of a Corgi all the up to an Australian Shepherd.
This gives them a range from small to medium, depending on the sex and traits they inherited from their parents. It’s important to note that the Auggie’s parent can be either the standard size Australian shepherd or the Miniature Australian Shepherd.
If the parent is a regular size Australian Shepherd, In most cases the Auggi will fall somewhere in the middle between 30-50lbs and stand 15ish inches tall at the shoulder.
If the parent is a Miniature Australian Shepherd, expect a smaller dog around 20-30lbs and 10-14inches tall.
Like with any breed, males are usually heavier and taller than the females. For the Aussie-Corgi mix that makes males about 5-15lbs heavier and up to a few inches taller.
Do Aussie Corgis Shed?
Most Aussie Corgis are moderate shedders throughout most of the year and will have a blow-out phase during seasonal changes.
Both Corgis and Australian Shepherds have medium to long coats, so it’s a smart idea to invest in a couple of good brushes and a dog-formulated shampoo.
Since Auggi dogs shed quite a bit, you may want to look into professional grooming, especially during their blowout season (where you could be brushing nearly every day).
Like all dogs, you want to make sure you’re staying on top of other grooming matters like keeping their nails trimmed. Fortunately, all the running they like to do helps file their nails down for you.
Aussie-Corgi Health Problems
Because the Auggie isn’t a pure breed, it can be trickier to predict which health issues they may come across. It’s important to look at the health issues that both Australian Shepherds and Corgis are prone to, particularly the ones that overlap.
Fortunately, both the Australian Shepherd and Corgi are relatively healthy breeds.
Most Common Health Issues
| Hip Dysplasia | Glaucoma | Eye Luxation |
| Hypothyroidism | Anxiety | Patellar Luxation |
Along with the above issues, Australian Shepherds are prone to Elbow Dysplasia, Collie Eye Anomaly, Cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and multiple drug sensitivity.
Corgis commonly have issues related to intervertebral disc disease, persistent pupillary membranes, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, and degenerative myelopathy.
It’s important to note that just because these issues are labeled “common” doesn’t mean either the Australian Shepherd or the Welsh Corgi are unhealthy dogs by any stretch of the word.
It just when one of these breeds experiences an issue it’s likely one of the above ones. With regular vet checkups, you can expect your Aussie-Corgi to have a fantastically healthy life.
Auggie Dog Names
The Auggie or Auggi or Augi or Aussie-Corgi mix goes by many names, as you can see. This brings up a great question, what should you name your new Auggi?
Currently, Max, Jake, Buddy, Maggie, Bear, Molly, Bailey, Shadow, Sam, and Lady round out the most popular names for dogs in the U.S. If those names aren’t working for you or you don’t want to go with the mainstream then check out a site like My Dog’s Name.
It lets you input your dog’s characteristics, helping you find a name that perfectly fits your new Auggie pup.
Is The Aussie-Corgi Mix Recognition?
The Australian Shepherd-Corgi Mix is recognized by several different organizations or clubs.
1. American Canine Hybrid Club.
2. Designer Dogs Kennel Club.
3. International Designer Canine Registry.
4. Dog Registry of America Inc.
Auggie Breeders & Rescues
Since they are a more recent designer breed, your best bet for finding an Auggie quickly is a breeder. However, there are a number of Auggie in shelters, and you likely won’t have to wait long to find one.
When looking at reputable Auggi breeders. expect to pay anywhere from $700 and up. A quick online search will help point you in the right direction. One thing you’ll want to note is the mix of the puppies.
You’ll find the most basic 50/50 split, but you can find puppies that are 75% Corgi and only 25% Australian Shepherd.
If you’re struggling to find an Auggie in a shelter, make sure to check out rescues for both the Australian Shepherds and Welsh Corgi.
Final Words
Man, the Aussie-Corgi mix is sure one stellar of a dog breed, isn’t it? Cute, energetic, friendly, and highly trainable. What’s not to love?!
Remember, you’ll need to train them daily as pups, meet their big exercise demands, and want to keep their alone time to a minimum. That’s pretty much it with these incredible boys and girls.
So, if you love the idea of an Australian Shepherd, but their bigger size and athletic ability are just a bit too much, then The Auggi may just be the perfect dog for you.
If you think the Corgi is a blast, but want a bigger dog with a little more athleticism, again, you’ll definitely want to check out the Auggi!
“Dog is God spelled backward.” – Duane Chapman
