What is a Dorgi? If you've never heard of this loyal and energetic little breed, you're not alone - in fact, when Queen Elizabeth II was gifted two Dorgi puppies in 2021 by her son Prince Andrew and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, many of us were left asking the same question.
Receiving little Muick and Fergus in 2021 in an effort to cheer her up while her husband, the late Prince Philip, was in hospital, the Queen was left bereft when Fergus died just a few months later from a suspected heart defect. But not long after, on her 95th birthday, Prince Andrew gave his mother a new Corgi puppy, Sandy, who became fast friends with Muick.
While Corgis and Dorgis look remarkably similar, there are small but key differences in both appearance and temperament that are worth being aware of before you decide to open your heart and your home to one of these dogs. Dorgis tend to be more stubborn than Corgis, while Corgis are more likely to try to herd small children and animals.
Below, we reveal everything you need to know about the Dorgi, including more on what separates them from the Corgi and exactly how they came to be....
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What is a Dorgi?
A Dorgi is a Dachshund Corgi mix and they grow to be slightly smaller than a standard Corgi. Super cute and known to be extremely affectionate, loyal, energetic, and social, the Dorgi is highly intelligent and tends to be obedient and easy to train.
The Dorgi is a true companion dog, which is likely why the Queen was so fond of them. Following the death of Prince Philip, she was spotted regularly walking her faithful friends around the grounds of Windsor Castle, where she lived during the pandemic.
What's the difference between a Corgi and a Dorgi?
While at first glance they may look similar, the Dorgi and Corgi are two different dogs and knowing where they diverge will help you decide which of these beautiful breeds is the right one for your home and family.
Unlike the Corgi, which is said to have originated around 1000 AD, the Dorgi is a relatively new breed. Its coat is shorter and coarser than the Corgi and it may have floppy, rather than triangular and erect ears. The Dorgi also tends to be more stubborn than the Corgi and more likely to suffer from separation anxiety.
The friendly and cheerful Corgi tends to stand slightly taller than the Dorgi at around 9-13 inches compared to 7-12 inches for the Dorgi. It also tends to be heavier, weighing in anywhere between 20-30 lbs vs the Dorgi's 13-25 lbs.
Both the Dorgi and the Corgi can be stubborn and wilful, although the Dorgi tends to possess more of both these two traits than the Corgi. That being said, the Corgi is far more likely to try to herd young children and animals, so that's something to be aware of if you're trying to choose between which one is a better fit for your family.
Who created the Dorgi?
We know, the title has kind of given that one away, right? A keen breeder, it's thought that Queen Elizabeth II herself was the one to introduce the Dorgi after breeding her Corgi Tiny with a Dachshund named Pipkin, which belonged to her sister, Princess Margaret.
While she was well known for her love of the Corgi (she had 30 of them during her 70 years on the throne), Her Majesty also had at least 10 Dorgis, including Cider, Brandy, Pickles and Piper.
