St Bernard Corgi Mix: Complete Guide

In recent years, crossbreeds have become very popular. There are certainly those that like crossbreeding while others strongly oppose this. Whichever side you’re on, there are certainly pros and cons of crossbreeding, including fewer health issues and best tendencies in personality and temperament.

You’ve probably landed on this article because you’re interested in learning more about the St Bernard Corgi Mix. Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

What is a St Bernard Corgi Mix?

Corgis are small herding dogs; St Bernards are big working dogs. Combining these two gives you a peculiar and very rarely seen mix called the Saint Bernard Corgi Mix.

When partnering dogs with a size difference, the female should always be the bigger dog. That’s why a St Bernard Corgi Mix will always have a Corgi father and a St. Bernard mother.

Saint Bernard

Few giant dogs are more recognizable than the St. Bernard. Famous as mountain rescue dogs, these gentle giants have long been used for finding and retrieving lost mountaineers.

Starting out as working dogs in Italy and Switzerland during the 1600s, St. Bernard always had a talent for navigating through thick snow. Local monks saw that and trained Saint Bernards for search and rescue missions. 

These big, strong dogs stand 26 to 30 inches tall and weigh 120 to 180 pounds. Expect males to be taller and heavier than females. Their dense and short fur serves well to protect them from the harsh elements of the Swiss Alps. They come in white with brown, red, orange, or mahogany patches on their coats.

Some breeders also developed St. Bernards with longer coats, thinking it would provide better insulation. However, these dogs trap a lot of moisture in their long fur, which turns into ice. Thus, Long-haired St. Bernards are usually not used for working in the snow.

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Corgis

The AKC recognizes two types of Welsh Corgis: the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

Both Welsh Corgis hail from different regions of Wales—namely, Cardigan and Pembrokeshire. Cardigan Welsh Corgis are an ancient dog breed dating back to 1200 BC, whereas Pembroke Welsh Corgis are comparatively recent, arriving in the British Isles in 1000 AD. Both these dogs were herding dogs and used extensively around Welsh farms.

The appearance of both these dogs is somewhat similar. Both are small dogs with large heads, slender bodies, and tiny legs. Their short stature keeps them safe from the kicks and horns of the animals they herd. In fact, the name Corgi means “dwarf dog” in Welsh.

Coming to their differences, Pembroke Welsh Corgis have cropped tails, whereas Cardigan Welsh Corgis have long bushy tails. Cardigan Welsh Corgis have thicker bones, stockier build, and heavier bodies than Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Cardigans also come in more coat varieties than Pembroke Welsh Corgis. 

AKC standard coat colors for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi are black, blue merle, brindle, red, and sable patches over a white base. Typical colors for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi are black & tan, solid fawn, solid red, and solid sable.

Differences and similarities between St Bernard and Corgi

	St. Bernard	Corgi
Size group	Giant dogs	Small-to-medium dogs
Height	Males: 28-30 inches Females: 26-28 inches	Males: 10-12 inches Females: 10-12 inches
Weight	Males: 140-180 pounds Females: 120-140 pounds	Males: up to 38 pounds Females: up to 34 pounds
Origin	Switzerland	Wales
Temperament	Calm, friendly, gentle, independent	Active, intelligent, brave, alert
Grooming	Moderate	Moderate
Shedding	Moderately high	Moderately high
Coat	Dense, rough, short	Short
Color	Brindle, fawn, red, or orange on white	Brindle, blue merle, red, or black on white, solid red, fawn, and sable
Affection	Love humans	Love their owner
Barking	Minimal	Moderate
Owner experience	Require experienced owners	Require experienced owners
Purpose	Working dog	Herding dog
Purity	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Recognition	Yes	Yes
Weather preference	Average to cold	Average to cold
Drooling	Very high	Very low
Health	Healthy	Prone to congenital issues
Lifespan	8-10 years	12-15 years
Energy level	Low	High
Recommended pregnancies per year	1	1
Average litter size	6-8	4-7

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St Bernard Corgi Mix genetic profile

As we’ve mentioned before, if dogs with a noticeable size difference mate, the larger breed must be the one to bear the pups.

That’s because the smaller dog won’t have enough room to carry such large babies, and they don’t have enough space to give birth to them either. So, a Saint Bernard Corgi Mix always develops inside a St. Bernard female dog.

The genetic makeup of a St Bernard Corgi Mix can be difficult to generalize. This dog is a combination of two dogs with very different physical attributes.

The St Bernard Corgi Mix can take after either parent, resulting in a dog that’s slightly different each time. Furthermore, this is a relatively new breed, and there isn’t enough data on the St Bernard Corgi Mix as of yet. 

St Bernard Corgi Mix history

The Corgi Saint Bernard Mix is pretty new on the scene, and you won’t see many of them around. That is why they don’t have much of a history. However, the St Bernard Corgi Mix parents have rich and illustrious pasts.

The Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis are some of the oldest dog breeds in Britain and have long served humans with their exceptional cattle-herding skills. Their intelligence, knack for herding, and tenacity give them a mental edge over the livestock, whereas their short legs and squat bodies keep them safely away from kicks and horns.

Although they’re still used as herders, these adorable dogs have also found success as companion dogs.

The Saint Bernard started as a working dog but made a name as a mountain rescue expert. Local monks trained these dogs to find and tend to lost and injured mountaineers, and they have been saving lives for over 400 years.

St Bernard Corgi Mix appearance

When it comes to mixed breeds, the result is always uncertain. Depending on which dog they take after, the St Bernard Corgi Mixes can inherit any combination of physical properties from their parents.

Looking at a Saint Bernard Corgi Mix can give you a pretty good idea about who his or her parents are. Like a Corgi, this dog will have a large head and smaller legs in proportion to its long and squat body. However, a St Bernard Corgi Mix tends to be much larger than its Welsh parent.  

The coat color of the St Bernard Corgi Mix can be unusual for either dog breed. St. Bernards never come in fawn, sable, or black color combinations, but the St Bernard Corgi Mix can have these colors. You can even get a Blue Merle St Bernard Corgi Mix since that’s a natural coat color in Corgis.

How big do St. Bernard mixes get?

St. Bernard is a huge dog, and its mix inherits its size. However, the size of a St. Bernard mix depends on the parentage. If St. Bernard is crossed with a Mastiff, Rottweiler, or Newfoundland, the result will be a similarly big dog.

On the other hand, if the St. Bernard mates with a much smaller dog, their result will be a medium-sized dog.

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St Bernard Corgi Mix personality and temperament

Corgis are talkative, alert, energetic, and intelligent dogs that need mental stimulation to keep themselves from acting out.

In contrast, St. Bernards are calm, gentle, and quiet dogs who are very patient.

A Corgi Saint Bernard Mix will have the best tendencies of both dogs. Plus, the contrasting personalities will cancel out any extreme behavior in either direction.

Corgis are driven by their herding instincts and can snap at children, subconsciously trying to round them up. St. Bernards, on the other hand, are gentle, affectionate, and patient around kids. If you have children at home, this mix will do very well.

St. Bernards are very alert and protective, but they don’t bark a lot. Corgis are tenacious and loud. A St Bernard Corgi Mix carries a combination of these attributes, making it a competent guard and watchdog.

St Bernard Corgi Mix exercise requirement

That’s where things get interesting as the two dogs have contrasting exercise needs. Corgis are high-energy dogs that need plenty of physical stimulation daily. St. Bernards, on the other hand, aren’t built for high-intensity activities and can stay in shape with moderate exercise.

A St Bernard Corgi Mix’s exercise needs will depend on the parent it takes after. If the dog is tolerant to heat and likes to run around, give them an hour of exercise each day. If they’re more relaxed, a gentle walk in the early morning or evening will do just fine.

Obesity is a threat to all dogs, and it would be best for your St Bernard Corgi Mix to stay lean and active. One way to check if your dog needs to cut or put on weight is by running a firm hand on its back. You should feel the ribs and spine with your fingers, but they shouldn’t be visible.

Training a St Bernard Corgi Mix

Training a Saint Bernard Corgi Mix can be challenging, yet it will be rewarding.

Corgis are highly intelligent dogs that excel at herding cattle. The St Bernard Corgi Mix may take after Corgis in this aspect, which is why they need the training to prevent them from snapping at people’s ankles.

St. Bernards and Corgis both love pleasing their owner, and training them isn’t that difficult. Your St Bernard Corgi Mix will likely be a keen pupil.

However, make sure to establish your stature as the alpha, have plenty of treats at hand, and be patient and consistent. Break the training session into small chunks so the dog stays focused and attentive.

St Bernard Corgi Mix diet

A dog’s diet depends on its size, weight, age, and activity level. With a dog as random as a Corgi Saint Bernard Mix, it’s hard to predict how much food and nourishment they’d need. 

Go for a lean, high-protein diet with low carbs. Poultry, beef, and fish are some of the best meats for your St Bernard Corgi Mix. You can serve these raw or plain boiled, but don’t season or grease them.

If you’re trying a new diet, make sure to only feed a small amount at first. If your St Bernard Corgi Mix doesn’t show any side effects, you can safely increase the quantity.

Avoid human foods and snacks as much as possible and stick to meat and dog-friendly veggies and fruits. If you prefer convenience, you can buy dry kibble. Dry kibble is better than wet dog food because it has a lower carb and fat content.

Corgis are greedy munchers and can eat a lot more than what’s good for them. As a result, many Corgis suffer from obesity and medical conditions associated with being overweight.

If your St Bernard Corgi Mix takes after a Corgi, monitor his food intake carefully and don’t let him eat more than he can burn off.

Common health issues in St Bernard Corgi Mix

The Saint Bernard Corgi Mix is a relatively healthy dog because it doesn’t inherit the “small dog” diseases the Corgi is susceptible to. They are also less prone to health issues that giant dogs have to deal with.

However, some health problems are common among Corgis and St. Bernards, meaning that the St Bernard Corgi Mix will likely inherit them as well. These health issues include:

Hip dysplasia: It’s when poorly developed hips make the hip joint move outside its socket. The bone-on-bone grinding eventually leads to arthritis and loss of functionality.

Cataracts: This condition progressively turns the dog’s lens cloudy, leading to reduced eyesight and even blindness. More prevalent in older dogs, cataracts require surgical treatment.

Epilepsy: it is a neurological issue that is usually passed down from a parent. Epileptic dogs suffer from seizures and erratic behavior. Luckily, this condition is treatable, and many dogs do make a full recovery.

Allergies: Food allergies aren’t unusual, and many dogs suffer from some food sensitivity. Careful food selection and avoiding experimentation can prevent allergic reactions.

Your St Bernard Corgi Mix may be susceptible to other diseases too. But if you get your pup from a reputable breeder who crossed healthy parents, the chances of your dog encountering health issues reduce drastically.

How to care for a St Bernard Corgi Mix

The St Bernard Corgi Mix may not be as big as a St. Bernard, but it can still get quite large. These dogs would need plenty of open space and mental stimulation.

Depending on which parent the dog takes after more, you may also need to have an exercise routine to keep their energy under control.

Do St Bernard Corgi Mix shed?

Yes, St Bernard Corgi Mix does shed. Both the St. Bernard dog and the Corgi dog are heavy shedders. Add that to the fact that their mix can get quite big, and we can safely say that you can expect to spend a lot of your time cleaning up dog hair.

If you’re allergic to dog hair or dander, this is certainly not the breed for you.

Regular brushing and occasional baths can keep shedding under control. Brushing once weekly should be enough to keep loose fur off your St Bernard Corgi Mix. These dogs shed heavily during the fall and spring seasons, during which they’d need daily brushing.

Make sure to avoid washing your St Bernard Corgi Mix too often. Shampoos and soaps can strip away the natural oils on your dog’s body and increase shedding and dander production.

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St Bernard Corgi Mix grooming needs

Aside from weekly or biweekly brushing, a St Bernard Corgi Mix would also need regular ear cleaning, nail trimming, and tooth brushing.

Ear hygiene often gets ignored in dogs with floppy ears. The St Bernard Corgi Mix can have floppy ears like the St. Bernard, which is why it’s essential to keep their ears clean and free from excessive wax buildup.

Dogs that aren’t overly active should have their nails trimmed before they grow too long. Overgrown nails will trouble the dog by getting stuck or tangled in clothes and furniture. They can also unintentionally scratch you or another member of your family. 

Some St Bernard Corgi Mixes can have long hair growing near their paws. These carry dirt and mud into your home, so make sure to tend to them as well.

Dental hygiene is crucial for dogs if you want them to keep their pearly whites well into old age. Losing teeth due to poor hygiene can impact the dog’s diet, making them weak and malnourished. Daily brushing and chew toys can keep the St Bernard Corgi Mix’s teeth plaque-free and clean.

Grooming and cleaning the St Bernard Corgi Mix is pretty straightforward. But if you don’t think you can do a good enough job, or you don’t have the time, take your dog to a local grooming parlor. Just don’t ignore its grooming needs until it’s too late.

Is a St Bernard Corgi Mix right for me?

If you’re going for a mixed breed with an unpredictable size range, you should have plenty of open space available just in case. It’s important to note that big dogs don’t do well in cramped apartments, and having them cooped up in a small home would be like having a bull in a china shop!

Overall, these dogs can be very unpredictable as there’s not much data available about them. We can estimate its physical and behavioral attributes, but we can’t know for sure which parent the St Bernard Corgi Mix takes after.

If you’re not a novice dog owner and can responsibly look after such a unique dog breed, the St Bernard Corgi Mix may just be the dog you’re looking for.

What are other St Bernard Mixes?

1. Saint Berhusky: St Bernard + Siberian Husky
2. Saint Bermastiff: St Bernard + Mastiff
3. Berdoodle: St Bernard + Poodle
4. Saint Bullnard: St Bernard + Pit Bull
5. Saint Bernese: St Bernard + Bernese Mountain Dog
6. Border Bernard: St Bernard + Border Collie
7. Saint Dane: St Bernard + Great Dane
8. Saint Shepherd: St Bernard + German Shepherd
9. Saint Berxer: St Bernard + Boxer
10. Golden Saint: St Bernard + Golden Retriever
11. Border Collie Bernard: St Bernard + Border Collie
12. Mini St Bernard: St Bernard + Cocker Spaniel
13. Saint Bernewfie: St Bernard + Newfoundland
14. Labernard: St Bernard + Labrador Retriever
15. Saintweiler: St Bernard + Rottweiler

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Resources:

https://vetmed.umn.edu/research/labs/canine-genetics-lab/canine-genetic-testing/saint-bernard-laryngeal-paralysis-polyneuropathy

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2562403/