Corgi French Bulldog Mix: Adorable and High-Maintenance

When you think of cute, crossbred dogs, the Corgi French Bulldog mix has to be among the top choices. The question, however, is often "why?" Do you get a healthier and more athletic French Bulldog?

Maybe you acquire a Corgi with a shorter back. It is difficult to imagine that you could get a better companion than either a Corgi or a Frenchie. Of course, it will never stop people from trying.

A Corgi French Bulldog mix is a cross between a Welsh Corgi and a Frenchie. Also going by the name French Corgi, the hybrid is a designer dog that encompasses the undeniable charm of the French Bulldog and the lively and friendly nature of the Corgi.

Usually incorporating the Pembroke rather than the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, the French Corgi is a small dog with some modifications of the most exaggerated features of the parent breeds.

You are often left with a brindle and white or red and white dog with slightly elongated bat ears, a shortened snout, large prominent eyes, and a squarish head.

When the parent dog breeds are vastly different in appearance, it is difficult to predict how the offspring will look.

However, you can use your imagination, fitting the two breeds together like a puzzle. As the hybrid's popularity rises, you start getting more live examples.

A dog's temperament is even more difficult to visualize even with a purebred lineage. Sometimes a dog's background and original intended purpose will give you a hint of her disposition.

What does a Corgi Bulldog Mix look like?

You can probably picture a Corgi and a French Bulldog. Both are popular and recognizable breeds.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is short-legged with a compact body, no tail, a foxlike face, and medium-length upright ears.

They usually have white trim with a base color of red, black, and tan, red and tan, sable, or fawn. The coat is weatherproof and consists of soft downy underfur and coarse medium-long guard hairs.

A French Bulldog, considerably smaller than the English variety, is defined by erect bat ears, a flat face, a large square head, around the cobby frame, and a short or screw tail.

Her coat is short with or without a thin undercoat and comes in standard colors of cream, fawn, white, or brindle.

Fawn and brindle dogs can have little patches to extensive areas of white. A move has occurred to promote nonstandard or "rare" colors such as black and tan, blue, or lilac Frenchies.

You can predict your Corgi Bulldog mix will look as follows

• Short rectangular head, smaller and less blockish than a Frenchie's; Furrows present on brow
• Shortened muzzle but not flat
• Bat or rose ears
• Medium slightly almond-shaped eyes that are dark in color
• Short coat with thin to moderate underfur
• Compact and muscular frame
• Powerful fore and hindquarters, sturdy limbs
• Strong neck with sloping shoulders and broad chest that is not too deep
• Short bobtail or no tail, screw tail possible
• Colors – Most commonly fawn and white, red and white, or brindle and white; Usually Irish white spotting marked like a Corgi or pied where the dog is 50% or more white; You can also see black and tan or sable Corgi French Bulldog mixes
• Size: 10 to 16 inches tall at the shoulders, 20 to 35 pounds

The backgrounds of the parent breeds are far apart

A dog's background influences her temperament, especially after decades or centuries of breeding for a specific purpose.

Corgis are herding dogs

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is among the smallest members of the herding group.

Originating at least as far back as the early 1100s to herd cattle, there are a few theories about the Pembroke.

One prevailing belief is that Flemish weavers brought spitz-type dogs with them to Wales. These dogs may have ancestors from central Europe, but they developed in Pembrokeshire.

Debate still exists on whether the Pembroke shared its ancestry with the Cardigan Welsh Corgi or developed completely independently.

Regardless, Pembrokes had a brief period of interbreeding with Cardigans when they both showed together as two types of one breed in the mid-1920s.

They officially separated in 1934 and shortly thereafter, the Pembroke received recognition from the AKC.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are heelers, driving cattle from behind with a sharp nip to the heels when necessary.

Their low build yet extremely agile movements made them ideal for the job. Corgis retain exceptional agility and athleticism despite their dwarfed limbs.

French Bulldogs are companion animals

French Bulldogs emerged from crosses of Miniature and Toy English Bulldogs and probably Rat Terriers. Fanciers had created the Toy Bulldog when the standard fell out of favor because of the sudden enforcement of a bullbaiting ban in the early 1800s.

Bulldog owners split into multiple factions who either turned to make a better and smaller pet or ventured into pit fighting (dogs and rats), which was easier to hide from officials than bulls or bears.

Originating in England, the French Bulldog's finishing development occurred when the Industrial Revolution forced crafts workers to Normandy, France in the 1860s. Experts think there were further infusions from local Rat Terriers and the Pug.

The Frenchie ended up with a more dome-shaped head and fewer wrinkles than its English counterpart. A frequent companion of prostitutes and madams in France, the French Bulldog soon catapulted to the attention of the wealthy and elite.

Frenchies arrive in America in 1885 and gained AKC recognition by 1898. Americans insisted that the characteristic bat ear be admitted as the only standard, slowly doing away with the semi-prick rose ears favored by France and England.

Many designer dogs have no written records

French Corgis likely arose to prominence during the designer craze of the 1990s that continues into the 2020s.

They likely found their place when breeders discovered that non-doodle hybrids had desirable traits as well as the Labradoodles and Golden Doodles of the world.

Corgi Bulldogs undoubtedly had a designed purpose to be companion dogs. A secondary goal may have very well been to improve the health of either parent breed.

Many balanced blends give you a dog with less exaggerated shortening of the muzzles, less bulbous and prominent eyes, a shorter body, and slightly longer legs.

However, some dogs can inherit problematic traits from both breeds. Corgi Bulldogs invariably have short legs because the character is dominant. Most crossbreds, however, can thankfully breathe much easier than purebred Frenchies.

What is the temperament of a French Corgi?

From the French Bulldog, your cross will likely be full of charm, endearing, and affectionate. He will be a showoff and performer, silly in his attempts to capture your attention. The Corgi will contribute an active and intelligent mind with alert, lively, and friendly mannerisms.

Are Corgi Bulldogs good watchdogs?

Your French Corgi may or may not be a good watchdog. While Corgis announce trespassers and visitors with a sharp bark, Frenchies do not always sound any alarms. You will not have a good watchdog as the hybrid is small, friendly, and approachable to strangers.

What is the cross's reaction to kids?

Corgi Bulldogs are great with children. They are playful and enjoy a good romp or chase game through the grass. The hybrid may try to herd small children with strong nips to the ankles or lower legs. Always monitor dogs with little kids to quickly intervene in any disputes that may arise.

Do Corgi Bulldogs do well with other dogs?

Corgis have an innate ability to cooperate with other dogs and usually get along with them fine. French Bulldogs are friendly with everyone and were never bred to possess any aggression.

If you socialize your pup well, you should have a well-adjusted dog that gets along with dogs and possibly even cats that live in your household.

If you neglect socialization, your pet may develop a "small dog Napoleon syndrome" with aggressive body language that can trigger injurious attacks from bigger animals.

Do not leave your Corgi Bulldog unsupervised with much larger dogs and avoid groups of big canids at parks.

Are Corgi French Bulldog mixes healthy?

Putting aside the debate about whether hybrids are healthier than purebred dogs, Corgi Bulldogs tend to have fewer breathing difficulties than Frenchies.

They live 10 to 15 years, comparable to the 12 to 15 years for Corgis and 10 to 14 years for Frenchies. The list of problems your dog could inherit from either breed is extensive.

• Brachycephalic complex (Frenchie) – Even with a less exaggerated snout your cross may snort and snuffle and suffer from an elongated soft palate or narrowed trachea
• Spinal issues – Both parent breeds have a high incidence of intervertebral disc disease
• Luxating patellas (Frenchie) – Kneecap does not stay in its position, causing lameness as it pops out
• Hip dysplasia (Both) – Growth abnormality of hip joint; May also see elbow dysplasia
• Cataracts ( both) – Usually older dogs
• Corneal ulcers (Frenchie) – If the eye protrudes and the dog has a shortened face
• Exercise and heat intolerance (Frenchie)
• Urolithiasis (both) – Stones in the urinary system, hereditary in Bulldogs; Secondary to urinary bladder infections in Corgis
• Epilepsy (Corgi) – Seizures of unknown origin
• Degenerative myelopathy (Both) – Degeneration of neurologic system based in the spinal cord that leads to eventual paralysis

Exercise needs are variable for the Corgi Bulldog Mix

Whereby your Corgi French Bulldog mix may want to be quite athletic and active, how much exercise she can handle depends on how short her face is. A shorter muzzle does not allow a dog to cool air as effectively as those with a normal snout.

Corgi Bulldogs require at least 30 minutes of exercise per day split into two or more sessions. If your dog can breathe normally, she may be happier with up to an hour and a half of activity daily.

Intersperse training and mental games into your daily routine and spring surprises and adventures occasionally to engage your dog's mind. Use caution as temperatures approach 82 degrees Fahrenheit and 20% humidity.

How do you feed a French Corgi Mix?

Dogs require 25 to 35 calories per day depending upon activity level, age, whether they are nursing or pregnant, and health. Puppies, especially those experiencing fast growth cycles, may need two or three times as much food as an adult.

While calorie guidelines are a good starting point, you may need to adjust amounts by as much as 20% to ensure your dog maintains an appropriate weight.

Frenchies are prone to become overweight which exacerbates breathing difficulties and joint ailments. If in doubt, consult with your veterinarian about the amounts and types of dog food.

With the convenience of commercial raw and fresh dog food offerings, you have a wide range of healthy choices. Even dry kibble gives you plenty of options such as grain-free and prey-based recipes.

You should feed puppies under four months three or four times daily. By six months of age, most dogs can go down to their adult schedule of twice daily.

Although not at high risk, any breed of dog can bloat, so you should not feed your French Corgi large amounts of food at a meal.

How do you groom your French Bulldog Cross?

French Corgis have minimal coat grooming requirements. You should be able to brush your dog's fur once or twice weekly to keep loose hairs down and the circulation in the skin healthy.

You should bathe your dog once every couple of months or as needed for soiling. Be sure to keep any facial folds wiped clean.

Your dog may not have a perfect scissor bite, so it is important to get your dog used to you brushing his teeth. Clip the nails every six to eight weeks. You can also use a Dremel tool to keep them smooth.

Examples

Side-by-Side Comparison

Here you can clearly see each of the parent breeds of the Corgi Bulldog, a matchup between a red and white Corgi and a brindle French Bulldog.

Both of these dogs are puppies, but they show the trim rectangular dwarfed silhouette of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the compact tank-like frame of the Frenchie. Notice the drastic facial differences.

DO you wonder where a rose ear would come from in a mix of these two breeds? Rose ears are deep within the DNA of the French Bulldog.

Corgi Bulldog

This dog is not a far cry from what you ideally want to see in a Corgi French Bulldog mix. The legs are longer in relation to the body than the Corgi's and the body slightly more compact.

Otherwise, the dog looks much like a Corgi with deep red and white coloring. The face shows significant muzzle lengthening compared to the Frenchie, but you see a bit of shortening from a typical Corgi snout.

The ears are upright, between those of a Frenchie and a Corgi. The tail looks like a Bulldog's as does the coat type. Notice how athletic the dog is.

A Frenchie would never be able to perform half of the tricks this one can. Also note the general happiness and friendliness of the dog, albeit a bit nervous at first.

Also read: Golden Retriever Bulldog Mix – [COMPLETE GUIDE]