Border Collie Corgi Mix: Borgi Breed Info, Puppy Costs & More

If you are looking for a herding dog with a twist, then the Border Collie and Corgi mixed pup, known for short as the Borgi, is probably the one for you! We say probably because you need to read our comprehensive guide first, but he is such an adaptable dog he would suit most family homes.  While Corgi’s come in many different mixes, the Borgi is one of our favorites.

He is a happy-go-lucky pup who loves lots of cuddles, attention and is always up for a game or two. He is sociable, but thanks to his Collie’s aloofness he is not too in-your-face as some would say. Overall, he is a well-balanced pup who is the best of both the Border Collie and the Corgi.

His main needs that you need to take into consideration are his high exercise requirements, grooming schedule, and his need to spend most of his time with his family, so if you think you could offer him these things, then read on to find out if he is the pooch for you!

Parent Breeds

In order to understand the Borgi and what you can expect of him, it is important to understand a bit more about his parents and where they come from, so let’s take a look at them first.

Border Collie

The Border Collie originates from across the pond in the highlands of Wales and Scotland, and whilst he is not the original herding dog, he is a mix of them all to create, some would say, the perfect herding dog. He is also known to be the smartest canine of them all, so he needs to be placed with a family that will keep both his body and his brain ticking. He is described as affectionate, smart and energetic, and he is happiest when he has a job to do.

In 2020, the American Kennel Club has ranked the breed as the 35th most popular dog breed in America. He is a favorite with Royalty, and it is said that Queen Victoria’s favorite canine was her Border Collie called Sharp.  The Border Collie has become a popular designer dog parent in its own right, as the lineage of the Border Collie Lab mix, and the Border Collie Rottweiler mix.

Corgi

The Corgi is one of the best herding dogs around too, which comes as quite a surprise to many because of his petite size, but it is his short stature that makes him so great at it! His sociable and fun nature also makes him a great family companion, and being that the AKC has ranked the breed as the 13th most popular breed in America, shows just how popular he is. Whilst he is from Wales in England, he is very popular with both Royalty and the masses across the world, and his cheerful face and fluffy butt also makes him a social media sensation.

There are two types of Corgi, the Pembroke and the Cardigan, and the Borgi could be bred from either, and if you are not sure on the difference check out our Pembroke and Cardigan Corgi guide that explains it all. The word Corgi means ‘dwarf dog’ in Welsh, but there is nothing small about this guy’s bubbly personality!  The Corgi is a common designer dog parent, helping create many mixes like the Horgi or the Porgi.

The Borgi

Whilst many do not agree with the idea of a designer dog, nor can you 100% guarantee what characteristics he will inherit from his parents, the Borgi tends to take the best bits from each parent to make a more balanced dog that would suit most families.

Temperament

The Borgi is a sociable dog who loves to be around his family. When it comes to strangers, if he takes after his Border Collie parent, he may be a little aloof at first, but he will soon warm up to them thanks to his Corgi parents extremely outgoing nature. This also means that they hate to be left alone for long periods of time, so if you can’t spend most of your day with him then he may not be the dog breed for you. 

Because he loves his humans so much you can be sure that you are in for a lot of cuddles and doggy kisses. As well as a lot of affection, you can also expect a lot of fun with this pooch. When he is not herding, he is playing games and getting up to mischief. This dude has the cheekiness of the Corgi and the intelligence of the Border Collie, so you can expect him to be very mischievous indeed. He will always be up for a game of tug of war or fetch, and there will never be a dull moment with the Borgi about.

Both of the Borgi’s parents are herding dogs, and definitely two of the best around, so you can expect that the Borgi will inherit the urge to herd. This is perfect if you are seeking a working ranch dog, but if you simply want him as a family companion you may find that he tries to herd younger children or other family pets, and this needs to be discouraged immediately.

Size & Appearance

The Borgi typically looks like a Corgi, with the long body and short legs, but with the black and white fur of the Collie, and the longer tail too. He will measure between 10 and 21 inches from paw to shoulder, and weigh between 30 and 40 pounds.

He usually inherits the wide smile and cheeky face of the Corgi, and the larger than life triangle shaped ears that stand to attention, as well as the short legs that turn out slightly too. 

Coat & Colors

The coat of the Borgi typically takes after the Border Collie, in that it is much longer and thicker, but with this comes a lot more shedding! His double coat will help to keep him warm whilst working on the ranch, as well as keeping you warm on the sofa, or in bed if he is a lucky boy!

His coat color will usually be black and white in color too, just like the Border Collie, however it can also take on patches of brown and brindle hues similar to his Corgi parent.

Exercise & Living Conditions

The Borgi is a bouncy canine ball of fluff that will have lots of energy! He will need at least 60 minutes of intense exercise every day, otherwise he will have a lot of pent up energy that he will need to get rid of in other ways, namely your sofa and other prized possessions of yours.

Ideally, he would love to be placed with a family that can offer him a job on a ranch, but if not plenty of exercise, interactive sessions and brain games will keep him occupied. Being super intelligent and agile he would thrive on an agility course, so take him to a local course to switch things up a bit.

Being a small to medium sized dog who is relatively short, he would be suited to homes of any size, just as long as they have a yard and he receives the adequate amount of exercise every day. If you do have a house with stairs, be sure to keep an eye on him, or even get a stair gate, because his long spine and short legs means he is prone to injuries when jumping up and down the stairs or on and off of sofas etc. Many Corgi and Dachshund owners use doggy ramps, so if he is short like his Corgi parent it would be wise to invest in a few of these.

Just like any dog, as long as he is socialized well as a pup he does well with other dogs and family pets. He also loves young children, but you just need to take into account that he is a herding dog after all, and he may well try to herd them. This behavior should be discouraged as early as possible, and many Corgi, Collie and Borgi owners comment that this is not an issue if dealt with correctly.

Training

The Borgi needs to be socialized well as a puppy to ensure that he learns his doggy manners and grows into a polite pooch. Whilst Borgi’s are rarely possessive or protective, they may try to herd, so this needs to be monitored and discouraged if they are not going to be worked as a herding dog.

As mentioned earlier, the Borgi will hate to be left alone for too long, so as soon as you welcome him into your home you should invest in a secure crate that he can call his own.  It may even help to get one specifically designed for separation anxiety. Because he will need to be groomed every day, it is also important that you introduce this regime to him at a very early age and be sure to make it a pleasant experience every time with treats and praise.  If you plan to train with a harness, make sure you get one that’s specifically suited to pups with a corgi shaped body.

Health

The Borgi is a relatively healthy dog who enjoys a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Being a mixed pooch he is at risk from health concerns that affect both of his parents, so you should be aware of the following:

Hip Dysplasia – this is caused by the abnormal formation of his hip joint which causes increased and painful grinding of the joints, which eventually leads to decreased mobility and painful arthritis.

Intervertebral Disc Disease – also known more simply as IVDD, this disease affects those dogs who are shaped like the Corgi with his longer spine and shorter legs. This occurs when one of the spinal discs ruptures, which can lead to severe pain and sometimes paralysis. Other than general bone breaks and fractures, this is another reason why he needs to be careful when jumping from any heights.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy – also known as PRA, this is where the condition of the retina deteriorates over time which can lead to total blindness.

Nutrition

Be sure to feed the Borgi a high-quality dry kibble. Dry kibble is important for all dogs, but especially those with smaller jaws as they are more prone to periodontal diseases, and the dry kibble helps to break down plaque that begins to build up.

Being energetic it is likely that he will need nutrition that is full of energy and protein to keep him sustained throughout the day. Typically, he will consume anywhere between 2 and 2 ½  cups of kibble every day. If he inherits his Corgi parents appetite then you’ll find him begging for food throughout most of the day, so be sure to monitor his treat intake and do not allow him to free feed, otherwise you’ll soon find a porky Borgi on your hands.

Grooming

The Borgi will likely inherit the Collie coat, and as such he will need to be brushed several times a week throughout the year, and during shedding season he will likely need brushing every day simply to keep his coat manageable. Because he has a thick double coat, be sure to check out our deshedding tool guide, where you’ll find the perfect tool.

He will need his teeth brushing every week with doggy toothpaste to keep periodontal diseases at bay and be sure to check and clean his large ears every week, as they’ll often catch a lot of dirt! If you find that he doesn’t enjoy grooming, then make every experience pleasant with a treat or two.

Puppies

The cost of a Borgi puppy will set you back anywhere between $500 and $1,000. Whilst he is not as popular as many other designer pups, Corgi mixes are becoming increasingly popular, and the Borgi with his Border Collie intelligence is no exception. If you find a Borgi that is a lot cheaper, or much more expensive than this guide price, then you should walk away as it is likely that they are part of a puppy mill.

As Family Pets

The Borgi is full of bouncy energy and needs to be placed with a family that can either work him on a ranch, or a very active family who can guarantee him at least 60 minutes of vigorous exercise every day. He is very sociable, and whilst he might be slightly aloof with strangers at first, he will soon become the soul of the party. Coming from two herding parents, the Borgi is bound to be a top herder too, so be sure to monitor him for herding behavior in the home, and be quick to nip it in the bud if he starts to herd other family pets or small children.

Being super sociable means that he also hates to be left alone for long periods of time, so he needs to be placed with a family who aren’t going to leave him for too long. Socialization is key to ensure that he grows into a well-mannered pooch, and one that doesn’t herd.

The Borgi’s coat will need brushing most days simply to keep it manageable, so this needs to be factored into your new routine with him. His boisterous energy needs to be monitored to ensure that he doesn’t jump from heights, including stairs and sofas, otherwise you risk injuries and IVDD.

Finding a Borgi Breeder

Start by looking online for local Borgi breeders, although you need to be prepared to travel if you want to work with a reputable Borgi breeder. It is important to complete your own research, and look for reviews from other customers if you can find them. It is also imperative that you meet the breeder and their pups in person, and it is always important to trust your gut if you get a bad feeling about them.

Whilst there are no breed standards for the Borgi as of yet, a reputable breeder will only breed Border Collies and Corgis who are very healthy, and those that pass all of their own breed health checks, so ask to see their health certificates too.

Rescue & Shelters

If you would like to rescue a Borgi then you should head out to a few of your local rescue centers. Being a relatively new designer dog there aren’t going to be hundreds of them in there, but with tenacious checking and visiting you will find your canine soulmate soon enough!  Additionally, be sure to check out the Border Collie Rescue website, or the Corgi Aid website, where information can be found for dedicated breed centers who also house mixed breeds too.

Final Thoughts

The Borgi is a sensational canine companion who provides his family with all the love and affection they could wish for, but also all the games and entertainment too. He is sociable, but not too overwhelming, hardworking but he also knows how to relax with his humans.  His exercise needs are non-negotiable, as are companionship with his human pack, but as long as you can offer him these then he would be a fantastic ranch colleague and family companion.