Shiba Inu Corgi Mix: Why We Love the Adorable Shiba Corgi

Mixed-breed dogs can make wonderful pets. They are no better or worse than their purebred counterparts. It is all about the individual dog and whether their general traits mesh well with your lifestyle. Shiba Inus have become very common as a parent breed mix for many designer dogs. A Shiba Inu Corgi mix (sometimes referred to as a Corgi Inu, Shiba Corgi, or Schorgi Inu) is a mix that is often purposefully bred.

These types of dogs are often called “designer dog breeds,” Corgis specifically have become popular to cross-breed with other breeds. Creating a unique blend of two amazing breeds, a Corgi Shiba Inu mix is not a dog one will see at the dog park every day.

However, these crossbreeds are not recognized as official breeds. This means that even greater care should be taken if you consider purchasing a puppy from a breeder. You should also be aware of the two breeds’ traits being crossed. The dog you end up with could have a combination of characteristics from both.

Breed Histories

One must first learn about the two parent breeds to get to know any mixed breed. Both the Shiba Inu and the Corgi bring unique characteristics to the mix. Though they have some similarities, these two pups have very different backgrounds.

Corgi

The Corgi has two distinct individual breeds. The Pembroke Welsh and the Cardigan Welsh. These dogs come from Wales in the United Kingdom and have similar appearance, temperament, and size. In the early days, they were not a separate breed and were used for herding livestock and referred to as Welsh Corgis. In 1934, the Kennel Clubs in the UK and US recognized the growing difference between the two varieties within the breed, and they were each recognized in their own right.

Their popularity, particularly that of the Pembroke Corgi, soared due to the exposure they gained in the media because they were the favorite breed of Queen Elizabeth II. In 2022, Pembroke Welsh Corgis ranked 11th, and Cardigan Welsh ranked 62nd in the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) most popular dog breed lists.

Shiba Inu

The Shiba Inu is widely recognized as one of the most ancient breeds. Evidence shows that their lineage goes as far back as 300 BC. They were initially used as hunting dogs in Japan. Their compact size and athleticism made them ideal for flushing out game animals.

Despite their history and popularity, the breed almost became extinct during the bombings of World War II and then, consequently, as a result of a devastating spread of the distemper virus. Luckily, the breed survived and started being imported to the United States in the mid-20th century.

The American Kennel Club did not recognize them until 1993, but they continue to grow in popularity. They are thought to be the most popular breed in Japan, and in 2022, they ranked 43rd out of 193 breeds in the United States by the AKC.

Appearance & Size

A Shiba Inu Corgi mix could be a very quirky-looking, medium-sized dog. The Shiba Inu does not usually weigh more than 23 pounds, and the Corgi between 30 and 38 pounds (depending on whether they are the bigger Cardigan). As a mixed breed, there is always a level of unpredictability in both personality and appearance. A Corgi Inu will weigh between 15 and 30 pounds. They stand between 10 and 15 inches tall.

Corgis and the Shiba Inu have thick double coats, and they shed a lot, especially during their annual shedding season. This mix can come in a wide variety of colors, too. Both breeds come in red, the most common coloring of the Shiba Inu.

A purebred Shiba Inu can also come in black and sesame, black and tan, and sesame (red coat with black-tipped hairs). They also all have Urajiro coloring – a creamy white shade around some parts of their face, body, and legs.

Pembroke Corgis come in black and tan, fawn, sable, and red colorings. Cardigans come in even more colors, including merles and brindles. They typically have shaved-off tails and have their adorable Corgi butts exposed.

Shiba Inus have a more slender physique than a Corgi, with longer legs. A Corgi tends to be quite stocky with a long back and shorter legs. The body shape of your Corgi Inu could vary considerably depending on the way the dice falls in terms of their genetics.

And who knows, your Corgi Shiba Inu mix may end up with a unique Spitz-style, curled-over tail that makes the Shiba Inu distinctive, too.

Temperament

You will likely get an intelligent, independent, confident, and amiable dog with a Corgi Inu. Their willful nature could mean you must be extra diligent and patient with training, though.

The Shiba Inu is known for being generally calm, curious, dignified, and courageous. They have a definite mind of their own, which can mean they can sometimes be stubborn and headstrong.

Corgi Inus tend to be very loyal and affectionate with their family, but they can be reserved and sometimes even guarded with strangers. They are often better suited to a single-dog household as they do not tend to love the company of other dogs.

They are also known for being a generally quiet, non-vocal breed. You rarely hear a Shiba Inu bark. They have a distinctly high-pitched and loud yelp that they can produce if unhappy or frightened, often called the “Shiba scream.”

Corgis are known for forging strong bonds with their people, especially the Pembroke, and can make highly affectionate house members. With proper introductions, they can enjoy the company of other dogs, but they are not a breed known for thriving on this, and given the Shibas loner traits, they may be a dog that suits being the only one in the household.

If you aren’t sure you can handle the independence of the Shiba, there are other great Corgi mixes you may consider, like the Labrador Corgi mix, the Beagle Corgi Mix, or the ever-popular Corgi Poo. All three mixed-breed designer dogs are popular crosses in today’s market.

Training

Shibas are known for becoming protective over items, space, or people they perceive as theirs. You may need to do some additional training to teach a Corgi Inu that they will be rewarded for voluntarily giving up their prized resource for something else equally as motivating.

If they inherit the trait of not enjoying the company of other dogs, then careful and early socialization will be necessary. You may need to work on getting your dog to associate other dogs with good things and that a calm and quiet response to a passing dog will result in them receiving some yummy treats.

A Shiba Inu has a high prey drive, which, combined with their independent nature, means that it can be challenging to achieve a reliable recall. Unless you are prepared to put a lot of work into it, you may need to keep your dog on a long leash unless they are in a very safe, secure, and enclosed space.

Corgis can have strong herding instincts, which is another reason to work on solid recall, good loose-leash walking skills, and helpful distraction techniques. They have been known to chase bikes, cars, and even the ankles of excitable running children.

Corgis can also be watchdogs, and they can be territorial over their space if strangers approach. However, they are usually much more vocal about it than the Shiba. If your Corgi Inu inherits this trait, you must work on rewarding quiet, alternative behavior.

Exercise

Although both the Shiba Inu and Corgi originate from working stock, neither is the highest-energy dog. They have moderate exercise requirements and will not oppose accompanying their owners on a day hike.

If they do not get decent daily walks, problem behaviors can quickly escalate. Along with regular physical exercise, you should also ensure your Corgi Inu is appropriately mentally enriched. Providing a selection of good interactive treats and toys, making time for short training sessions, and allowing them the freedom to sniff on their walks can all help to keep them feeling stimulated.

Grooming

While you will not need to worry about a Shiba Inu Corgi mix needing to be clipped or getting tangled or matted, regular brushing helps keep their coat and skin in good condition, and it will minimize the amount of hair that is likely to attach to soft furnishings or clothes. A good vacuum cleaner and a deshedding tool like a Furminator will be sensible investments. They will be a dog that can shed prolifically during their twice-annual molt.

Health

Due to their genetic diversification, mixed-breed dogs are often healthier than their parent breeds. With any mixed breed dogs, they can be at risk of developing inheritable conditions from either of the parents. It is essential to be aware of the conditions that both breeds can develop. If you are buying a puppy, you should also make sure you go to a responsible breeder. They will usually perform health checks on the parents to help minimize the health risks for puppies. A Corgi Shiba Inu mix has an expected lifespan of 10 to 14 years when healthy and fed a proper diet.

Shiba Inu Health

The Shiba Inu is widely regarded as being a generally very healthy dog. They do not have as many known inheritable conditions as some other breeds. Some of the things they can be more prone to include:

Luxating Patella: This is a common hereditary condition across multiple breeds related to a loose, slipping knee. The problem can range in severity, and, at its worst, surgery is sometimes required.

Eye Problems:  A good breeder will screen for possible congenital and progressive eye conditions. The Shiba Inu can be prone to several eye defects, including glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and distichiasis – where hairs grow out of the eyelash area, leading to corneal ulcers.

Allergies:  Shibas can be particularly sensitive to allergies, particularly airborne and food-related ones. Sometimes, these can be managed by eliminating the allergen from the environment or diet, and sometimes medication can help. In severe cases, immunosuppression therapy is sometimes considered. This is when a tiny amount of the allergen is injected into the dog regularly in the hope that they will eventually become immune to it.

Corgi Health

Corgis are also susceptible to joint problems like luxating patella and hip dysplasia and eye problems like cataracts and PRA. Detailed below are some other conditions that they can develop.

Back/Spine Issues:  Because of the Corgis conformation, with an elongated back supported by shorter legs, they can develop back problems. Degenerative Myelopathy and Intervertebral Disc Disease are more common in this breed than in others. If your dog has conformation more like the Shiba Inu, then this may not be such a problem.

Epilepsy:  Corgis can be more likely to suffer from seizures than many other breeds. While this can be an extremely distressing experience for the dog and their owner, it can often be managed with changes to lifestyle and medication. Epilepsy is not always a life-limiting condition.

Von Willebrand Disease (VWD):  Because Corgis are prone to this relatively rare condition, good breeders will usually health check the potential parents to ensure they are not a recessive gene carrier, which could mean the pups would inherit this. VWD results in the dog not being able to clot their blood efficiently. This can result in nose bleeds, bleeding gums, and extended time for healing. This is not a curable condition, but it is possible to manage it with medication.

Obesity:  Obesity is a nationwide problem for dogs in today’s society. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention reported that over 50% of dogs were estimated to be overweight in the United States in 2018. It is a problem that Corgis are particularly susceptible to.

This means you should carefully portion control, feed a healthy diet, and ensure your dog gets appropriate daily exercise levels. If your dog becomes obese, it can put additional strain on their joints, cause breathing difficulties, and even cause mood changes. Because of the potential spinal problems a Corgi mix can have, watching their weight is even more important.

Nutrition

Every dog should be fed a high-quality and carefully portion-controlled diet. Suppose your dog inherits the Shiba propensity towards allergies, which is triggered by diet. In that case, you may also need a proper elimination diet (with limited ingredients) to determine what food works for your dog without setting off allergies.

Don’t forget that a true exclusion diet needs to be done for at least 8 to 12 weeks for it to be an accurate measure. You need to be strict during that time. It can be helpful to take advice from your vet or a veterinary board-certified canine nutritionist to help you get this right.

Breeders & Puppy Costs

Only purebred dogs can be found through accredited breeders, which means that if you decide to buy a puppy, you should do even more research to ensure that your dog comes from a responsible breeder. The growth in demand for famous “designer” mixes means that unscrupulous backyard breeders and puppy farms are taking advantage of this.

Some useful tips for making sure you are avoiding supporting this cruel, damaging industry include:

• Ensure you see the mommy dog with her puppies in a home environment. If the owner suggests you meet them in some random location to pass you the puppy, sight unseen, it may be wise to walk away.
• Your pup should not leave their mother or littermates until they are at least eight weeks old and fully weaned. If they are separated earlier than this, it can negatively impact their socialization progress and health.
• A top-notch breeder will have done health checks on the parents to screen for potential inheritable conditions.
• A good breeder will want to know about you, your family, and your lifestyle. You should not be offended if they ask you questions about these things. It signifies that they want to ensure their puppies get good homes.
• Can the breeder provide a veterinary reference? Has the vet checked the mum and her pups?

A purebred Shiba Inu can cost between $1,500 and $3,000 for a high-quality, healthy puppy. A purebred Corgi, Pembroke, or Cardigan can range between $1,000 and $2,000. Expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $3,000 for a Corgi Shiba Inu mix.

Rescues & Shelters

A Shiba Inu Corgi Mix will likely be an unusual mix to find in need of adoption in your local rescue shelter. If you like either of these breeds, though, there are breed-specific rescues with many dogs that require a loving forever home. Adopting a dog can be hugely rewarding. Even if you can’t get this exact mix, please don’t let this stop you from considering it. Check with your veterinarian, local animal shelter, and the Animal Humane Society to find needy pups.

As Family Pets

The Corgi Shiba Inu mix is an intelligent, affectionate, and loyal pup. They are quite cheerful and make a bright addition to the family. Corgi Inus often gets along with other pets, including cats. Be careful with smaller pets due to the purebred Shiba Inu’s higher prey drive. When properly socialized and trained, these adorable mixed dogs are lovely family pets.

They need owners with a firm handle on training and plenty of exercise. Never let your Corgi Shiba Inu mix get bored. Provide plenty of mental and physical interaction. These family-friendly designer crossbreeds will not disappoint.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a confident, companionable, intelligent, medium-sized dog with moderate exercise requirements, then the Shiba Inu Corgi mix could be the right pup. They are strong-willed and may need additional training in recall and guarding. The Corgi Inu may need to be the only dog in the household, but this pup makes an unforgettable companion.