Chigi (Cardigan Welsh Corgi & Chihuahua Mix): Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

Breed Overview

Also known as the Chi-Corgi, the Chigi is a designer dog that blends the best traits of the perky and devoted Cardigan Welsh Corgi with the playful, sometimes ornery nature of the Chihuahua. Small and compact but not overly so, they’re a favorite breed of families and single owners alike.

Have you been looking for a friendly and adaptable dog that does well in many different living situations and can learn to get along well with dogs and other pets? If so, the Chigi might be the perfect dog breed for you.

Follow along with us as we explore every aspect of the Chi-Corgi, from its mixed-breed heritage to the cost of buying or adopting one, as well as pro tips and pointers for training, feeding, and grooming your Chigi.

Chigi Puppies

Chigi Characteristics

Designer dog breeds, like the Chigi, are the product of mixed breeding between two purebred parents. These breeding projects are often undertaken to produce dogs with both the adorable good looks of their parents, as well as shoring up health problems that are so prevalent in purebred dogs.

This means that to get a good feel for what the Chigi is like before considering bringing one into your home, it’s best to look at the personalities of its two parent breeds: the Chihuahua and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Let’s consider each of them in more detail before looking at how their traits combine in this unique crossbreed.

One of two separate dog breeds that go by the name “Welsh Corgi,” the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is complemented in the British Isles by the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Of the two breeds, Cardigan Corgis are known to be the most loyal and adaptable.

Indeed, these qualities seem to define the breed – and most Cardigan Welsh Corgis will be happiest right by your side, wherever you go. They’re a highly intelligent and energetic breed and will greatly benefit from having owners that give them regular exercise and mental stimulation.

Chihuahuas also come in two main varieties, differentiated by their appearance. Apple Head Chihuahuas have a rounder head, flatter nose, and larger body overall, while Deer Head Chihuahuas have longer legs and generally better health thanks to their longer noses. The American Kennel Club recognizes Apple Head Chihuahuas as the breed standard.

Temperament and behavior for a Chihuahua can be highly variable, depending on the personality of its parents and grandparents. They’re often easily frightened and prone to anxiety but will become very playful and even sassy when comfortable with their owners.

Overall, then, the Corgi Chihuahua mix ends up with the best of both worlds from its parent breeds. It’s an extremely loyal and intelligent dog, small in size but big in personality. Where the Chihuahua commonly suffers from respiratory issues and problems related to its weak bones and nervous temperament, the hardier Corgi bloodline balances these out, giving the Chigi an excellent bill of health and a longer lifespan than either parent breed.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Chigi

1. Chigis Are One of the Shortest Designer Dog Breeds

Chihuahuas are the smallest purebred dog recognized by many major kennel clubs, including the AKC. When the Apple Head Chihuahua’s short legs and diminutive stature are combined with the Corgi’s equally stumpy limbs, the resulting Chigi takes on the possibility of being the shortest designer dog breed around. Only when other miniaturized dogs (such as the Pug) are crossed with a Chihuahua is there a possibility of being shorter than the Chigi.

2. Their Corgi Parents Have a Mythical Connection With Welsh Fairies

In one popular tale regarding the Corgi’s origin, it is said that Welsh fairies once gifted two Corgis to a pair of children who found their hidden burrow. This helps to explain the dog’s shortened legs, which were said to make it useful for pulling fairies’ belongings behind them in carts or carriages. In even more amazingly exaggerated myths, fairy warriors would ride corgis into battle against their magical enemies.

3. Their Chihuahua Parents Are One of the First Recorded Lap Dogs

Owing to their love of being near humans and constant anxious body heat, Chihuahuas were observed by Spanish explorer Herman Cortes to be used as living heating pads for sick or injured people in Mexico. In stranger records, it was also observed that the ancestors of Chihuahuas were raised and sold as food by the Aztecs.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Chigi

Playful, loving, and exceptionally intelligent, the Chigi is an ideal small dog for all sorts of people and families. Thanks to the long history of its parent breeds and their excellent blending in this crossbreed, the Corgi Chihuahua mix is incredibly adaptable to a wide range of living situations. Whether living in an apartment, a home with a yard, or even traveling with their owners, this lovable breed can get along well just about anywhere.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

With even a small amount of obedience training, Chigis makes wonderful pets for families with younger or older children alike. Though their Corgi side can occasionally give them herding instincts that compel them to corral smaller children, their intelligence and willingness to please their owners make this kind of behavior easy to train out of them.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Early life socialization is very important to have any breed of dog get along well with small pets and other dogs. Given sufficient playtime with other animals from the time it is young, a Chigi will take naturally to playing well with other dogs, though its herding instincts may kick in around cats and other small animals. Generally speaking, the Corgi Chihuahua mix is a very gentle breed and have no desire to hunt or harm other animals.

Things to Know When Owning a Chigi:

Chigis are a wonderful dog breed for anyone looking for a small and adaptable companion animal. If you’re seriously considering bringing one into your home, we recommend studying the following topics related to its nutrition and health before buying or adopting a Chigi:

Food & Diet Requirements

Chigis will always be on the small side for a dog breed and don’t require a very large amount of food on a daily basis. Because they’re prone to overeating if given all of their food in one sitting, you’ll need to split their approximately one cup of food per day into three even meals.

While the Corgi Chihuahua mix does not require any specific dietary changes as a whole, individual dogs will do best when given a type of food that’s appropriate to their age and activity level. Chi-Corgis don’t suffer from the same tendency towards obesity as their Chihuahua ancestors, so any high-quality dry dog food that is made for a small, active breed will work well.

Exercise

Blessed with the high energy of their Corgi parents as well as little of the nervous anxiety of their Chihuahua side, Chigis do well with an hour or more of moderate to vigorous activity each day. Their inquiring minds seem to particularly enjoy learning new tricks, and a game of fetch is always a welcome activity no matter the day.

Training

Due to the often-stubborn nature of the Chihuahua, Chigis do well with basic obedience training early in their life. Once they learn simple manners and sensibilities, the Chigi’s high intelligence lends it naturally to learning plenty of new tricks with ease.

Grooming ✂️

Chigis have only moderate grooming requirements, with a weekly brushing usually sufficing to keep them looking their best. Smaller dogs tend to develop dental problems faster than large dogs, so it’s best to brush the Chigi’s teeth regularly. Add nail trimming and general ear cleaning to this, and it’s easy to keep your Chigi in tip-top condition.

Health and Conditions

The Chigi is generally healthier than either of its parent breeds thanks to the moderating effects of crossbreeding. Still, they may experience any of the following conditions in rare instances:

Male vs Female

On average, female Chigis will tend to be heavier and shorter than their male counterparts. Both sexes will display similar personalities, with males sometimes being more prone to herding behaviors. Often, it’s easier to spot personality differences on an individual level than by the Chigi’s sex.

Conclusion

A loyal, loving, and ultimately quite healthy breed, the Chigi is a great example of the power of mixed breeding to benefit both dog and owner. If you’ve been searching for a small dog breed that is intensely devoted to its owners, is good with children and other pets, and is intelligent enough to quickly learn new tricks, the Corgi Chihuahua mix may very well be the perfect dog for you.

See also:

• Chipit (Pitbull & Chihuahua Mix) Info, Pictures, Traits

• Chiweenie (Dachshund & Chihuahua Mix) Info, Pictures, Facts, Traits

Featured Image Credit: penguiniz, Shutterstock