Why doesn't my corgi look like one?

[Amira06]

We just adopted a corgi mix, 3 months old, from a rescue organization. She's sweet as she can be, but she doesn't look very corgi right now. Her ears are not up, and she only has a small white spot. Her brother's ears are up and he looks pure corgi. Right now, she looks like a min pin face on a corgi body, Is there any chance her ears will pick up or her coloring will change?

[Fluffypants]

It can take awhile for their ears to stand up straight. And as a pup matures, its appearance changes quite a bit. Don't worry, just enjoy your new baby as she grows up! And please post some pics!

[Fluffypants]

After looking at her picture, I understand your concern! Do you have a picture of her brother (the one you said DOES look like a corgi)? Maybe she doesn't have any corgi in her, or maybe she does but will never look the part . . . either way, she's a pretty girl, and looks really sweet.

[corgimom]

I am having a bit of a hard time telling what mix she could be, but you could be right with the min pincher part. What did the rescue tell you that she was a mix of? - Corgi and What?

And I too would love to see the pics of the brother if you have any or could you post some more views of your new pup. Either way, I am with Jessica, she looks very cute. Whatever mix she is, you have a new friend, and she needs you, so give her a good home, with lots of love, and you will have a wonderful companion - and don't forget the puppy classes.

[Michael Romanos]

Congrats on your new puppy. I would not be concerned about her ears because a Corgi cross is not a Corgi per se. So ears up or ears down is not really an issue in my opinion. However, she will need calcuim supplement and given a small dosage daily, sprinkled on her cereal breafast or over one of her other meals, will certainly help to strengthen the muscles around her ears and help with strengthening her bones. Two most important aspects especially for later in life.

[tandemgal]

She does look a little bit like a little dobi or min pin. but I agree she will change her looks several times while she matures. My Chloe isn't the prettiest corgi girl here (no no it is true - she is no Miss Fluffy Pants )
but she has a great personality and wouldn't trade her for anything.

[MissGambler'sMommy]

Your dog has the EXACT face of an Irish Jack Russell(my childhood dog), right down to the eyebrows, and if so, I would say you are quite lucky. That is the dog that I wanted until we latched onto the Corgi breed. An Irish Jack and a Corgi mix would be a dream dog for me!!! I would be willing to bet that the IJ would round out the temperment of the Corgi nicely and it would explain the issues with the ears. Again, I would consider myself lucky, if you were going to end up with any mix, The an Irish Jack would be a blessing. Irish Jacks are also quite expensive, at one time we got as far as deciding on a breeder, and it was $2500, and that was over three years ago.

[Michael Romanos]

What is the difference between an Irish Jack Russell and a Jack Russell Terrier.
The Jack Russells were developed from a Fox Terrier by a Minister of Religion in England. Did he have an Irish (Northern Ireland) background?
In truth, Jack Russells can be the craziest of dogs (clowns of the dog world they are called) and sometimes not well behaved and have a tendency to wander off. They are still not recognised in NZ as a pure breed - and we largely or solely take our cue from the world canine organisation that currently recognises around 332 breeds. By the way NZ also does not recognise American Pit Bull Terriers as a pure breed either. That is not to say that Jack Russells are not very popular here - in fact they (Jack Russells and Jack Russell crosses) are the third most popular breed of dog in NZ.
I'll have to take your word for it that a Corgi-JRT cross makes a wonderful dog.

[MissGambler'sMommy]

Michael: The Jack Russell Terriers in Ireland were bred to work like the Corgis(and in most cases the fox terrier completely bred out), so they have a lot in common, they are herders would watch the children etc...(this is going back many years) they are a little shorter and stouter than the regular sized JRT, sized more like a Corgi, not quite as tubular though. They are EXTREMELY trainable and very loving, quite devoted. My childhood Irish Black lived 15 years, and was wonderful. He could walk beautifully off-leash, took every command, and was great around us kids and with cats. I love this breed, and they are extremely rare here, and hard enough to come by in Ireland, which is where my family is from and explains the devotion my family has for the breed. The picture that started this thread shows the face of an Irish Black Russell Terrier, in my opinion, right down to the eyebrows. My childhood dog could raise one eyebrow at a time, she had great intelligence, always thinking.

[MissGambler'sMommy]

Forgive me, but I suffer from insomnia, and I'm away from home and bored at the moment. I decided to do some research, something I am very good at, and I think I can put your mind at ease. I was being dead serious when I said your dog looked liked a Irish Black Jack Russell, and it is true that they are hard to come by and quite expensive. My husband and I were going to have one shipped from Ireland, $2500, plus shipping, until we decided on the Corgi breed. Guess what??? There are breeders of true Irish Jacks in Colorado, and I saw some photos of some black ones, the white/black and white/tan are the most popular, but my family always had the Irish Black, such beautiful faces, and eyebrows that express thoughts like a persons. I REALLY think that you have become very lucky. An Irish JRT, and yours would be an I(B)JRT, was bred to be shorter, and work just like a Corgi on the farm, not to be a hunter like the fox terrier or bull terrier, so the two breeds in your dog would be extremely close. If you read up on I(B)JRT's and Corgis, you may put the pieces of this puzzle together.

[Dillydoodle]

Here is a link to see photos of black and tan irish jack russel terriers-
www.irishjacks.com/blackandtan.asp

in case anyone wanted to see- oh and this mix puppy does look quite a bit like this breed

[Fluffypants]

WOW - yeah she does! Good work MGM!!!!

[MissGambler'sMommy]

Dillydoodle: Thanks for posting the link, It brought back fond memories, the one called Shorty towards the bottom of the page looks just like my Ruby, except Ruby was just a little more, shall we say, healthy. I have often thought that if we were going to get another dog, that we could still get an Irish Black Jack Russell, their temperments and size are very close, but Miss Gambler has the final say, and so far, it's a no-go with any future dog plans. Personally, from my humble opinion, I just think she gets jealous, we can't even feed her when the cats are around, and when Bubba starts playing with Miss Gambler's toys, watch out! Anyway, thanks.