In this article, we’ll compare the husky vs corgi to see which breed is more suited for you.
Huskies and corgis share a lot of similarities, such as both being highly vocal and shedding regularly due to their double coats. There are a lot of differences between the two though; outside of appearance, huskies are much larger and require a lot more exercise – they are also much harder to train.
Before we get into an overview of each breed, here’s a quick summary of the key similarities and differences between the husky and corgi.
Contents
Siberian Husky Overview
Huskies were bred by the Chukchi people of Siberia to assist with pulling sleds over long distances.
Huskies have a pack mentality and were not used for guarding or hunting, but rather as a functional part of a pack to work.
Huskies retain a large capacity for exercise due to this and like to be around other dogs due to their pack mentality.
They are very intelligent but difficult to train as they can be stubborn and independent.
They have a thick double coat that requires regular grooming and are not suited for being left alone as they will get bored easily and can develop destructive behaviors.
Corgi Overview
There are two types of corgi – the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. If you want to learn the differences between the two, this article is a great resource for it.
For the sake of this article, we’ll be looking specifically at the Pembroke Welsh Corgi (pictured below), as these are more common and what people usually think of when you mention a Corgi.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi originates from Wales and was originally used to herd livestock. Corgis gained a lot of popularity after Queen Elizabeth II had many corgis throughout her life, starting in 1933.
Corgis are short and stocky, with big ears and gentle faces. The AKC breed standard for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is maintained by the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America and describes the general appearance as ‘low-set, strong, sturdily built and active’.
Difference In Appearance
Let’s address the elephant in the room first.
Corgis and huskies look drastically different. Huskies are about twice the size of corgis and have a wolf-like appearance, with erect ears, brush tails and medium muzzle length and width.
Corgis have more of a foxlike appearance and are much shorter and thick set. They have short tails and pointy ears.
More Differences Between The Husky vs Corgi
Let’s take a look at some of the other differences between these two popular breeds.
Size
Aside from appearance, the overall size of these two breeds is also drastically different:
- Huskies are medium-sized dogs that reach 20 to 23.5 inches at the shoulder and 35 to 60 lbs in weight.
- Corgis are a small to medium-sized breed with an average height of 10 to 12 inches and a weight of 24 to 30 lbs.
To put it simply, huskies are around twice the weight and up to twice the height of an average corgi.
Exercise Requirement
Due to the working background of the husky pulling sleds for long distances (over 100 miles at a time), it should be no surprise that they need a LOT of exercise.
Huskies typically need at least 2 hours per day of exercise and enjoy activities like running, hiking or chasing after toys.
Corgis are a pretty active dog breed as well due to their herding background, but they are not comparable to the husky.
Corgis need at least one hour per day, which is still quite demanding, but not close to the 2 hours per day of the husky.
If you fail to meet the exercise requirements of these dogs they will likely start to develop destructive habits, which is why it’s crucial to consider their needs before you get one of these dogs.
Trainability (Eagerness To Please)
In terms of eagerness to please, corgis take the crown.
Corgis are much more eager to please their owners, which makes things like obedience training a walk in the park compared to the husky.
Huskies are notoriously not interested in pleasing their owners. Their personality is often described as ‘cat-like’ for a very good reason.
If you’re looking for a dog that will listen to your commands and learn new tricks easily, the corgi is the best option.
Cold Tolerance
Although corgis have a double coat like the husky (more on this later) they struggle with colder temperatures as their coat is not very long like the husky.
Huskies have a long double coat which gives them great cold tolerance. Some huskies, when raised in the right conditions, can withstand temperatures as low as -75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most domestic huskies can happily withstand temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas corgis would struggle in this temperature due to their shorter coats.
Most places don’t get this cold, but if you live somewhere where the temperature does drop into this range then huskies are much more suited for that type of climate.
Working Background
Huskies have a working background and were used to pull sleds for long distances.
Corgis are herding dogs and were used by farmers in Wales primarily to herd livestock.
Although these two are similar, herding and working dogs are classed under different categories according to the AKC due to the differences between them.
Herding dogs, for example, are usually smaller as is the case with the corgi and are easy to train. Working dogs are larger and have a more imposing stature and require lots of exercise and discipline.
The small nuances here are the reason for most of the differences listed above between these two breeds. I highly recommend reading the full summary of each category on the AKC’s website for more information.
Guarding Instinct
When you compare the appearance of the corgi to the husky you would assume that, out of either breed, the husky would be more proficient at guarding, but this is not the case.
Huskies are actually terrible guard dogs. They are not naturally suspicious of people and are more likely to befriend a stranger.
Now, corgis are not actually good guard dogs in practice, but they do have the instincts of a guard dog. This means they will naturally bark at suspicious people and alert you if they think something is wrong.
Similarities Between The Husky Vs Corgi
There are a lot of similarities between these two breeds despite how different they look.
Let’s take a look at them.
Vocal Breeds
Huskies and corgis share a reputation for being very vocal.
Corgis have a guarding instinct and will bark at any ‘intruders’ who come onto their territory. Huskies love to howl at just about anything and they use this as their main form of communication.
Lifespan
Huskies and Corgis are both relatively healthy breeds, and their lifespans are quite similar because of this.
Huskies typically live for 12 to 15 years, while corgis live for 12 to 13 years on average.
This is quite a long time for any breed of dog, and it’s something that is important to consider before you get a new dog.
Intelligence
Corgis and huskies are both very intelligent dogs.
Corgis are rated 11th in Stanley Coren’s book The Intelligence of Dogs, and they are renowned for picking up new tricks quickly due to their eagerness to please.
While huskies did not perform as well (ranked 77th out of 138 breeds), they have intelligence in other areas.
We all know that huskies are not the best at learning new tricks due to their stubbornness and lack of willingness to please, but this doesn’t mean that they are not smart.
Huskies are excellent communicators, and they are also great at solving problems. It’s just that these tendencies tend to show up as disruptive behaviours (excessive howling, escape artists) rather than beneficial ones.
Shedding
As I mentioned before, huskies and corgis both have a double coat – but what does this actually mean?
A double coat is simply a term used for when the fur has two distinct layers, a short woolly undercoat and a longer layer with guard hairs. Double-coated breeds blow their coat twice per year, which is when they shed lots of excess fur from their undercoats to prepare for warmer weather.
Huskies have a much longer outer layer than the corgi, but both breeds shed much more than a single-coated dog.
Huskies need daily grooming and even multiple grooming sessions per day when they are blowing coat, and Corgis need grooming a few times per week and once per day when blowing coat.
In Summary
When it comes to deciding between a husky vs corgi there are a lot of things to consider.
Huskies are much harder work; not only do they shed even more than a corgi but they also require a lot more exercise while being more difficult to train. Corgis are also smaller in size which makes them easier to live with and less expensive to feed.
Both breeds make amazing family companions, it really depends on your lifestyle and how much time and commitment you have for a dog and which one you prefer.
If you’re interested in more husky comparisons then check out some of our other below:
