The Dachshund and the Corgi are low-slung, long-backed, bundles of energy, but that is where the similarities end. The Corgi is a bigger, more solid dog than even the standard Dachshund and while the Doxie is an earth dog, bred to go to the ground and rid the area of vermin, the Corgi is a herder used to move livestock through the fields.
For some, such as the late Queen Elizabeth, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is their absolute love, but they also enjoy having a Dachshund or two around for company. While the Dachshund has a reputation for being persnickety at times and not a good family companion, the Corgi seems to have developed a cult following that believes they are child-proof, which is not really the case if you genuinely know both breeds of Corgi.
Let’s delve into both the Dachshund (all varieties and sizes) and the Corgi (Cardigan and Pembroke) and get an insider’s take on the differences between these two exceptional breed types.
| Criteria | Dachshund | Corgi |
| Breed Group | Hound | Herding |
| Origin Country/Year | Germany 1500s | Wales 1200s |
| Height | 5-9 inches | 10-12 inches (Pembroke) 10 ½ to 12 ½ inches (Cardigan) |
| Weight | Mini 11 pounds and less Standard: 16-32 pounds | Pembroke 22-27 pounds Cardigan 25-38 pounds |
| Life expectancy | 12-15 years | 12-14 years |
| Personality | Stubborn, loyal, smart, playful | Intelligent, intense, playful, bossy |
| Intelligence | Very intelligent | Highly intelligent |
| Is Hypoallergenic? | No | No |
| Family Friendly? | Yes | Yes |
| Kid Friendly? | Mostly yes | Mostly yes |
| Pet Friendly? | Yes | No small pets |
| Stranger Friendly? | No | Mostly yes |
| Exercise Required | 1-2 hours per day | 1-2 hours per day |
| Grooming Needs | Minimal | Minimal |
| Barking Tendencies | Sounds alarmed when needed | Can be barky |
| Trainability | Very trainable | Very trainable |
| Prices | $1500-3500 | $1000-2500 |
| Best For | Companionship, Earthdog trials, conformation dog shows, barn hunts, etc. | Herding, conformation dog shows, companionship, barn hunts, watchdog, agility. |
Read more: The Dorgi – A Dachshund Corgi Mix Good Enough for Royalty
Dachshund vs. Corgi: History
This iconic German breed dates to the early 1500s. The Dachshund was bred for badger hunting or other burrow-dwelling pests. Their tenacious personality serves them well when they are performing tasks and burrowing into the earth after these vermin. Later, they were used to hunt larger games such as wild boar.
In the beginning, the Dachshund had long bodies, medium-length legs, and shorter ears. As the breed began to be standardized to present a certain look, their legs shortened and their ears lengthened to what we are accustomed to seeing today. Their low-slung body has become iconic and the moniker “Weiner dog” stuck.
The miniature Doxie did not make an official appearance until the 1800s, the original Dachshund or standard Dachshund was bred down in size to hunt smaller game animals such as rabbits and prairie dogs. The original coat type was the smooth or short-hair variety and then the longhair variety came into existence when a spaniel was introduced into the gene pool to create longer hair.
The last coat type to be cultivated was the wirehair, likely sometime in the early to mid-1800s when a terrier was used to create a stronger, wired coat that repelled water and better protected the dog when they went through the undergrowth and tunneled underground.
The Corgi is another old breed that has an interesting past. The Corgi is believed to date back to the 1200s and hails from Wales, however, a Welsh cattle dog was mentioned in the Doomsday Book from the 11th century. The Corgi is the only herding dog that is indigenous to Wales and both varieties were invaluable to herdsmen.
The Pembroke is believed to have been developed from Spitz-type dogs brought to Pembrokeshire by Vikings as they invaded the lands. The Cardigan comes more from Teckel-type dogs, similar to the Dachshund, that were brought into Wales by Celtic tribes.
Dachshund vs. Corgi: Energy Level
Energy levels actually vary per dog, not necessarily per breed. In the Dachshund, you can easily have a dog that is very high-energy and another that is more of a couch potato. The same can be said for Corgi. Both breeds were bred for a specific purpose and the bloodlines that have cultivated or fostered the working aspect of the breed will have a different kind of energy level than the poorly bred dogs of the same breed.
A Dachshund will be moderate in energy levels, getting excited when they are expected to work but being just as excited to burrow in their blankets and sleep. There are always exceptions to the rule; a Dachsie that is very high energy and difficult to live with or one that has exceptionally low energy and just wants to sleep or laze around all day.
The Corgi, both varieties, are bred to be hearty herders. They will have higher energy than the Dachshund and do require some type of job to keep them happy. A Corgi also requires more exercise than their Doxie counterparts. You will definitely need to put a lot more time and energy into training your Corgi.
Dachshund vs. Corgi: Appearance
The iconic Dachshund body, with its short legs and long back, is one of the most recognizable in the world. The long floppy ears and long, Roman noses are also characteristics of the breed that help people identify a Dachsie. There are three coat varieties for Dachshunds: short-haired, long-haired, and wire-haired, and two sizes: standard and miniature.
The Corgi, thanks to the late Queen Elizabeth, is also an iconic breed that most people will recognize. They too have long backs and short legs but that really is where the similarities end. Both Corgi breeds have ears that are erect, longer muzzles, and short, thick coats. They are also heavier-boned than a Dachshund. The Pembroke Corgi may or may not have a tail and the Cardigan Corgi has to have a tail.
Dachshund vs. Corgi: Temperament
The temperament of a well-bred Dachshund is somewhat stubborn and extremely smart, but also pretty laid-back and loyal to a fault. A Dachshund will love all members of its family but they will pick one special person to be “their person” and the one they love the most. A well-bred Dachshund will not be nutty or overly needed, they will also not be snappy or aggressive but will be wary of strangers.
A Corgi is a happy-go-lucky dog with their family but can be aloof and alert when around strangers or put in strange situations. The Corgi is always looking for their next task and is ready to get to work. A well-bred Corgi will be adaptable to most situations and will be able to fit well into a family setting. While the Corgi is not necessarily a kid’s dog, they will tolerate children that are respectful.
Dachshund vs. Corgi: Exercise Need
Exercise needs for a Dachshund vs a Corgi are pretty basic; both do need a good amount of exercise for their bodies and their minds. Both being intelligent breeds bred for a specific purpose, you will want to foster their natural abilities rather than try to suppress them.
Dachshunds should be able to run in a controlled environment, do barn hunts, earth dog trials, play fetch, and dig through tunnels, this is what they were bred to do. The Corgi, both breeds, were bred to herd, therefore, get them active in herding trials, let them run in a controlled setting, play fetch, go swimming, anything that keeps them active and wears them out.
There are also plenty of games that you can play with either a Doxie or a Corgi that will stimulate their minds. From commercially-made interactive toys to hide-and-seek games you can plan at home, you want to keep them mentally sharp. I play games with both my Dachshunds and my daughter’s Corgis where I hide special treats throughout the house or yard and then let them search for them.
Dachshund vs. Corgi: Potential Health Risks
One of the biggest health risks for Dachshunds is of course degenerative disc disease (IVDD). With the elongated back, back injuries are also another big concern for Dachshund owners. PRA is another potential health problem in Dachsie, but genetic testing will help you know if your dog is affected by PRA. Obesity and heart issues go hand-in-hand in both breeds, so it is best to keep the excess fat off your companion.
Due to their elongated backs, DM and IVDD are concerns as are generalized back injuries and sprains. You do not want your Corgi to become obese and put a strain on their spine. The Corgi breeds also have issues with EIC, vWD1, and PRA, all thankfully have genetic tests available to use as tools for breeders to work toward eradicating these diseases.
Dachshund vs. Corgi: Grooming Needs
A shorthair Dachshund does not have much grooming needs aside from keeping nails trimmed, whiskers trimmed, and ears cleaned, there is not much else. A bath four to six times a year is ideal for a shorthair Doxie. A longhair and wirehair Dachsie will require more grooming including brushing for the longhair and plucking on the wirehair, they will also need a bath at least six times a year.
You would think with the Corgi having short hair their grooming needs would be minimal. But, they are a double-coated breed and they do shed, especially when the seasons change or a female goes through a heat cycle. I generally say a Corgi should be brushed once a week with their nails and whiskers trimmed every few weeks. They need a bath and ear cleaning every six weeks or so.
Dachshund vs. Corgi: Trainability
Many people ask which is more difficult to train, a Dachshund or a Corgi and my answer is always the same: it depends on the dog, not the breed. I have had some Dachshunds that have been super easy to train and I have had some that are so stubborn you want to throttle them (just kidding) joyfully.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a little more stubborn, in general than the Pembroke Welsh Corgi with the Pembroke being a softer dog by nature. However, that does not mean they are all easy to train. Each dog is different and I have had some that are motivated by praise and treats and I have had some that could care less and want to do what they want no matter what.
Consistency in training as well as positive reinforcement is what works best for both a Dachshund and a Corgi. The best thing is that both breeds are notoriously food motivated and a favorite treat will motivate them to do as you ask. Keep training sessions short and upbeat and always end on a positive.
Dachshund vs. Corgi: Friendliness
A well-bred Doxie puppy will be able to ease into a family seamlessly. As a rule, we do not place Dachshund puppies with families that have small children, usually under five years old. This is not because the puppy cannot handle being in a family with young children, it is because young children under the age of five years are a bit clumsy and can easily trip and fall on a puppy causing injury. We have the same rule for Corgi puppies as well.
Asking whether a puppy is cat friendly is a double-edged sword sometimes. Generally, our puppies are not exposed to cats until they are older so when they go to homes with an established cat they learn to respect that kitty. Dachshunds that have higher prey drives can chase cats if they have not learned to respect cats. Corgis are naturally curious and can push their boundaries a bit until the cat sets firm boundaries.
Corgis are friendly, but they can also be aloof and a little wary of strangers. My daughter currently has an impressive male that loves people but when he enters a new situation, he needs some time to digest the scene before he relaxes and accepts strangers. He is not one to dive right in and fawn over people. This is actually pretty typical of both Corgi breeds.
Dachshund vs. Corgi: Prices
Prices for both a Dachshund and a Corgi are all over the place from the cheap puppy mill-bred puppy or backyard breeder to a more expensive pup that is well-bred from a reputable breeder. The bottom line is that puppy mills, commercial breeders, and backyard breeders are making puppies to make money.
Reputable breeders are producing pups that preserve the breed and have been reared in a loving environment where the pup is well-socialized, healthy, and able to adjust to their new home without excessive stress. These breeders have performed genetic testing and health testing on their adult dogs to ensure they are producing healthy, genetically sound puppies.
So, down to the numbers: the cost of a well-bred Dachshund is between $1500 to $3500 depending on gender, color, size, and coat type. The cost of a well-bred Corgi will be between $1200-$30 00 depending on which breed of Corgi and the gender, color, and genetic testing completed.
Final Thoughts
Being a breeder of both Dachshunds and Corgis can be rather interesting. They are two very different types of dogs even though they are both low-stationed and long-backed. The Corgi, both breeds, are larger than the Dachshund, more muscled, and all-around more dog. They do shed quite a bit and can be dog aggressive if not properly trained. The Dachshund can also be aggressive if not properly trained.
Both breeds need a stronger-willed owner to keep them in line and lower in the pecking order. That does not mean you have to be harsh or rough with your Dachsie or Corgi, it simply means you are above them and they know their boundaries. Just like with children, dogs require boundaries to be well-adjusted members of the family and society.
I love both the Dachshund and the Corgi for different reasons. Both the Doxie and the Corgi are fun to have in your home but it will depend on your expectations and preferences as to which one is best suited for your family. There are not many families that will have both a Dachshund and a Corgi in their home, it is usually one or the other. If you’re fond of small dogs and want to keep one as pet then you can try Pomeranian and dachshund cross breed. This breed is also as good as dachshund.
