Which is Better between the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz? A Very Detailed Review.

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Versus Finnish Spitz: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and for the Finnish Spitz. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Cardigan Welsh Corgi or the Finnish Spitz

Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz: Overview

A very important difference between the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a small-sized dog while the Finnish Spitz is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Finnish Spitz belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Cardigan Welsh Corgi to the Finnish Spitz based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Cardigan Welsh Corgi Finnish Spitz
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 10 inches to 1 foot tall at the shoulder 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Weight 25 to 38 pounds 20 to 35 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2100 $900
Price Range $1250 – $3000 $600 – $1100
Temperament Score 80.5 percent 72.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • approved laboratory
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy 3 (PRA) DNA Test
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 70 179
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 26 43

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Finnish Spitz. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Cardigan Welsh Corgi is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Finnish Spitz is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a better pet than the Finnish Spitz. So, you should get the Cardigan Welsh Corgi!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz

    The Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are most similar:

  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are very easy to train.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are very playful.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are highly intelligent.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz.

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis weigh 25 to 38 pounds when fully grown. Cardigan Welsh Corgis are 10 inches to 1 foot tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Finnish Spitzs weigh 20 to 35 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Spitzs are 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Versus the Finnish Spitz

    The Cardigan Welsh Corgi has a better temperament than the Finnish Spitz.

    This is because the temperament score for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is 80.5 percent while the temperament score for the Finnish Spitz is 72.7 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 80.5 percent, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 72.7 percent, the Finnish Spitz has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz by measuring the temperaments of 77 Cardigan Welsh Corgis and 11 Finnish Spitzs.

    Price of Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Price of Finnish Spitz

    The average price of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppy is $2100. The price of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi typically ranges from $1250 – $3000. However, the price of a Cardigan Welsh Corgi can be as low as $700 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 117 Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Finnish Spitz puppy is $900. The price of the Finnish Spitz typically ranges from $600 – $1100. However, the price of a Finnish Spitz can be as low as $500 and as high as $1500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 3 Finnish Spitz puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is more expensive than the Finnish Spitz.

    Cardigan Welsh Corgi Finnish Spitz
    Average Price $2100 $900
    Price Range $1250 to $3000 $600 to $1100

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and Finnish Spitz. For different price points, the charts show how many Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppies or how many Finnish Spitz puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Cardigan Welsh Corgis. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Cardigan Welsh Corgis. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs

    A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppy or the Finnish Spitz puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    The Intelligence of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus the Intelligence of the Finnish Spitz

    Cardigan Welsh Corgi Finnish Spitz
    Intelligence Rank 26 out of 130 dog breeds 43 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Cardigan Welsh Corgi has an obedience intelligence rank of 26 out of 130 dog breeds. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Cardigan Welsh Corgis tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Finnish Spitz has an obedience intelligence rank of 43 out of 130 dog breeds. The Finnish Spitz belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Finnish Spitzs tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is more intelligent than the Finnish Spitz.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Spitz. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is 70 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Spitz is 179 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Cardigan Welsh Corgi

    Popularity of Cardigan Welsh Corgi

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Year Cardigan Welsh Corgi Popularity Rank Finnish Spitz Popularity Rank
    2013 75 170
    2014 78 174
    2015 76 178
    2016 69 179
    2017 68 177
    2018 68 184
    2019 66 183
    2020 66 187

    Which one drools more, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi or the Finnish Spitz

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis can be left alone only for a short time.

    Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    Can Cardigan Welsh Corgis Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Finnish Spitzs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi or the Finnish Spitz?

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi or the Finnish Spitz?

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis are moderately easy to groom.

    Finnish Spitzs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Wanderlust Potential: Cardigan Welsh Corgi vs. Finnish Spitz

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Finnish Spitzs have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Is the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Better for Apartment Owners than the Finnish Spitz?

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis adapt very well to apartment living.

    Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi or the Finnish Spitz?

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis are very good for new dog owners.

    Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.

    Can Cardigan Welsh Corgis Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    How Kid-friendly are Cardigan Welsh Corgis and Finnish Spitzs?

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Finnish Spitzs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Do Cardigan Welsh Corgis shed more than Finnish Spitzs?

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Finnish Spitzs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Is the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Easier to Train than the Finnish Spitz?

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis are very easy to train.

    Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.

    Does the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Finnish Spitz?

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Finnish Spitzs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Cardigan Welsh Corgis Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Spitzs?

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Finnish Spitzs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Are Cardigan Welsh Corgis good family dogs? What about Finnish Spitzs?

    Cardigan Welsh Corgis are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Finnish Spitzs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Cardigan Welsh Corgi:

  • West Highland White Terrier (84 percent match with Cardigan Welsh Corgi). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs West Highland White Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Spitz

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Finnish Spitz that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Finnish Spitz:

  • Bearded Collie (78 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi vs Bearded Collie.
  • West Highland White Terrier (79 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi vs West Highland White Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and how the Finnish Spitz compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and of the Finnish Spitz to other breeds:

    Cardigan Welsh Corgi Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Miniature Poodle     Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus German Longhaired Pointer     Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Chinese Crested     Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Irish Setter     Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Belgian Tervuren     Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Dogo Argentino     Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Cavapoo     Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Chorkie     

    Finnish Spitz Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Spitz versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Finnish Spitz versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Finnish Spitz versus Whoodle     Finnish Spitz versus Lakeland Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus Valley Bulldog     Finnish Spitz versus Bich Poo     Finnish Spitz versus Leonberger     Finnish Spitz versus Hovawart     Finnish Spitz versus King Shepherd     Finnish Spitz versus Italian Greyhound     

    Conclusion: Cardigan Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz better suits you and your family.