Why the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is Better than the Finnish Spitz as a Pet

Last Updated: Apr 10, 2022

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Pembroke Welsh Corgi Versus Finnish Spitz: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Pembroke 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 Pembroke 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Pembroke 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi or the Finnish Spitz.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz

Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Pembroke 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.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Pembroke 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz

FactorPembroke Welsh CorgiFinnish Spitz
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Height10 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span12 to 14 years12 to 15 years
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/52/5
Weight22 to 31 pounds20 to 35 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone3/51/5
Tolerates Hot Weather3/53/5
Dog Friendly3/55/5
General Health3/54/5
Low Prey Drive3/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/52/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/53/5
Good For Novice Owners4/53/5
Easygoing2/53/5
Tolerates Cold Weather4/55/5
Kid-Friendly4/55/5
Easy To Groom4/52/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/53/5
NOT Rambunctious2/51/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/51/5
Potential For Playfulness4/55/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/53/5
Does NOT Shed1/52/5
Easy To Train5/53/5
Intelligence5/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl1/51/5
Average Lifespan13.0 years13.5 years
Average Price$1700$900
Price Range$1200 – $2000$600 – $1100
Temperament Score79.6 percent72.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds16180
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)1143

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pembroke 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 the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Finnish Spitz is 77 out of 125.

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

    Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz

    The Similarities Between the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz

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

  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Pembroke 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are very playful.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Size Comparison of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz

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

    The Pembroke Welsh Corgi weighs 22 to 31 pounds when fully grown. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is 10 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Finnish Spitz weighs 20 to 35 pounds when fully grown. The Finnish Spitz is 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Size of Finnish Spitz

    Lifespan of Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz

    The lifespan of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is 13.0 years.

    The lifespan of the Finnish Spitz is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Finnish Spitz is 13.5 years.

    The Finnish Spitz live longer than the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

    Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz

    Temperament of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Versus the Finnish Spitz

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is 79.6 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 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 79.6 percent, the Pembroke 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz by measuring the temperaments of 216 Pembroke Welsh Corgis and 11 Finnish Spitzs.

    Price of Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Price of Finnish Spitz

    The average price of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy is $1700. The price of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi typically ranges from $1200 – $2000. However, the price of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi can be as low as $100 and as high as $6500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1329 Pembroke 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 the 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi is more expensive than the Finnish Spitz.

    Pembroke Welsh Corgi Finnish Spitz
    Average Price $1700 $900
    Price Range $1200 to $2000 $600 to $1100

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Pembroke 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 Pembroke 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 to buy 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 a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

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

    Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz

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

    Pembroke Welsh Corgi Finnish Spitz
    Intelligence Rank 11 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi has an obedience intelligence rank of 11 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Pembroke 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 Pembroke 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 Pembroke 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Spitz. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is 16 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Spitz is 180 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Pembroke Welsh Corgi

    Popularity of Pembroke Welsh Corgi

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Year Pembroke Welsh Corgi Popularity Rank Finnish Spitz Popularity Rank
    2013 24 170
    2014 22 174
    2015 20 178
    2016 18 179
    2017 15 177
    2018 13 184
    2019 10 183
    2020 11 187
    2021 11 191

    Tolerates Being Alone: Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Finnish Spitz

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

    Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Pembroke Welsh Corgis shed more than Finnish Spitzs?

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

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

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

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very easy to groom.

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

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

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

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

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

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

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

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very easy to train.

    Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.

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

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

    Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

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

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

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

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

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

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

    Pembroke 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.

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

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs. Finnish Spitz

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

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

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

    Pembroke 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.

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

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis adapt very well to apartment living.

    Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very good for new dog owners.

    Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.

    Pembroke Welsh Corgi Versus Other Dog Breeds

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

    Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Spanish Mastiff     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Swedish Vallhund     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Kishu Ken     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Rottweiler     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Mudi     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus English Toy Spaniel     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Schipperke     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Miniature Schnauzer     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Giant Schnauzer     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Berger Picard     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Black Mouth Cur     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Alaskan Malamute     

    Conclusion: Pembroke 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Finnish Spitz better suits you and your family.