Beagles and corgis are both fantastic, playful, and friendly dogs. Both beagles and corgis originated in the United Kingdom and were developed for different purposes. Beagles were traditionally bred as scent hounds mainly for hunting, while corgis were used as herding dogs and helped to drive the cattle and livestock. Beagles and corgis are medium-sized dogs and have a lot of similarities. They both are charming and adorable and will leave you torn between choosing one or the other.
Overall, corgis and beagles have almost the same weight and life span and both breeds require relatively low maintenance. In this article, I’ll highlight some important differences that you should know if you’re deciding between the two breeds.
Overview of Beagles
Beagles are small, medium-sized dogs and usually grow up to the height of 15 inches at the shoulder and weigh around 30 pounds. Beagles are small and sturdy. Beagles were used by the hunters to track scents of small animals like rabbits and hare. They are smart, intelligent, active dogs, and need ample amounts of playtime to account for their energy levels. They do not have a very thick coat, so they can find it difficult to adjust to cold conditions. Beagles are mainly found in the tri-colored patchy designs of white, black and tan.
Overview of Corgis
There are two distinct breeds of corgis – Pembroke Welsh and the Cardigan Welsh. Many people often confuse these two separate breeds.
You can quickly tell them apart from their physical appearances. Cardigan has a longer tail and rounded ears at the tip, whereas pembroke has a short stubby tail, shorter body, and pointed ears. Pembrokes are considered to be dwarf breeds with short legs. They are 10 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder and can weigh about 24 to 30 pounds.
Pembroke has a medium-length topcoat with a short undercoat. This double coat of hair provides them protection in extreme winters. But they also shed a lot of hair and lose the softer undercoat in summer. Both pembroke and cardigan come in an array of colors such as red, black, brown, tri-colored, brindle, and fawn with white markings.
Temperament and Behavior
Both beagles and corgis need lot of physical exercises regularly in order to maintain healthy weights. Beagles love to use their noses and enjoy trailing scents and chasing game. Therefore they should be kept on a leash during walks and also in public places. You should also have high fenced sturdy yards for beagles, as their noses can take them places outside the fence, and they are notorious escape artists.
They can be inordinately obstinate, but they do respond well to positive reinforcement and are especially food motivated. Beagles love the outdoors and can become your best walking or hiking companions. Beagles are mainly friendly and less aggressive towards other animals like dogs and cats compared to other breeds.
Corgis are friendly with other animals like cats and dogs, and have been known to be great cohabitors in the same house.
However, they can show a lot of aggression towards other dogs and cats at the dog park or animals that may enter your yard.
Early socialization can make them less territorial with other animals. Corgis were used for herding and helped farmers in rounding up their sheep and cattle. They can show this herding instinct when they encounter unknown dogs and cats and this may cause them to start chasing them.
Both beagles and corgis are highly energetic dogs and need to be regularly walked and taken outside. They both have outgoing personalities and love participating in outdoor activities.
Corgis make lovely guard dogs due to their herding pedigree, and are willing to go to great lengths to protect their homes, despite their tiny stature.
Both beagles and corgis love to bark, and they tend to bark much more than the average dog. So if you have neighbors who do not appreciate loud dogs, you should think twice before getting either of these breeds.
Beagles and corgis don’t like living alone and crave a lot of attention and company. Regular playtime and exercise can keep them happy and prevent behavior problems linked with loneliness or separation anxiety.
Intelligence and Training Ability
Beagles are some of the best scent hounds in the world, and are known to have adaptive intelligence. They are curious and independent dogs, but this also makes them somewhat stubborn, and at times it can be challenging to get them to obey your orders and commands.
But it is not impossible to train them. Beagles are very talented and with the right obedience training, they can be very helpful around the house. They work best when an alpha of the pack is established, and establishing yourself as the head of the pack early on is the best way to make sure they respect your authority.
Beagles can get easily distracted with smells because of their powerful noses, which can impede some parts of training.
Because they’re very food motivated, using treats is an essential part of standard beagle obedience training, and it will help you keep their attention even in the most distracting types of environments.
Corgis are considered more intelligent than beagles and are easy to train. They are always eager to get trained as they want to please their owner and make them happy.
They are instinctively intelligent and can understand a situation quickly. They are quite observant and shift their tactics instantly. This keeps them efficient at their job, but this behavior can be irritating in a domestic environment.
Corgis have a history of herding and would nip at the feet of the cattle. Therefore they should never be left alone with small children less than seven years old as they can playfully nip at their feet. Corgis are smart and bold but like beagles, they can be stubbornly single-minded.
They love to eat and can easily be motivated to get trained. Corgis love indulging in sports and other physical activities. Keep your training sessions small as long training sessions can bore them.
They can learn obedience commands successfully, but it entails a lot of patience and hard work on the part of their owner.
Beagles and corgis are both sensitive dog breeds and have a stubborn streak in them. This trait makes it challenging to make them comply with basic obedience orders and commands. Never use verbal punishments while training them. Negative reinforcement isn’t an effective method for these types of breeds, and will just make behavioral issues worse.
For this reason, positive reinforcement should be used to encourage them during the training process. Both beagle and corgi need ample mental stimulation, and therefore use a lot of interactive toys during playtime to stimulate their minds.
Price and Availability
The cost of a beagle puppy can range between $400 to $1000 depending on the breeder and your location. A beagle with a superior pedigree can cost around $1500 and higher.
For decades corgis have been recognized as the beloved breed of Queen Elizabeth II. They are very popular and can cost quite a lot as well. A cardigan corgi is slightly more expensive than the Pembroke, as cardigan corgis are not as readily available. Pure corgi breeds from reputable breeders can cost you between $600 to $1000.
Apart from the cost of the purchase of a corgi, you need to keep in mind the grooming cost as well. Corgis shed their coats frequently throughout the year, and shed off a lot more fur than beagles.
Generally, they lose their full coat’s worth in full about twice a year. So you will need to buy a lot of grooming supplies or pay for grooming services.
These breeds aren’t particularly rare, and you should have an easy time finding either of them at your local pet shelters as well. We always encourage rescuing animals if possible, so try to reach out to all of the shelters around you before pursuing breeders if it interests you.
Health and Lifespan
Beagles have overall good health, but as they love eating, they can quickly become obese. Because of this, regular exercise is paramount to keeping them healthy.
It is a known fact that small breeds of dogs live longer than the larger dogs, and beagles and corgis are no different. Apart from size, other factors that affect a dog’s longevity are diet, genetics, and vaccinations. A beagle lives for about 12 to 15 years, but their lifespan varies significantly, and they can live up to 17 years.
Due to their floppy ears, beagles are susceptible to ear infections. Beagles can also develop other health problems like epilepsy, cherry eye, hypothyroidism, heart disease, intervertebral disk disease, and even cancer, which can significantly lower those age ranges.
Both types of corgis have almost the same lifespan. The average lifespan of a corgi is 12 years, and females tend to live a few years longer than the males. However, the unique shape of corgis can sometimes cause serious health issues curtailing this average lifespan.
Corgis have bulky bodies and short legs. This makes them susceptible to fractures or back strains, as well as mobility issues that can significantly affect their lifestyle. Corgis have achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, and are immensely vulnerable to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Their spines can rupture and become herniated easily, causing inflammation and pain and even paralysis.
Because of their dwarf frames, extra weight can be detrimental to their health. Obesity can lead to other health problems like joint pain, heart diseases, breathing difficulties, and skin and hair problems. With proper care, your corgi or beagle should be around you for a long time and live a long and fulfilling life.
Final Thoughts
Both beagles and corgis are adorable breeds that can become loyal family members. They are charming, playful, outgoing, and great with kids.
You can play endless games of fetch with them and enjoy long walks, as they both have bounds of energy. Beagles and corgis both love attention and affection, and will pay you back in tonnes with their cuddles and love.
To decide which one is better out of the two would be a difficult task. Good luck to you. I hope you find the right dog that aligns with your lifestyle. Do your research and find out which one suits your family’s needs the best.