Corgis are great dogs. They are loyal, cute, and hard-working if need be. But let’s say that you have one of these short-legged rascals around; what other breed could you befriend them with?
Labs are indeed always up for a nice friendship. But they’re so big! If you’re living in a smaller house or apartment, the Corgi could be the biggest breed you’re willing to share a room with. So let’s go smaller.
There are a few options, don’t worry. Corgis are short, but they’re not necessarily small, so we won’t have problems finding a tinier breed. We have the Dachshund, the Jack Russell Terrier, Pugs, French Bulldogs, etc. But how about we go pocket-sized?
That’s right, the question we’re asking today is whether or not your energetic little Corgi could hang out with, you guessed it, a Chihuahua! So, do Corgis and Chihuahuas get along? Well, let’s find out!
Do Corgis And Chihuahuas Get Along?
Let’s get the answer out there right away, and we’ll explain ourselves later – YES, Corgis and Chihuahuas can get along! If well trained, any two breeds can co-exist. Not just that, they can become great friends!
The Corgi is a breed that’s been around for thousands of years. They have been shepherds, farmhands, guard dogs, and most recently – cute photo companions! But what are they like by nature?
Well, anyone who’s ever had a Corgi will tell you the same thing; they’re energetic! They like to play around, they’re loud, and they can get kind of jealous and overly-attached if you don’t raise them right.
We know that Corgis seems like a bit of an annoying option when we put it like that. But that’s the point we’re trying to make. They’re not at all annoying; they are lovely, loyal, and cute dogs. But like with the Corgi, if you bring a Chihuahua into the conversation, well, let’s just say that a couple of things would pop in your head.
They have a reputation for being angry little creatures that get carried around from place to place. Well, we’re here to clean up the names of this lovely little pocket breed.
Corgis are fascinated by the tiny Chihuahuas and vice versa. But you will need to teach them to be well-behaved. If you have a Corgi and you want to bring a Chihuahua into the family, make sure that it’s already used to other dogs and that it learned how to socialize correctly.
You might be scared that your Chihuahua will be just a bit too small for the Corgi. And we get that; just look at the size difference:
Average Height And Weight Of The Corgi
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 10.5 – 12.5 inches | 10.5 – 12.5 inches |
| Weight | 30 – 38 pounds | 25 – 34 pounds |
Average Height And Weight Of The Chihuahua
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6 – 9 inches | 6 – 9 inches |
| Weight | 3 – 6 pounds | 2 – 9 pounds |
Just look at those numbers! At first glance, you’ll see that the Corgi weighs almost seven times as much as the Chihuahua. That’s scary, we admit. But dogs get used to each other, don’t worry. Some supervision is needed at the beginning of their relationship. But after a while, they’ll be fine on their own.
The most crucial factor here is to make sure that your dog knows how to handle other dogs and learn how to socialize from a young age. If this is the case, your Corgi will be ready for any breed, animal, or person you throw at it.
It’s all about your dog specifically. If it knows how to behave around others, you won’t have problems introducing it to any breed. Likewise, if the Chihuahua knows how to socialize, it will handle a Corgi with ease.
But if that’s the case, why do the tiny Chihuahuas get such a bad rep? Let’s figure it out:
Why Do Chihuahuas Have A Bad Reputation?
Chihuahuas are just like any other dog. They love to play around, sleep, cuddle, and chase each other. But the thing is that when you carry your dog around when outside and keep it away from other dogs, it will start to get anxious.
See, that angry reputation that follows these cute dogs results from them not being allowed to act like real dogs! They are labeled a toy breed, which is understandable. But they are proper dogs! They need to meet other dogs and learn how to socialize with them.
Sure, that can be a bit scary when talking about a 6-pound dog, but it is necessary. All that anger you see in them is actually fear. Most of them don’t get to meet other dogs or people, so they’re scared when they’re introduced to a new friend. They’re trying to protect themselves.
It’s an understandable response, and we shouldn’t judge them for it. But it is something to take into consideration. Because of all this, it is best to introduce Corgis and Chihuahuas at an early age. This way, they’ll both learn how to deal with each other right away.
We understand that that’s not always an option, but if it is – it’s the best one. The best way to teach a dog how to socialize is, well, to let it socialize! This is not like teaching them how to obey some random command; it’s something that’s in them at birth.
Dogs love to play with other dogs, and the only thing that can make them forget how to do it is keeping them away from each other.
This is not surprising; humans work the same way. We can sometimes forget how to behave around other people if we’ve been stuck in the apartment for days on end. Puppies are no different! So always make sure to give your dog (no matter what breed it is) the chance to meet other dogs.
So as long as you make sure your Chihuahua learns how to behave in social situations, it will find a Corgi to be a great friend! The angry responses are just fear and anxiety. You need to treat them like dogs, darn it!
What You Can Do As The Owner?
Alright, so let’s say that you have a Corgi, and you’re trying to bring a Chihuahua into the mix. Let’s also say that this specific Chihuahua is not exactly great with other dogs. What should you do?
Well, firstly, you need to understand that no two dogs are the same! Some like to play with others; some don’t. And it’s not just about playing; sure, the dogs will learn how to run around; that’s the easy part. But anxiety? That’s a whole different problem.
When two dogs meet for the first time, there are a couple of things that can happen:
Firstly, if they’re young, they’ll probably be extremely excited, and you won’t be able to catch the rascals within a few minutes! Okay, so let’s take a look at the other options:
Introducing A Chihuahua To Your Pet Corgi
The Corgi is probably a happy little puppy so that you won’t have problems on that side. But if it’s older and not used to other dogs, you could run into some problems right away. Corgis are loyal dogs that want to protect you from any sort of danger (this is something they have in common with the Chihuahua).
Because of this, your Corgi may be a bit grumpy in the beginning. Expect lots of barking and suspicious sniffing. They will probably learn to deal with each other, but it’s not something you can force.
Always give your dogs enough time to get to know each other. That doesn’t just mean leaving them alone for a while and letting them work it out – that can be a terrible idea under the circumstances!
If you leave your Corgi alone with a dog that it doesn’t like, you’ll probably find the new dog in a corner, scared when you come back home. Corgis are a tough little breed. They have been herding cattle much larger than themselves without problems. You can imagine then that a Chihuahua is no match for the short-legged guardian.
Make sure that the introduction happens slowly. If possible, give them a little time to get to know each other, but separate them when you’re not around. After a while, you’ll be able to leave them alone, of course, but make sure that it’s a slow process for them. Give it time!
Introducing A Corgi To A Chihuahua
This is the other option that we must mention. If you have a Chihuahua that is used to socializing with other dogs, it’s going to be a walk in the park! But let’s see what you can do if the situation is not so perfect:
As we already mentioned, a Chihuahua that hasn’t learned how to socialize with other dogs probably has an anxiety problem. When bringing a Corgi into such a home, you will need to make sure that it is a slow process, so your Chihuahua can adapt.
They will probably seem very angry as if they want to attack the Corgi and run it out of the home. Don’t worry; this is nothing more than fear turning into aggression. Still, this is something that needs to be addressed carefully.
Respect you Chihuahua, it just doesn’t know what to do, and it’s scared! Keep the introductions in a small time frame at the start. The Corgi will probably want to play around, so it’s not going to give you many problems. It’s not their house, so they won’t feel the need to protect it; it’s the other way around this time.
After the first introduction, ease into the new relationship by leaving the dogs alone for a short period. Stay close and try to supervise the situation as much as you can. But be aware that your Chihuahua needs to develop some confidence so it can stay alone with the new dog!
Related Read: 15 Corgi Mixed Breeds (with Pictures)
Final Words
As long as you are patient and understand your dogs well, you won’t have much trouble. Sure, if you have an older dog that is used to being alone, you will run into some resistance. But it’s nothing that can’t be handled.
These two breeds go together well, so even if it takes a while, a friendship will emerge! You know your dog better than anyone, so just make sure to ease into the process. It’s not easy becoming a new member of the family.
As long as you love them both equally – they will go together like two peas in a pod.
Learn More: What Are Corgis Related To?