How much exercise does a Corgi need?

With its short legs, the small Corgi makes a rather leisurely impression. But is that true? Is the Corgi a couch potato or does he need a lot of exercise?

Contrary to popular belief, the Corgi needs a relatively large amount of exercise. They are classic herding dogs from Wales and definitely not lap dogs. The Corgi needs at least 1 hour of exercise and activity per day, sometimes more, to be happy. The foundation should be long walks where the Corgi has time to explore the surroundings, sniff and run free.

Why is sufficient exercise important?

Unfortunately, we see more and more dogs that are overweight. Being overweight is just as harmful for dogs as it is for people.

The little Corgi is a greedy eater and tends to get fat quickly if he doesn’t get enough exercise.

If the Corgi becomes too fat, he is prone to back, hip and joint problems due to his build.

So if you want a healthy Corgi, make sure it gets enough exercise and activity to keep it from getting fat.

If your Corgi is well exercised it is possible to left him alone for 2 to 4 hours

How much exercise does a Corgi puppy need?

Corgi puppies usually need about 5 minutes of exercise per month of life.  This means that you can walk a 4-month-old puppy for about 20 minutes at a time.

However, the 5 minutes is only a rough guideline and you need to check with your Corgi individually whether it can still concentrate or whether it is already tired.

Normal walks are very exhausting for puppies. The noises, smells, other dogs and people, your puppy has to process all this first.

As the muscles, joints and bones are not yet fully developed, you should not overload them in the first months to avoid damage later on.

It is not recommended that you take your 4-month-old Corgi for a 1.5-hour walk in the woods. Although he may be physically able to do it, or do it for your sake, you are responsible for the health of your Corgi puppy.

Activities with the Corgi

Walks

the daily basis of your activities should be walks, preferably in nature. The Corgi needs at least 1 hour of exercise .

A walk does not directly make a Corgi physically tired, but it does exercise him physically as well as mentally.

This is only possible if you give your Corgi time to sniff during the walk and, above all, give him the opportunity to run free in between.

If your goal is to finish the walk quickly and your dog has to walk beside you on the lead, this is boring for your Corgi and not a nice activity.

I always compare it to children. They don’t want to go for a walk with you either. But if you take them to the forest and they can run cross country and climb they have fun and are happy.

So give your Corgi something exciting to do on the walk to make the run a success.

Fetch games

The Corgi also likes to play fetch. Either play with him in the garden or in a nearby meadow, or take a dummy or something else to retrieve with you on your walk.

Retrieving is the perfect way to give your Corgi a real workout once again. Running back and forth and retrieving is a physical activity, but also a mental one.

Hiking

In addition to daily walks, it is also a welcome change for your Corgi if you take a weekend trip to a lake, the mountains or another woode.

Take 2 to 3 hours for a walk with your Corgi. But don’t forget to take water with you. Especially in summer, make sure your dog drinks enough.

Tug Games

If you don’t have time or the weather doesn’t allow your Corgi to get enough exercise, tug-of-war games are a great way to keep him physically active.

Tug Games with a rope or other toy is not only a welcome activity for dogs, it also strengthens their muscles.

However, it is important to adapt the tugging game to your Corgi and not to hurt him. You can’t play as hard with a Corgi as I do with my Cane Corso, who currently weighs 46 kg at 70 cm.

The good thing about a nice tug-game is that you can train the command “drop it” at the same time and combine the mental component with the physical component.

Each time your Corgi lets go of the tug-toy on the command “Drop it”, praise him and then continue the game as an extra reward.

Agility

When you think of agility, you don’t immediately think of the Corgi. At first glance, the small dog with short stubby legs does not look like an athlete who can be successful in a sport dominated by, for example, the Border Collie.

On Youtube, for example, there is an agility video in which a Corgi and a Border Collie alternately run through the course. You don’t see much difference. Only the obstacles that have to be jumped over are adapted to the size of the corgi.

Running with Corgis?

By now we know that the small Corgi, as a true herding dog, needs a lot of exercise. You can even jog with a Corgi.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind.

You should not jog with your Corgi until he is fully grown. Before then, the strain on the bones and joints is too great and can have a negative effect later on.

Start slowly and get your Corgi used to exercise. Even if he loves to run, you can’t run 5 km with him right away. Build smaller sections into your walk where you run faster and increase the pace each time.

Use a harness for running. If your Corgi runs faster than you and pulls on the leash or jumps unexpectedly to the right or left, the risk of injury is greater with a collar.

Avoid strenuous runs in the heat. It is best to go jogging early in the morning or late in the evening when it is cooler. The same applies to agility, of course.

Hearding Ball

Playing with the hearding ball is a welcome form of activity for the herding dog. It’s where they are in their element.

Mental stimulation

Besides all the physical activities, it is also important to keep the Corgi mentally stimulated.

Train basic commands, e.g. obedience or even small tricks. All the things that require the Corgi to “think” are a form of mental exercise and just as important as the physical ones.

Search games

Nose work is also a way to tire out your Corgi. Either hide treats around the house or garden and let him search or sniff for them. Or you can use a sniffing carpet.

Is a Corgi right for you?

A Corgi suits you if you enjoy being active with your dog. Of course, you do not have to do all of the above activities with your Corgi. They are only meant to give you an overview of what is possible.

Daily walks, a longer excursion into nature and smaller play sessions are sufficient as a basis.

Corgis are suitable for first time dog owners if you are willing to deal with the special requirements in terms of training and exercise.

A Corgi is not for you if you are looking for a dog that lies next to you on the couch and only goes around the block to pee.

He may not need as much exercise as a Border Collie, but as an original herding dog, even the small Corgi needs a certain amount of exercise and activity.

Signs of too little exercise

If your Corgi is not getting enough exercise, he will find something to do. Corgis are herding dogs, as mentioned earlier. They were bred for work and need exercise.

If there is not enough quality exercise and activity, your Corgi may

• start barking or yapping excessively
• Destroys objects in your home by chewing on them
• Runs nervously around the house

Conclusion: Does a Corgi need a lot of exercise?

It depends on what you consider a lot.

With at least one hour of quality exercise in the form of daily walks and additional mental activity, e.g. through education, a Corgi is definitely not one of those breeds that need little exercise and activity.

Remember, it is the quality of exercise that is most important, not the quantity. 

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