Exercising Corgis

[Michael Romanos]

Young Corgis and healthy adult Corgis needs lots of exercise. My rule of thumb is at least 45min-1 hour daily. And even senior Corgis needs regular daily workouts to maintain health (incl mental well-being).

Be aware of the temperatires and humidity. Best times to exercise a Corgi maybe earlier or later than usual. Provide your Corgi with a place out of the sun to cool down afters.

Get into a tempo when Corgi is on-leash. Try to go at their pace if they walk (not run, trot or bunnyhop) quickly.

Keep it simple and fun. Corgis love long walks or to play and roam off-leash in available areas. Corgis also live to spend some of their exercising times in scenting. This is almost as important as being on the move.

Track your Corgi's weight as part of food intake and exercising, in order to maintain ideal weight or to get down to the ideal weight.

[MattC]

Hi Michael,
I take Nick to the dog park every weekend where I can let him "open up" for a good hour or so. On the weekdays he gets 1/2 hour walks 3 times a day and a 15 minute "peewalk" before bed time. He has a few friends that he really loves chasing off leash at the park, one coon hound in particular. However I have noticed that when we are done at the dog park and Nick is relaxed, he walks around as if he is achy. No prominent limping but he walks like he just ran a marathon. I chalk this up to just a little stiffness after some hard playing. but I thought I would check with you if this is something you have experienced with your puppies.

[MyPemCharlie]

I noticed something similar with Charlie a couple of evenings ago. He went off on one of the longest (time-wise) and fastest FRAPs around the backyard I'd ever seen in reaction to me turning on the power sprayer to hose down the patio. It was pretty funny, but I did notice about an hour or so later, he was walking a little slower and seemed a bit stiff. He was just fine the next morning.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by MattC

However I have noticed that when we are done at the dog park and Nick is relaxed, he walks around as if he is achy. No prominent limping but he walks like he just ran a marathon. I chalk this up to just a little stiffness after some hard playing. but I thought I would check with you if this is something you have experienced with your puppies.

Not Michael, but compare it to a Monday morning after you played a hard game of tag football, soccer, tennis - (fill in your sport) on the weekend. He's over exerted himself a bit.

Debbie

[fogebotom]

I would liken it to a weekend warrior--if you just did gentle walks around the neighborhood yourself then went out on the weekend and played a full game of football, soccer, rugby or what not. I know I always feel stiff and over exerted.

Or like the first time I do a full fledged trail ride with the horses, I feel it for days afterwards. If I slowly work myself up to a longer and longer ride in weeks prior, then I can not suffer as much after the big one.

Actually, I need to find the link, but they say unless there is a reason to train stamina in your dog, the first 15 mins or so of play for a dog is the most benefical to them-the rest is just icing on the cake.

[MattC]

I had a suspicion that he may have over did it a little. Thanks for putting my worries at rest

[Peggy]

You know, I've known lots of corgis that have done just well with short walks or with running in their own back yards.

Corgis have proven to be good apartment dogs and sometimes owners can't walk the dog for a long time (sometimes 45 min. to an hour is too long for some owners.) Apt. dogs obviously get multiple walks a day to go potty, and multiple shorter walks are just fine too.

Corgis have not been known to be a breed known for needed tons of exercise. They are known for being a moderate needs dog.

And yes, they do enjoy going for walks, but it's just fine to adjust that to your time and ability and your dog's time and ability. There are no hard and fast rules.

I've found corgis to be very adaptable. They adjust to what they're owners want for the most part. There are some corgis that are very high energy, those from "working lines" and they might need more exercise than the "average" corgi. However, the "average corgi" from reputable breeders will adapt to what the owner needs them to.

I've also known dogs (and corgis too) that have never had the opportunity to be off leash outside of their own yards and they too have been just fine.

Again, there are many correct ways to raise corgis or dogs in general.

Peggy

[Jane Austen]

Thanks for your view Peggy, I have sometimes felt guilty that I haven't had Duchess out walking for exercise for a few days at a time in bad weather or illness on my part. Duchess does not play much in the house. Fetch is the only thing that gets her to run about, and then only for a little while. Good weather I have her out two or more times a day just for walking. Jane

[Michael Romanos]

In my experience, healthy non-senior Corgis with good bone and in having been very carefully fed as puppies up til 12 months or even a little beyond, are not going to feel or show the effects of solid exercising. A good workout should be taken in his/her stride.
Taylor was out today either fast walking or off-leash for 90 mimutes and he is fit enough to look as though he could spend another 90 minutes romping around. Mind you his exercising is fairly consistent. I always believe in a longer blowout once or twice a week.

[MyPemCharlie]

Originally Posted by Jane Austen

Thanks for your view Peggy, I have sometimes felt guilty that I haven't had Duchess out walking for exercise for a few days at a time in bad weather or illness on my part. Duchess does not play much in the house. Fetch is the only thing that gets her to run about, and then only for a little while. Good weather I have her out two or more times a day just for walking. Jane

I always feel guilty too on rainy days when we don't get outdoors too. We normally spend an hour out in the back yard first thing. I drink my coffee and throw balls out for Charlie to retrieve for breakfast kibble treats. He only retrieves for about 20 minutes, but walks about the yard or chases squirrels the rest of the time. We walk 2.5 miles at mid-day (about an hour), then we go out in the backyard for 15-20 minutes each three or four more times from afternoon to bedtime.

When it rains, Charlie barks and whines a lot and I feel guilty! He also does not play much in the house as I've pretty much conditioned him to play outside and rest inside. Peggy's right about Corgis being great at adjusting to whatever activity level the owner wants.

[bailey]

Has anyone tried running with their corgis? My Bailey is almost 1 and I wanted to start running outside now that it's gotten a little warmer but I don't know if he'll enjoy it as much as I would considering I like to go for 3 mile runs. I tried it the other day and he started lagging behind and it wasn't even a mile and then he plopped down on his belly in the turkey position on the grass. Lol! Some times i'll try to tug him and then he'll roll onto his back and get dragged a little bit on the grass. Anyways, I'm wondering if he just needs to build up his endurance to go on a jog or if this isn't a good idea with a corgi.

Hedi

[Bailey's driver]

As the seasons change and My Bailey and I get different amounts of exercise I can see Bailey's stamina, and his aerobic ability change a little, like mine does. I'm not in very good shape in the spring, but by fall my stamina is very high, from the increased exercise in the warmer weather. We exercise all winter, but not as hard and not for as long.
Be carefull of your Bailey in the warmer weather, mine gets hot very easily.