Generally, small dogs have a lot of energy but are rarely interesting for sports. Welsh Corgis are very smart, compact and cute pets. Overall, this dog breed is an amazing active companion for families. Don’t be fooled by their small size, these balls of energy need good exercise every day!
Recently, I began to be interested in what physical activity these funny energetic buddies could enjoy. Dog running is one of my favorite sports to enjoy with a furry friend. Are Welsh Corgis good running partners? Let me share with you some useful facts I found with my research!
Unfortunately, Corgis aren’t incredible jogging companions. These dogs could enjoy brisk walks more than slow jogs. Nonetheless, Welsh Corgis are very good sprinters! These small dogs aren’t suitable for long runs such as marathons or cross country. Despite that, they could make good running partners for short runs around 1 or 2 miles!
How Much Exercise Does Your Corgi Need?
As a Welsh Corgi owner, you could know how much energy these animals can have. Even if they are small, they need plenty of exercise time. The origin of your buddy can explain a lot about how much exercise he needs. Welsh Corgis require at least one hour of daily exercise!
These working dogs were usually found on farms. This interesting fact can explain why they need that much physical activity. What kind of exercise do they need? Daily walks, fun activities and mental stimulation are essential for their health and happiness!
Usually, walking is an excellent way to spend a good time with your buddy. This activity is awesome to go outside and enjoy daily exercise! Your companion will have specific needs for physical and mental stimulation. That’s why it’s so important to know your dog very well!
Jogging can also be very interesting for them, but they won’t be able to keep up with a fast endurance runner. Other alternatives to enjoy the outdoors could be something like hunting, fishing or hiking! Running with your Corgi regularly, you will give them the physical and mental stimulation they need. You will also need to exercise with some daily walk, active games or any kind of playtime!
Interesting Facts About Corgis!
Now let’s dive into some surprising things I found in my research. These smart dogs have a lot of things to talk about. To know your dog well, learning more about the breed is useful. When I did that on my dog, I learned a lot about his needs and why she was doing some weird things. I highly recommend you do your research to find many important things on your dog. Here are some interesting facts I discovered about Welsh Corgis!
There Are Two Breeds of Corgis!
That’s the first information I find very surprising. There are the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Even if they are two separate breeds, they are very similar. The main differences are that the Cardigan has a longer tail, and he’s slightly larger than the Pembroke. Whatever you have a Pembroke or Cardigan Corgi, this article will give you good information!
These Are Very Smart Dogs!
Not long ago Corgis were usually working to herd sheep. What does it mean for an owner of this type? Like many working dogs, they will always need to find something to work on or to accomplish some tasks. This can be very cool, but this also means they need a lot of mental stimulation with games or toys such as dog puzzles!
They Like Dog Training.
These intelligent dogs will enjoy a lot to be well trained. This could take less than 30-60 minutes to learn all the basic commands. This will be very useful if you want to use voice cues while teaching how to run or any other activities to you Corgi!
Corgis Are Awesome!
There is a lot of other interesting information about this breed. If you own one you probably discover many surprising facts about your buddy. Let’s continue to understand if you can run or jog with Corgis!
Are Corgis Good Running Partners?
Yes and no, this will depend on many elements that you can’t control. For their size and body, they are amazing runners. These dogs are on average 10 to 12 inches (25-30 cm) tall and weigh between 23 and 28 pounds (10-13 kg). That is not the ideal shape to be a good running partner!
However, Corgis are surprisingly very interesting jogging partners for short distances. These small furry animals won’t be suitable to run a marathon or do intense running such as cross country or canicross!
Not every dog of this breed will be able to run with their owner. Most Corgis will have enough energy to do such an intense sport. Nonetheless, energy alone isn’t the only thing that makes a good running partner!
Is Your Welsh Corgi Is Suitable For Running?
Here are some elements to look at to know if your buddy can jog safely! The breed is usually a useful element to analyze, but Corgis aren’t awesome natural runners. Fortunately, their herding instinct shows some potential to run with them!
Health.
This is the most important thing to analyze before your companion starts any intense activity. Any kind of heart, respiratory, structure, bones or muscle issues should restrict you buddy from running! The easiest and more efficient way to know if your dog is in good health is a professional analysis. Corgis can have back, hip, joint, and many other problems because of their unproportionate body. That’s why you need to visit your vet before introducing your dog to jogging. This is crucial for enjoying this amazing dog sport safely!
Size.
The best running dogs are normally medium-sized. There are some exceptions such as Jack Russell Terriers or Beagles. Small buddies will be more efficient for short and brisk jogs. This should help you to understand what type of running is better for your Corgi!
Desire.
Some dogs won’t want to go jogging at all. That’s fine, don’t force them to try this intense activity if they don’t want it. That’s why I highly recommend letting them introduce you to running! (With some motivation.)
Overall.
There are many other conditions to look at before you go running with your Corgi! Most dogs love to run, so your buddy should have any problem with desire. As long as your companion is in good health and shape, you can introduce them to jogging. Make sure your dog is always alright before, during and after every run!
Can Welsh Corgis Run Long Distances?
These small buddies aren’t suitable for long-distance runs. This breed may not be the best partner for marathon runners. However, you could try longer walks instead of running. A healthy Corgi could be able to hike between 6 and 8 miles with a slow to moderate pace!
Their stamina is quite good for a slower pace and extremely impressive for their size. For running, your cute companion is built to be a sprinter, not a distance runner. In general, they should be suitable to jog around 1 or 2 miles (2 to 3 km)!
Some well trained, healthy and experienced Corgis could maybe run more than 2 miles (3 km). The maximum running distance would be around 3 to 4 miles (5 to 6 km) for these small dogs. Your furry friend should be alright with regular 1 to 2 miles (2 to 3 km) jogs. Make sure to respect your dog’s limits for his safety!
How Can You Know if You’re Overworking Your Corgi?
Here’s some sign that you should stop running and change your dog’s training routine. While running, always pay attention to your dog to notice:
- Heavy Panting.
- Sweating.
- Sluggishness.
- Paws Injuries.
- Sore Muscle.
- Confusion.
- Vomiting.
- Etc.
When your Corgi can keep up with you there’s something wrong. If you notice any unusual signs or symptoms be wise and stop what you’re doing. Your companion could be in danger, so take care of him!
Things To Know Before Jogging With Your Corgi!
Age Matters! (Puppies or Senior dogs)
Don’t over-exercise puppies with intense activity such as running. You need to wait until they are fully grown before introducing your pup to jogging. Corgis are normally considered as adults around 12 to 14 months of age. When they stop growing, you can start to teach them how to run!
Be Careful With The Temperature!
You can’t run safely with dogs when it’s especially hot or cold. Every breed has different temperature tolerance. Welsh Corgis can tolerate heat up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30°C) and cold climates around 50°F (10°C). During physical activity, this tolerance will vary depending on the heat, the humidity, and the weather. Normally, you can’t run with your Corgi when the temperature is over 75°F (24°C) or under 45°F (7°C)!
Overweight Dogs Shouldn’t Run!
It may seem very interesting for an overweight dog, but it’s not. This can be very bad to exercise too much your companion with a few extra pounds. Intense sports could injure an overweight dog. Their heavy body will put a lot of pressure on their joints and could hurt them. Make sure your Corgi is in good health and shape before considering running with him!
Have These Things With You!
Running with your dog isn’t extremely complicated. Once you teach your dog the basic way to run, you’re almost ready to go.
Here Are Accessories And Some Gear To Not Forget!
- Water.
- Adapted Leash.
- Good Running Gear.
- Snacks.
- Waste Bags.
- Travel Bowl.
These are useful to run safely and enjoy this activity. Investing in quality gear is very interesting to be more comfortable and secure. With less than $50-$100, you can have quality gear and start enjoying regular jogging with your Corgi!
For More Serious Jogs or Hikes!
- Dog Harness.
- Hand-Free Leash.
- Running Backpack.
- Paws Wax.
This equipment could be very interesting for hiking or canicross. More advanced runners should consider investing in this gear to enjoy even more running with your dog!
Enjoy every jog with your Corgi!
My last advice would be to simply have fun during exercising. Too many dog owners take this activity as a task. You can enjoy every jog or walk with your companion, so do it. Doing a physical activity with your Corgi is good for both your bond, health, and happiness!
Last Thoughts About Running With Your Corgi!
Let’s recapitulate; Corgis are good running for very short distance jogs. They are built to be sprinters, not long-distance runners. That’s why the perfect range to jog with your companion is between 1 and 2 miles (2-3 km). Now that you know what kind of jogging companion your dog is, let me share something with you! (To thank you for your listening.)
Here Are Some Canine Activities To Try With Corgis!
- Hiking.
- Hunting.
- Fishing.
- Frisbee.
- Fetch.
- Puzzle Games.
- Long Walks.
- Dog Training.
- Tag.
- Etc.
Challenge: I also got a little challenge to help you get more active with your buddy. I dare you to try one of these activities this week!
I hope this article helps you understand why your Corgi can be a good or bad running partner. Now, let’s take action and try dog sports or physical activities with your companion. I wish you to have at least as much fun as my Labrador and me during our daily exercise routine!