Are Corgis Good Off Leash? Here’s The Truth
Something I thought about a lot when deciding whether to rehome a corgi was how good they are off leash.
If you want to know whether corgis can be trusted off leash, the answer is yes. With proper training and practice, your corgi can safely enjoy running and exploring off leash without straying too far away.
For me, how good Winston was off leash was a major factor in whether I adopted him or not.
Because I love going for walks in the park and hiking across the countryside, and I wanted a dog that could explore freely with me! Not be tethered to me by a leash 24/7.
So after three years with Winston, I’ve picked up a few tips on what really works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to off leash training.
In this article, I’ll share the key commands to teach your corgi from a young age to get them comfortable off leash and 5 tips to accelerate this process.
How to train your corgi to be good off leash
To set your corgi up for success off leash, start obedience training from an early age. If you can incorporate a clicker into this training, even better.
I recommend you start this training from 8-12 weeks of age. The more consistent and committed you are, the quicker the learning curve will be for your corgi.
Basic commands
We all want our corgis to experience the joy of running free and exploring their surroundings, but it’s imperative that they’re aware of the rules before they do.
Because while there’s always a small risk associated with letting your corgi off leash, proper training will decrease the chance of them getting into trouble.
Here are seven basic commands to teach your corgi:
- Stay
- Look
- Drop it
- Recall
- Heel (on and off leash)
- Loose leash walking
- Go to its place
Make sure your corgi is confident with these commands before you let them off leash in an unenclosed area.
Long leash
A long leash is an effective way to practice recall without the risk of letting your corgi completely off leash.
Because here’s the thing: You might feel confident letting your corgi off leash in your garden or an enclosed area close to home.
You let them free and would you believe it, your corgi comes back to you fairly well when called!
But then you go to the park and your corgi seems to forget their name entirely. You let them off leash and then when you call them… nothing! They completely ignore you in favor of other dogs or kids or squirrels.
Soon enough your corgi will associate this naughty (but fun!) behavior with ignoring you while off leash. And that’s not what you want at all.
This is where a long leash comes in.
It allows you to stay in control and keep your corgi safe while practicing recall training.
Start with small distances and gradually build up the distance between you and your corgi (while they’re still on the long leash) until they get the hang of recall.
Praise staying close
To encourage your dog to stay close to you when off leash, make sure they understand the value of doing so.
Practice recall, look and stay regularly and reward your corgi with praise or treats whenever they obey your commands and stay by your side.
5 tips to get your corgi off leash faster
1. Practice recall regularly
Set up a safe, distraction-free and enclosed area and practice recall by calling your corgi back and rewarding them with treats or praise.
You can also try the across-the-field-recall idea, where you and your partner take turns running and calling your corgi back to you.
2. Gradually increase distractions
Use a long lead and practice recall in increasingly distracting environments until you are confident that your corgi will come when called.
3. Never let your corgi off leash near roads
It’s not worth the risk, as even the best trained corgi can be distracted by something and run into the street.
4. Keep ID tags and microchip updated
If you plan on taking your corgi off-leash, consider a collar GPS or at least up-to-date ID tags and a microchip to increase the chances of finding your corgi if they get lost.
5. Have treats on hand
In case of worst-case scenarios, such as your corgi running towards a dangerous area or another dog, have treats on hand to catch their attention.
Remember that even with proper training, a corgi’s behavior off leash can vary depending on their age, temperament, and the environment. Keep safety as the top priority and always assess the situation before letting your corgi off leash.
Are corgis likely to run away?
If your corgi hasn’t learned the basic commands above and/or is in a new environment with lots of distractions, this will increase the likelihood of them running away off leash.
To minimize this risk, don’t let your corgi off leash until you’re absolutely confident they understand obedience training.
And make sure you’re aware of your corgi’s personality and what might trigger them to run away.
For example:
- They love chasing squirrels
- They’re afraid of loud noises
- Other dogs scare/overexcite them
- They like chasing cars
If your corgi is triggered by certain stimuli that’s present when you’re out and about, don’t take any risks. Keep them on the leash.
