One of the most surprising things about owning a corgi is discovering how much they love to exercise.
Before owning Winston, I thought that corgis were relatively lazy dogs that preferred to chill out in bed than run in the park. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
You should exercise your corgi for at least 60 minutes per day. Corgis might be small but they have lots of energy to burn. Lots of playtime in the form of physical exercise and mental stimulation is the key to a healthy, happy corgi.
Now you know how much corgis love to stay active, you probably want some tips on how to keep them physically and mentally stimulated besides the obvious: take them to the park!
Let’s take a closer look at how much exercise corgis need and how you can help them burn off excess energy.
How long should I play with my corgi?
Originally bred as herding dogs, corgis are very used to spending hours outside, rounding up cattle and keeping watch over farm animals. Being active is in their blood and to this day they have huge stamina.
While your corgi may not be a farm dog, they’re still a high-energy breed that requires plenty of exercise. In addition to daily walks, you could play games with your corgi like fetch, hide and seek, or chase.
I recommend playing with your corgi for at least 15 minutes every day. Playtime is a wonderful opportunity to bond with your corgi and helps reinforce training like recall, “sit-stay” and “leave it”.
For those occasions when you can’t play with your corgi one-on-one, I recommend using puzzle toys. These provide great mental stimulation for your corgi.
Here are 5 puzzle toys I recommend for corgis:
- Puzzle Feeder Toy for IQ Training
- FOSSA Puppy Toy
- Outward Hound Treat Puzzle Toy
- KONG Wobbler
- Hide a squirrel dog toy
How often you should exercise your corgi
You should aim to exercise your corgi for at least 60 minutes each day. That can be a combination of outdoor walks and indoor play, but really—the more exercise you can give your corgi, the better!
I take my corgi, Winston, on two 30-minute walks each day—once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Throughout the rest of the day I’ll play fetch with him in my apartment or give him one of his puzzle toys to play with.
When it comes to the weekend or holidays, exercise for Winston ramps up! Despite those stubby little legs, corgis make great hiking companions and can walk for 4-5 hours without any issue.
How to tire your corgi out if you don’t work from home
I get this question a lot from people that work mostly or entirely from an office.
The first thing to say is that corgis don’t do well being left alone for long periods of time. They are very affectionate dogs that love human companionship and spending a lot of time on their own will lead to stress and frustration.
It also means they probably aren’t getting as much exercise as they should, which can lead to destructive behaviors, excessive barking and weight gain—a major issue for corgis.
If you really want to get a corgi and you can’t bring them into the office with you, I strongly recommend hiring a dog walker. Or, drop your corgi at doggy day care.
5 games you can play with your corgi to tire them out
If you live in an apartment or just want some extra playtime ideas, here are 5 I recommend:
1. Hide and seek
I love playing hide and seek with Winston. This involves me running away from him when he doesn’t notice or isn’t paying full attention, and then hiding behind a door or the bed.
He runs around the apartment until he finds me and when does, I shower him with praise. I’m not sure who gets more enjoyment out of the game—Winston or me—but it’s one we love playing together!
If your corgi is well trained and won’t run away from you in the park, try this game outdoors. Hide behind a tree and see how long it takes your corgi to find you!
2. Treat toy
The mental stimulation provided by a treat toy is a great way to tire out your corgi.
You can use a puzzle toy like FOSSA Puppy Toy or the KONG Wobbler, which sits upright until your dog pushes it with their paw or nose, dispensing tasty treats. The unpredictable movement keeps the toy challenging and your corgi entertained.
3. Tug of war
Another game that doesn’t require any fancy toys or puzzles is tug of war. An old towel works just as well as a bit of rope.
Encourage your corgi to grab one end of the material and then start pulling! Not only is this a great workout for them, it’s also a good way to build up your muscle strength (win-win!).
4. Trick training
While the word ‘training’ might sound like work to us, it’s actually a brilliant way to keep your corgi entertained and tire them out.
And the best part is—you can teach your corgi to do almost anything. From playing dead and shutting the door, to standing on hind legs and shaking hands. Grab your clicker, some treats, and break the trick down into stages, rewarding your corgi with each bit of progress they make.
5. Obstacle course
Set up an obstacle course in your home using furniture and/or painters tape. Rearrange the furniture for them to wind around or place tape across a doorway to create hurdles for your corgi to jump over or crawl under.
Just be careful not to encourage your corgi to jump too much or too high. Doing this repeatedly runs the risk of damaging their joints and spine, which can develop into more serious issues like Intervertebral Disc Disease.
