New Year, New Resolution: 10 Reasons to Walk Your Corgi Every Day

The calendar has turned the page on another year, and with it, the inevitable resolutions that follow. Most popular among them are new goals for personal health: improve diet, lose weight, start (or stick to) a fitness routine…but what about the health of your Corgi? Statistics show that pet obesity, like its human counterpart, is an increasing problem in the U.S., leading to the same types of health issues seen in humans. Diabetes, joint damage, and decreased mobility are just a few ill effects your Corgi can suffer if you don’t keep him trim and active. Diet plays a large part, and you should consult your veterinarian to make sure you’re feeding your Corgi appropriate to his life stage and activity level, but exercise is key to keeping him mentally and physically healthy, and this is solely up to you. So for 2019, we have ten great reasons to add this resolution to your list: Walk your Corgi every day.   

1. Your Corgi Won’t Walk Itself

It would be great if our Corgis took responsibility for their own health. I mean, while you’re at work, they have all day to run around and play and exercise, don’t they? Sadly, this is not how it works. Dogs are not proactive, so you have to be. Make the time in your schedule to walk them before or after work (both would be best!), or on a lunch break. Alternatively, if you don’t have the time every day, sign up for one of the many great dog-walking services that come to your house and let them help you on the days you just can’t manage it.   

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2. If Your Corgi is Overweight, You’re Not Getting Enough Exercise

Walking your Corgi doesn’t just benefit her; it keeps you slim and active too. Are you a little pudgy?  Is your Corgi? You see your Corgi every day so you may not have noticed his widening girth. Here's a quick way to tell if your pooch is packin'. Walking is a gentle, easy way for both of you to get in shape and stay that way, so do it for you; do it for your Corgi. Walk off the pounds, together.

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3. A Tired Corgi is a Good Corgi

Does your Corgi bark excessively/chew/dig/run away/jump on people/talk with his mouth full/leave the seat up - oh, wait a minute. The point is any unwanted behavior that your Corgi exhibits is often borne of frustration and boredom. A bored Corgi with energy to burn will find things to do to amuse himself. These things will most likely not amuse you. Luckily, your Corgi is really easy to entertain. Simply take him for a walk.

4. A Wolf in Corgi Clothing

Your Corgi comes from good stock. Wolf stock. No matter how small, coiffed, cute and domesticated - all dogs share one origin - the very undomesticated, wild wolf. Wolves are nomads by nature and spend up to one-third of their time on the move, sometimes covering over 100 miles in a day in search of food. This wanderlust is deeply ingrained into your dog's DNA. Does your Corgi get crazy excited before a walk? This is "pack" behavior similar to what wolves do to work up adrenalin before a hunt. Wolves wander, hunt and eat, in that order. Your Corgi wants to walk. Your Corgi needs to walk. Bonus: if you walk your Corgi before feeding her, you are fulfilling her elemental psychological drive to "work" for her food.

5. This Land is Your Land, but I’m Gonna Pee on It

It’s important to dogs that they know their “territory” and are able to leave evidence that they were there.  With each sniff of grass or base of a tree, the dog’s nose is communicating to him a rich history of what and who passed by that way before.  When a dog pees and/or “peels out,” that is his way of “bookmarking” the spot for himself later while at the same time letting others know he belongs there, too.  A walk around your neighborhood lets your Corgi have the opportunity to get to know, by scent, the players in his stomping ground, and keeps his mind active - just as important to your Corgi’s health and happiness as keeping his body in shape.

6. These are the People in Your Neighborhood

A walk with your Corgi is an excellent exercise in socialization.  She will get to know all the sights and sounds of her neighborhood by meeting other people and other dogs, encountering small animals such as birds and squirrels, and becoming familiar with common noises.  Cars, motorcycles, bicycles, skateboards, horns, lawn mowers, you name it – the more your Corgi encounters on her walks with you, the less likely she will be scared or nervous of new sounds in the future.

7. Walking Your Corgi Provides "Teachable Moments"

A walk is also a great time to work on basic obedience or expand your Corgi's learning. A squirrel running up a tree or a bicycle whizzing by are great opportunities to practice "sit," "look at me," or any number of other commands. Your Corgi will benefit from getting the chance to exercise his brain as well as his body, and you will benefit from having an even better-behaved dog.

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8. The More Your Corgi Knows You, the More He Loves You

One of the best benefits of walking your Corgi is that it cultivates bonding.  Your Corgi loves you and your Corgi loves walking, so walking your Corgi is like a mini-lottery win for her.  Spending time with your Corgi discovering new places and sharing experiences strengthens and enriches your relationship.

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9. Hello, My Name is Corgi and I’ll Be Your Poster Child Today

You obviously love Corgis or you wouldn’t be reading this.  When you’re out walking your extremely cute and well-behaved Corgi (and picking up their poop because that’s the law), you are a walking advertisement for the breed. Take time to stop and chat with people you meet along the way and showcase your floofy little ambassador. You’ll be brightening someone’s day and setting a good example for dog owners everywhere.

10. If I Could Put Time in a Bottle… I’d Still Whine, Moan and Complain About Not Having Time

This one is actually about overcoming those obstacles that prevent us from walking our Corgis like we should. “I don’t have time.” Those four words have derailed the loftiest goals and best intentions more than any of us would care to admit.  If we are being honest with ourselves, though, is it really true?

In your list of daily priorities, was texting back and forth with friends, composing a political tirade on Facebook, or watching “Real Housewives” really more important than walking your Corgi?  No. Your Corgi didn’t lobby to come live at your house – you sought her out for your own gratification.  Now that you have her, it would be unfair to treat her like an inconvenience.

Fortunately, Corgis don’t keep score.  If you truly can’t carve out 30-60 consecutive minutes of walking every day, what can you manage?  15 minutes of running?  20 minutes of hiking?  10 minutes of hide and seek?  5 minutes of chase?  Aim for a longer walk every day, but on the days you can’t do it, be creative (or use a service as mentioned before). Your Corgi doesn’t care if his exercise is unorthodox, and he won’t criticize your ideas. He will just be happier and more “balanced” because you’re spending time caring for his wellbeing. And so will you.

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