Is a Corgi a Good First Dog?

When considering what breed of dog to get for a first-time dog-owner, there are many options to choose from.

Dogs vary greatly in size, temperament, and some are easier to train than others.

It can be a difficult decision to make since a dog is like another family member and will spend many years in your home.

Love At First Sight

Corgis are a very cute breed of dog with short legs and a belly that barely clears the ground.

They are very enjoyable to be around because they are so playful and just a hoot to be around.

They are also very sensitive to their owner’s feelings and make an ideal support animal for those suffering from depression or who require a comforting friend.

Is a Corgi a Good Fit?

If you are considering getting a Corgi but wondering, “Is a Corgi a Good First Dog?” The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no.

It all depends on how much time you have to spend training your dog.

Whether or not you get a Corgi also depends on where they will be living and if you will have time to spend with them every day.

Corgis are a small breed so they can do well in a small dwelling such as an apartment, but they are very energetic and need room to stretch their legs.

In other words, they need to be walked daily to burn off all their energy.

They are also very athletic and love to play, so they require a lot of one-on-one time playing games.

Corgis are hard not to love, but they can be a somewhat challenging breed to own, especially for a first-time dog owner.

However, with enough love and training, they can become a model pet for any home.

Corgis Need Exercise

Getting enough daily exercise is key to keeping a Corgi happy, and a happy Corgi is a well-behaved Corgi.

If a Corgi isn’t getting enough exercise, it may become depressed.

It may also take out its frustration by chewing on things in the house such as shoes or the couch.

Exercise is vital to their physical health as well as their mental health.

Just as getting enough daily exercise helps to keep us healthy, it goes a long way to keeping Corgis fit and strong as well.

Exercise helps lower blood pressure, strengthens the heart, and can help create denser bones, which is important, especially for older Corgis.

Mature Corgis enjoy daily walks as well as enrichment activities and lots of mental stimulation.

Fulfilling these needs and desires will keep a Corgi happy and content with life.

Corgis Live for Daily Walks

An ideal daily walk should be at least half an hour long and can even be twice daily.

How long and how often a Corgi should be walked will vary on the dog somewhat, depending on the energy level and age of a Corgi.

Going on walks doesn’t just give a Corgi exercise, but it also provides them with new smells and sights to take in.

This daily stimulation is essential to a Corgi’s health.

A daily walk can provide a great outlet for the Corgi that stays inside for most of the day while their owner is at work.

Using a retractable leash is a great way to keep a Corgi from running off while still giving it a little more freedom to explore its surroundings.

Eventually, the goal is to train it to walk near its owner without a leash, but a retractable leash is a great way to enjoy walks in the meantime and can also be used as a training tool.

Creative Ways to Get Exercise and Stimulation

Corgis are free spirits, so off-leash dog parks are a great way for them to get their daily exercise without leash restrictions.

However, this may not be ideal for owners of unruly Corgis who may not obey their owner’s commands.

If this is the case, they will need to get some training before attempting to roam in any off-leash areas.

Socializing a Corgi is a great way to train them to behave around other dogs and their humans.

Arranging play dates with other dogs counts as socializing and will fulfill a Corgi’s need to get a daily dose of stimulation as well.

Some parks offer a fenced-in area specifically for dog meet-and-greets while allowing them to run and play freely.

It’s also a great place to meet and visit other like-minded pet owners.

Is a Corgi a Good First Dog To Get As a Pet?

Corgis Have a Reputation

Corgis have a reputation for being very friendly and lovable, which is one reason why they are such a popular breed among dog-owners.

Just like the vast majority of other dog breeds, Corgis are not hypoallergenic.

Corgis are very good-tempered and typically get along well with other pets, and are great around children.

They are also very protective of their family, so they are great dogs for added security and protection.

Corgis love to be loved.

Their generally happy-go-lucky attitude can be contagious, and they love to be the center of attention wherever they go.

Corgis often like to sploot.

That’s something that might strike you as unusual at first, but be assured, it’s perfectly safe and relaxing for them.

Read more about splooting – why do Corgis like to sploot?

They like to be included in activities, so they tend to flourish with families because they tend to get a lot of attention and are included in many different activities.

They also do well with a solo owner who can give them plenty of love and attention.

The Most Effective Strategies for Training a Corgi

Corgis can tend to be somewhat stubborn, so they require a lot of time and patience from their trainer throughout the training process.

They are not too fond of change and are not naturally subservient, but they are also very intelligent, love to please their owner, and can be taught many fun tricks.

Corgis can also be more difficult to train if they are older. You can teach an old dog new tricks, but it will take extra time and patience.

It is also very helpful to have a large supply of treats on hand for all those little training moments throughout the day.

Corgis are a very confident breed and can be somewhat bossy, so they may need to be taught that they are not the only “boss” in the house to help avoid obedience issues.

Corgis were originally bred for herding cattle, so they needed to have a commanding and dominant personality in order to get large livestock to obey their every command.

Although many Corgis no longer heard large numbers of cattle, that loud and confident personality has stuck.

That is also where their habit of nipping may have come from.

Herding Corgis often nipped at the legs of cattle to get them to move and is a common trait among pet Corgis, especially Cowboy Corgis in my experience.

However, with some patience and proper training, this can be corrected.

Knowing the personality of a dog is the first step to training them. It is important to understand what they are inclined to do.

An owner of a Corgi should try to mold their natural tendencies into the desired behavior rather than to put a damper on it.

Corgis also thrive on consistency, so their training should be consistent and preferably daily. Even a few minutes a day will be effective as long as it is consistent.

It is also helpful to always keep training in a specific area.

This way, they will associate that area as the training spot and will take it as a cue that it is time to listen and learn.

If you are up to the challenge, then they may be the ideal pet for you, and the time spent training a Corgi is well worth it.

Settling In

When a Corgi is first introduced into a new home, they may seem shy and quiet.

This is normal, and as it begins to get comfortable, it’s likely that a more energetic and assertive Corgi will emerge.

As a Corgi settles into its new surroundings, it will begin to show its owner what it needs and when.

It is up to the owner to be attentive and to get to know their unique Corgi.

Corgis like routine, so you will likely see a pattern as they go about their day.

It is up to the owner to pay attention to their Corgi and to fulfill their needs. This makes for not only a happy dog but a happy owner as well.

They Need Plenty of Bathroom Breaks

Corgis are a small breed of dog, so they will need to relieve themselves frequently throughout the day.

They will need to go potty even more frequently if they are just a puppy.

If their owner works all day, they will likely be uncomfortable and unhappy if they have a full bladder and nowhere to go.

A Corgi must have a way to relieve itself when it needs to, so it may be necessary to install a doggie door that leads to the backyard.

Otherwise, its owner may find accidents around the house upon returning from work.

They Need Things to Do

Since Corgis love to play and need plenty of stimulation, they will need things to keep them busy.

Corgis should have plenty of toys and chew treats to keep them busy and from chewing on things they aren’t supposed to chew on in the house.

Is a Corgi the Dog for You?

So, the answer to the question, “Is a Corgi a Good First Dog?” in short, is—yes as long as you have the time to devote to them.

They are a great family dog and are the perfect companion, and as long as you keep them active, they will be happy and content no matter where you live.

They will be as behaved as they are taught, and the owner of a Corgi will get as much love as they can handle.

Although a little strong-minded at times, this breed of dog is very giving and affectionate and will be a lifelong companion.