Can a Corgi handle a serious hike?
I'm thinking maybe six miles round trip with about 1,000 foot elevation gain.
I have a friend who has a giant mastiff and he's telling me that some dogs get tired really easily, including his mastiff, and that a Corgi might get tired out after a mile or two on a real hike.
Anyone have experience to the contrary? I will confess that my 9 week old puppy gets tired after a twenty minute walk but I would expect him to be a good deal more hardy in a few months' time. Seems to me a dog used for herding all day long would have stamina.
I'd like to hear if anyone takes their Corgi on mountain hikes....incidentally six miles and 1,000 feet is not a real serious hike for some people, I've met some who could do 25 miles and 5,000 feet no problem--never me, though.
Greg N
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Geri & Sidney on
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Here's Sidney on a hike while recovering from FHO surgery for hip dysplasia. That's why his flank is shaved. Even coming out of serious surgery I couldn't keep him off his beloved trails and climbing the rocks :)
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Permalink Reply by GPN on
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Well my follow up question is that the pads on his feet seem pretty soft. We did a half hour walk today completely flat in the burbs but 80% of the way back I noticed he had a bloody toe nail which made me feel quite bad. (no limping, he was walking normally)
I carried him home and cleaned him up. Well I crated him and about three hours later came back and there's this very tiny nick under the toe nail, all sealed up, and I just looked at him and said "you made all that mess with THAT?" Anyhow I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow so I'll ask. But obviously I can't just take him on the trail, going to have to break him in on local walks so he can handle a variety of surfaces down the line. He's only ten weeks old so I'm going to have to take things one step at a time. Greg N
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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At ten weeks, think frequent and very short walks. I wouldn't go more than 15 minutes at a time. Ten weeks is still an infant. If you push him too hard now you could end up with a crippled corgi.
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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on
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Just take it easy sat first. You're gonna have plenty time with this dog.
Check out these wicked-looking pad blisters, which healed uneventfully within a week with no intervention:
http://www.mycorgi.com/forum/topics/sore-pads-al-is-on-the-dl
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http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1035449/TR_B...
http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1024888/TR_F...
http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2010-09-14.81...
Al and I spent 9 days in marginal weather hiking around everything shown in this photo (Glacier Peak, Washington Cascades), 90+ miles. When Gwynnie was young, she went 23 mi. in 14 hrs. with 9000' total gain. On a good trail, you cannot outwalk a fit corgi.
REMEMBER: no big physical challenges until a pup is 1 y.o. (growth plates fused), and in good shape. Watch the animal carefully; if they're hurting, it's hard for them to tell you. I've never seen them do anything obviously stupid, but I worry about mistakes (like falling off a log crossing into a river) when they're inexperienced. I have a chest harness with belay system. See collar FAQ; chest harness can wear sores if worn for long periods.
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Permalink Reply by Joanna, Rainy and Calvin on
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I totally envy the sights you guys see. Awesome and beautiful!
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Permalink Reply by Caitlin Randolph on
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This is great to hear. I intend to do some hiking with my future corgi friend and this is great to read! Does your corgi wear a back pack or is it just a harness? I'll have to do some reading up on you and your corgi!
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Don't ask the dog to carry anything. I don't like dog backpacks, and a corgi can carry negligible weight. I want my dog to enjoy the trip and be able to complete it.
I use a chest harness to belay dangerous river crossings and steep snow, but NOTE: a chest harness may NOT hold your dog in a vertical hang. Al slips neatly out of mine. We have 2 kinds of chest harness, and each slips easily over the head if you help fold the leg through the posterior loop (those separating buckles are unnecessary).
You may want to test how the harness "tows" your dog through water, because if he ever falls off a log, you'll have to reel him in, and this MIGHT turn the dog upside-down. Test it somehow. I trust my dog's footing, but log crossings can be high and dangerous and scary and challenging, and I am not sure I have the system mastered.
I keep a quick draw leash handy, clipped to my shoulder strap, and practice often, every trip. You want to be quick as a gunslinger when you encounter a horse, another dog, a coyote, a skunk, or a porcupine.
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Wonderful answer!!!
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Permalink Reply by Ivy on
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Corgis love hiking! Ein can definitely outlast me on a trail. She also goes along on our horseback trail rides and has no problem keeping up at the faster pace. If you go off-leash, be sure to have a good recall. Treats help with that. I also like to have a bell on her (I can track her and no worries about startling bear). You will have so much fun! Nothing keeps you going like following their bouncing corgi butts. Heh.
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Permalink Reply by Marie Ploof on
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Kipper on Mt Mansfield. We're working up to a weekend hike.
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