Corgis are one of the world’s favorite dog breeds. Their short-legged body and huge ears make easily them stand out from other breeds. With such a stature, one can’t help but wonder can corgis swim, or will they have issues in the water.
Naturally, almost all dog breeds can swim. This activity is simply more difficult for some canines than it is for others.
Can Corgis Swim and Are They Good in It?
Now, you probably ask yourselves can corgis swim well, or are they on a ‘bad swimmers’ dog list? To help you solve this dilemma, we have gathered some facts that can answer such questions.
Read on to find more interesting information!
Can Corgis Swim Well Enough on Their Own?
Believe it or not, corgis as a breed are considered to be excellent swimmers! Their unusual build makes them great for water-related activities.
Of course, not all corgis will love water. Some are timider than others, and they will require some adjustment period.
You may even have to train your corgi how to swim if they aren’t too fond of getting wet. However, all corgis can become quite decent swimmers with just a little time.
How well do corgis swim, and how come they are such good swimmers? Let’s take a brief look at their anatomy and breed characteristics.
Corgis Have Powerful Legs
Corgis’ legs are actually a great tool for swimming. Even though it doesn’t look like that, they are built to enable corgis to swim long distances effortlessly.
American Kennel Society specifies certain characteristics a Pembroke Welsh Corgi must have. These include muscular tights, short, powerful legs, as well as an elongated body.
Originally, breeders made them this way so they could herd cattle and other similar livestock. This is also the reason why they began docking corgi’s tails.
Corgis had to have powerful legs to keep up with the much larger cattle on the field. Their long body and lack of tails also make them more aerodynamic.
All of this makes these cute dogs more agile than they seem at first glance.
In other words, corgis’ muscles are made to be strong and durable. While this was intended for fieldwork, it translates really well into swimming, as well.
As you probably already know, any dog that you put into water will begin ‘dog-paddling.’ In other words, they’ll trot in water, trying to stay afloat.
However, this doesn’t mean most dogs can remain above water for very long. Still, corgis’ short and strong legs make them great swimmers.
They typically can swim for a prolonged period of time, and they are rather fast in the water. Who knew that short legs could come in handy in the water!
They Are Very Active and Energetic
Corgis as a breed are very active and energetic dogs. If you allow them, they could spend an entire day running around and playing.
This is another trait that comes from them being farm dogs. They wouldn’t be good cattle herders if they didn’t have enough energy for a whole day of work.
If you own a corgi, you probably know that your dog needs at least an hour of physical activity daily.
Corgi puppies need to spend even more time being active throughout the day, so they don’t become bored.
Active dogs are naturally better swimmers than lazier breeds. Staying afloat takes up a lot of energy. If a dog isn’t used to being active, this can take a toll, and they’ll get tired quickly.
A dog needs to be able to endure great exertion in order to swim for a while.
Corgi is a breed that has more stamina than many. They enjoy any vigorous workout, and swimming might be just what they need.
Do Corgis Like Water?
Even though corgis are naturally good swimmers, they don’t necessarily love water. In fact, most dogs will do their best to avoid any water source.
If you want to help your dog get used to the water, you’ll have to introduce him to it slowly.
If a dog isn’t used to the water, he’ll likely hate getting wet. This is why early exposition is essential. Of course, you shouldn’t just throw your dog into a pool and expect him to love it.
Quite the opposite, this will make your corgi terrified, and he’ll connect water with this traumatic experience. In fact, this is precisely why most dogs will absolutely hate going in the bath.
They’ll end up so afraid they won’t ever want to come near it.
So, how can you get your dog accustomed to the water? Here are a few things you should never do:
- Never shout or hit your dog because you want him to do something.
- Try not to hose down or spray water on your corgi without warning!
- Never dunk your corgi in a bathtub.
Many owners don’t take enough time with their pets, thinking they’ll naturally love water. This is rarely the case. Inadequate water socialization can only make a dog hate water.
If you simply spray your dog with a hose, you’ve done more damage than good.
How to Properly Expose Your Corgi to Water?
Can corgis swim if they aren’t accustomed to water? Well, they can survive in case they fall into the water, but they won’t enjoy it.
Corgis in nature know how to swim, but this doesn’t mean they’ll love it. If you want your dog to go swimming with you, you need to expose him to the water properly.
You should always give your dog positive reinforcement, no matter what kind of training you have in mind. Also, it would help if you were patient.
Take one step at a time with everything you do. If you notice your dog has an issue with a particular action, take it slowly.
When he starts struggling, lower your expectations, and go one step back. Maybe your expectations were too high, or he got scared of something.
Give him treats whenever he makes progress.
Corgis can be somewhat tricky for training, as they are highly independent. They don’t always want to do everything their owner asks, and they are very stubborn.
Still, with a little patience, you can teach your four-legged friend to enjoy spending time in the water. If you think this will take too much time, just think of all those cute pictures with corgis swimming!
It’ll be worth all the effort in the end.
Steps You Should Take When Introducing Your Corgi to the Water
- Begin exposing him as soon as possible – ideally, when he is around 12-16 weeks old.
- Firstly, try just to let him lick water from your fingers.
- Reward your corgis with a treat when they do something right.
- Repeat everything daily and steadily increase the amount of water.
- If you’re using a faucet, sink, or a hose, slowly make everything louder and gradually increase the water flow.
- Once your corgi gets used to the water, pet him with a wet hand to understand that being wet isn’t harmful.
- Try to make your dog walk into a puddle of water, and reward him if he does so. Make sure to pet him and to give him positive reinforcement.
- Once your dog is comfortable enough to walk into a puddle, try to place him into the water.
- If you manage to do each of the previous steps, try to give him a bath.
If you notice your dog is frightened after any of the previous steps, take it easy. Feel free to repeat some steps if you think this is necessary.
Remember that your dog mustn’t connect water with anything negative. Once he starts thinking that the water is terrible, you’ll have significant issues trying to make him accustomed to it.
An excellent way to start is to place your dog into an inch or inch and a half of water. Then, slowly increase the water levels. Reward your corgi for every good thing he does.
The good idea is to use a bathtub, a kid’s pool, or even a sink. In them, you can quickly increase the water levels. If you happen to own a small pool – even better!
You can try swimming with your corgi, so he feels more comfortable. Practice fetching small floating toys, swimming together, or just floating on the water together.
If you are caring, your corgi will learn to swim like a champ in no time!
Corgi Swimming Tips
While teaching your corgis to swim, there are some things to consider. It doesn’t matter if you wander can your corgis swim like pros or do you want your corgi to stay afloat?
Some tips and tricks can help everyone. Here are a few of them:
- If you want to go to the beach, always wash your dog with clean water later. Natural bodies of water can be filled with parasites that can cause intestinal issues.
- Dogs learn best if they look at each other. If you own another dog that loves water, play with him in the pool in front of your Corgi. This can make him curious, or even jealous, so he’ll run to join you.
- Don’t expect your corgi to be good in water after a day or two. The learning process might even take weeks.
- Don’t go overboard. Even though corgis are energetic dogs, they can get overwhelmed. This can only make them even more anxious around the water than they were before.
Your Corgi Might Never Love Water
If your corgi doesn’t get used to water no matter what you do, don’t worry. This is quite normal. Just like humans, every dog has his own personality.
Not all corgis will love water, and not everyone will respond well to training.
If your dog doesn’t want to get in the water no matter what you do, don’t force him. This might simply be a part of his personality.
Of course, you could always hire a professional dog trainer. Corgis are a stubborn breed, and some of them don’t want to listen.
Sometimes a licensed trainer might be able to do what you can’t. If they can’t teach your dog to love water – just give up. Some dogs aren’t meant to be swimmers.
Read Also: Corgi With Floppy Ears
Bottom Line
Can corgis swim? Not only they can, but these smart dogs can be one of the best swimmers in the canine world. However, you should keep in mind that not all corgis are natural-born swimmers.
Some dogs simply don’t like water, and they never will. This doesn’t mean that something is wrong with your corgi. Just like humans, dogs have their own personalities, and corgis are no different.
In fact, they are one of the more stubborn breeds out there. If they don’t want to do something – they won’t do it. Just be patient.
Read Next: How Much Do Corgis Shed
