🐾🏆✨ Corgis are mighty on the move! 🐶💨 SprintDog™ celebrates their boundless energy with a 100m dash made for big personalities on little legs. ✨🐾 🙂
Video with thanks to Dogs Australia.
SprintDog™️ – Dogs Australia’s Newest Sport. Thank you to everyone who allowed for themselves and/or their dogs to be filmed so this little promo could be produced.
Thanks to Ash Gibb of Ashwater Films for filming and producing such a wonderful piece with the SprintDog Club of QLD. Turn the sound up for the intro!
Corgis may be low to the ground, but don’t be fooled—these Flying Furballs are built for action! SprintDog™ is the newest Dogs Australia sport, giving dogs of all breeds and sizes the chance to show off their speed, spirit, and determination in a fun and safe environment.
SprintDog™ is a timed 100-metre dash, where each dog takes two runs down the track—either chasing a lure or racing back to their handler. Times are averaged and converted into points with height-based handicaps, meaning our little-legged sprinters can hold their own against the big dogs. The best part? Dogs don’t race each other—it’s all about improving their personal best.
Any dog 12 months or older, registered with Dogs Australia on the Main, Sporting, or Associate Registers, is eligible. Whether you have a speedy purebred corgi or a mixed-breed companion, SprintDog™ welcomes every pup to the start line.
Each run earns points toward official SprintDog™ titles, rewarding speed, consistency, and progress. With every race, corgis and their companions can celebrate small legs achieving big things!
Training sessions are available to help dogs and handlers learn the ropes and prepare for official Trials. And if you want to go further, Dogs NSW offers pathways to become a Judge, Lure Operator, or official, supporting the sport as it grows.
Fun fact: The very first SprintDog™ trial in NSW took place on 7 May 2025 in Hillsborough, filling up in minutes—a clear sign of just how exciting and popular this sport has become.
| Title | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| SprintDog™ Novice | N.SPRD |
| SprintDog™ | SPRD |
| SprintDog™ Advanced | SPRD.A |
| SprintDog™ Excellent | SPRD.X |
| SprintDog™ Master | SPRD.M |
| SprintDog™ Champion | SPRD.Ch |
Measurement is mandatory before competing. Dogs must be measured prior to competing in a SprintDog™ Trial and present an approved Dogs Australia height card (either SprintDog™ or another Dogs Australia discipline). If a dog has not been measured it cannot compete. Some events will measure your dog before an event, so if in doubt, please check.
Height classes and handicap multipliers. The handicap applied to a dog’s speed (to calculate points) is based on height at the withers:
45 cm or greater: handicap = 1.0.
Over 30 cm up to (but not including) 45 cm: handicap = 1.25.
Under 30 cm: handicap = 1.5.
These handicaps multiply the dog’s speed (km/h) to give points — so smaller dogs receive a larger handicap multiplier, which increases their points relative to raw speed.
Pembroke Welsh Corgis
Breed standard: 25–30 cm at the withers.
That places most Pems in the “under 30 cm” class, earning the 1.5 handicap (the highest multiplier).
Cardigan Welsh Corgis
Breed standard: 27–32 cm at the withers.
Many Cardis will fall just over 30 cm, meaning they’ll usually be in the “over 30 cm up to 45 cm” class, with the 1.25 handicap.
Smaller Cardis (at the lower end of the standard, under 30 cm) could qualify for the 1.5 handicap.
🔑 What this means in practice:
Pembrokes generally benefit from the 1.5x handicap multiplier, which boosts their points significantly.
Cardigans are most often in the 1.25x class, though individual measurement can tip them into the 1.5x bracket.
Very few corgis would ever measure above 45 cm, so the 1.0 class isn’t relevant for the breed.
How points are calculated (formula & example). Points = (360 ÷ average time in seconds) × handicap (rounded to the nearest whole number). Example in the rules: a dog with average 9.13s and handicap 1.5 → 360/9.13 = 39.43 km/hr × 1.5 = ~59 points.
No hidden “penalty” for short dogs — it’s a fairness system. Shorter dogs are not penalised — the higher handicap multiplier compensates for naturally lower absolute speeds, allowing small breeds (like corgis) to compete fairly based on performance relative to size. If anything, the handicap rewards small dogs by increasing their points for a given speed.
Pembrokes benefit from the highest handicap (1.5), so even if they run a little slower than taller dogs, their score stays competitive.
Cardigans usually get the 1.25 multiplier, which still gives them a strong advantage compared to large breeds in the 1.0 class.
Every fraction of a second counts — shaving off just 0.2 seconds can mean several extra points.
| Breed Type | Typical Height (withers) | Handicap Class | Multiplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 25–30 cm | Under 30 cm | 1.5 | Most Pems fall in this class → maximum points boost. |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 27–32 cm | 30–45 cm | 1.25 | Most Cardis fall here; smaller Cardis under 30 cm may qualify for 1.5. |
| Any Corgi >45 cm (rare) | Over 45 cm | Over 45 cm | 1.0 | Very unusual; would receive no handicap boost. |
Inclusive & Fun: Every breed can run, but corgis make it look extra cheeky.
Fitness with Purpose: Perfect for channeling corgi energy in a safe, structured way.
Chase Meets Challenge: No head-to-head racing, just your corgi chasing down their own best time.
Short legs. Big energy. Endless fun. That’s SprintDog™ — the perfect sport for our Flying Furballs! 🐶💨
For full rules and regulations, please see the Dogs NSW website or take a look at SprintDog™ NSW and Fast Paws Sydney Inc..
Members enjoy discounted specialty show entry fees, as well as many other benefits.
