The little dogs with the long body and short legs are not built for speed but perhaps their comical gait is the most fun of all in weiner dog racing. What could be cuter than a bunch of weenie dogs dressed in two buns with mustard or a hula skirt while bobbing down a track as fast as their little legs can carry them? Yes, happy barks, hilarious laughter, and festive costumes are a big part of the hobby of Dachshund racing.
Weiner Dog Races Are Fun
Popular in the last two decades, weiner dog races attract large crowds eager to watch a field of stubby-legged Doxies scamper their way from uniquely colored starting boxes toward enthusiastic owners at the finish line. Perhaps equally entertaining are the antics of the owners who use squeaky toys or chicken treats to entice their doggy to the line first. Weiner dog derbies, for the most part, are informal competitions serving as successful fundraisers or accompanying festivals and other events just for fun, much like the doggy dancing teams.
Tracks may be 25 to 100 yards in length and may be set up in fields, malls, racetracks, or community centers. Preliminary and champion heats are open to smooth haired, long haired, wire haired, standard, and mini. Competitors are usually family dogs with little or no training, and often entered by kids eager to show off their pet.
While some hounds stop to visit with spectators, sniff an opponent, or even turn around and run the wrong way, others race straight for the finish, with ears flying in the wind. A few doxie owners do admit to practicing their dogs in the back yard.
Concerns Surrounding Dachshund Racing
While dogs and owners seem to have as much fun as the crowd does, a few concerns surround weiner dog races. Dachshund does not mean ‘dash hound’ but rather ‘badger dog’ in German. Some claim that excessive running may strain the long spinal column of a breed that already has a predisposition to back problems. Others fear that weiner dog racing may become more competitive with Dachshunds being bred for that purpose.
Still others object to dachshund racing because many of the events take place at greyhound racetracks, thus supporting greyhound racing. Many animal welfare activists oppose the greyhound racing industry, claiming the dogs are treated inhumanely and that too many are bred in order to find a champion while dogs without enough speed are killed.
Weiner dog race hosts often specifically note that their event in no way represents gambling or any kind of professional racing event. As long as the running of the Doxies is purely for enjoyment, owners, spectators, and dogs as well, can have a barking good time. And at the end of the day, the grand champ of them all takes his place in the weiner’s circle!
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