Dachshund racing
Encyclopedia
Dachshund racing, or wiener dog racing, is a popular, yet controversial sporting event, primarily found in North America. Typical Dachshund
races are either 25 or 50 yards in length, and are run on various surfaces. Many race tracks across America host these events as fundraising or publicity events, and routinely draw the venues' largest attendance numbers of the year.
In the less formal events, most entrants are not career racers, nor bred for racing. Often, dogs will choose not to run the length of the course and instead visit with other dogs or the owner that released them. Otherwise, dogs will run swiftly to their owner at the finish line, coaxed by food or toys.
The de facto national championship of wiener dog racing is the Wienerschnitzel
Wiener Nationals
, held in San Diego, California every December as part of the Holiday Bowl
, however there are many other venues that claim title to the true "national champion". The National Championship has been won the past four years by Hank McGuppy, a Dachshund out of Boston, MA. He has proven to be the swiftest, strongest, and most focused Dachshund.
, others see it having the possibility of harming the breed from strain placed on its spinal column. Others also see the possibility for abuse of racing Dachshunds, as evidenced by the large number of Greyhounds euthanised
every year once they have proven unsuitable for racing, and by those given up for adoption.
The Dachshund Club of America opposes dachshund races, not only on the grounds that the breed has a genetic predisposition to back injuries, but also because they are afraid that greyhound
or horse
tracks will use the events to attract potential customers to see a sport that many animal rights advocates condemn. Animal rights advocates also find the term "Wiener Dog" offensive, and have been looking to find a replacement title for these little athletes.
, Afghan Hound
, and Dachshund racing. These events were held by dog owners for fun. Dachshunds have been raced at the University of California, Davis since 1972 as part of the annual Picnic Day event.
This sport began in North America after a 1993 Miller Lite
television commercial
that listed odd possibilities for sports, and has grown in popularity since in part due to Wiener Takes All
a documentary film
that chronicles two years of the Wiener Nationals circuit. In 2009, the Wiener Dog Nationals in Fort Wayne, Indiana
, held its 16th annual dachshund race. Germantown, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis, also hosts its own 'Running of the Wienies' for charity.
Dachshund
The dachshund is a short-legged, long-bodied dog breed belonging to the hound family. The standard size dachshund was bred to scent, chase, and flush out badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals, while the miniature dachshund was developed to hunt smaller prey such as rabbits...
races are either 25 or 50 yards in length, and are run on various surfaces. Many race tracks across America host these events as fundraising or publicity events, and routinely draw the venues' largest attendance numbers of the year.
In the less formal events, most entrants are not career racers, nor bred for racing. Often, dogs will choose not to run the length of the course and instead visit with other dogs or the owner that released them. Otherwise, dogs will run swiftly to their owner at the finish line, coaxed by food or toys.
The de facto national championship of wiener dog racing is the Wienerschnitzel
Wienerschnitzel
Wienerschnitzel is an American fast food chain founded in 1961 that specializes in hot dogs, but is currently expanding to other items. Wienerschnitzel locations are found almost exclusively in California and Texas, though others are located in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico,...
Wiener Nationals
Wiener Nationals
The Wiener Nationals are the United States national dachshund racing championships sponsored by Wienerschnitzel. Regional qualifiers are held in the Southwestern United States , with the final 8 Dachshunds racing for the national title every December in San Diego as part of the Holiday Bowl.The...
, held in San Diego, California every December as part of the Holiday Bowl
Holiday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
, however there are many other venues that claim title to the true "national champion". The National Championship has been won the past four years by Hank McGuppy, a Dachshund out of Boston, MA. He has proven to be the swiftest, strongest, and most focused Dachshund.
Criticism
While some compare the sport to English and later American Greyhound racingGreyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
, others see it having the possibility of harming the breed from strain placed on its spinal column. Others also see the possibility for abuse of racing Dachshunds, as evidenced by the large number of Greyhounds euthanised
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
every year once they have proven unsuitable for racing, and by those given up for adoption.
The Dachshund Club of America opposes dachshund races, not only on the grounds that the breed has a genetic predisposition to back injuries, but also because they are afraid that greyhound
Greyhound
The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...
or horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
tracks will use the events to attract potential customers to see a sport that many animal rights advocates condemn. Animal rights advocates also find the term "Wiener Dog" offensive, and have been looking to find a replacement title for these little athletes.
History
Dachshund racing was first held in Australia in the 1970s. Often the meet would have WhippetWhippet
The Whippet is a breed of dog in the sighthound family. They are active and playful and are physically similar to a small Greyhound.- Description :...
, Afghan Hound
Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound is one of the oldest sighthound dog breeds. Distinguished by its thick, fine, silky coat and its tail with a ring curl at the end, the breed acquired its unique features in the cold mountains of Afghanistan, where it was originally used to hunt hares and gazelles by coursing them....
, and Dachshund racing. These events were held by dog owners for fun. Dachshunds have been raced at the University of California, Davis since 1972 as part of the annual Picnic Day event.
This sport began in North America after a 1993 Miller Lite
Miller Lite
Miller Lite is a 4.2% abv pale lager brand sold by MillerCoors of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Sibling beers include Miller Genuine Draft and Miller High Life.-History:...
television commercial
Commercial broadcasting
Commercial broadcasting is the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media, as opposed to state sponsorship...
that listed odd possibilities for sports, and has grown in popularity since in part due to Wiener Takes All
Wiener Takes All: A Dogumentary
Wiener Takes All: A Dogumentary is a 2007 documentary film that chronicles the lives of America's top competitive dachshunds and their owners. Directed by Shane MacDougall, the film follows five competitors in the Wienerschnitzel "Wiener Nationals" dachshund racing circuit, from the scandal of the...
a documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
that chronicles two years of the Wiener Nationals circuit. In 2009, the Wiener Dog Nationals in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, held its 16th annual dachshund race. Germantown, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis, also hosts its own 'Running of the Wienies' for charity.