Wiener dogs at Pearson Aug 28

WINSTED — In San Diego, fans love the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals. In Buda, Texas, they call it the Wiener of Oz parade and race.

Now, in Winsted, fans of the short, sleek canines known as dachshunds are gearing up for the town’s first ever Wiener Dog Race Saturday, Aug. 28, at 1 p.m.

All owners of purebred dachshunds are invited to compete in this end-of-summer event, in which lanes will be drawn on the field behind Pearson Middle School.

“I have three wiener dogs myself,� said David Whitney, public access coordinator at Charter Community Television in Winsted, which is hosting the competition. “The best part about these races is the dogs all go in different directions. It’s a huge event at places around the country.�

Whitney said he got the idea to host a dachshund race while covering this year’s Rotary Pet Parade on Main Street, where he noticed several wiener dogs.

“Some people call them dachshunds and some call them dachs hounds,� he said. “I have one mini one and my father has two regular-sized ones.�

The German name “dachs hund� literally means “badger dog.� The breed was initially developed to sniff out and chase badgers and other burrowing animals. The miniature version was developed to hunt smaller prey.

“They’re God’s laughing dog,� Whitney said. “They’re short, they’re funny and they go as fast as they can.�

Whether they’re held to celebrate local festivals or presented as halftime entertainment at football games, wiener dog races are the source of endless entertainment via Internet videos and news stories. The website Wikipedia describes the pastime as “a popular yet controversial sporting event,� noting that some see the sport as potentially bad for a dog’s spine, though no evidence for such a charge is produced. Dogs competing in countless videos appear happy and excited to participate.

“We have people from town and a few people from outside of Litchfield County who will be participating,� Whitney said, noting that former Selectman Art Melycher is an owner of two miniature dachshunds and has said he wants to participate in the race.

Each dog is expected to be accompanied by two owners — one to hold the dog and the other to call from the finish line. Owners are also asked to clean up after their hounds.

Winning dogs can expect to receive treats, while owners will receive gift certificates from Petco, Whitney said.

“We’re still figuring out the details, but there will be food and prizes,� he said. “We’ll have medals for the winning dogs.�

To participate in the race, a dog must be a pure-bred dachshund. The entry fee will be $20 and proceeds support Winsted’s Open Dour Soup Kitchen. For more information, call Charter Community Television at 860-738-3351.

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