Off to the Races… Weiner Dog Races That Is

Wiener Dog Races, Kalispell, MT

There’s Nothing Like Wiener Dog Races!

Oktoberfest Wiener Dog Races.mpg

Barrel Racing Wiener Dog

Jerry needs no help playing with his ball.

Sassy Dachshund Puppy

Cute Dachshund montage Daisy – Teckel à poil long – HD

Dachshund Water Race

Wake Up Mommy!! I Wants Breakfast!!

Teckel Superstar! – Dackel, kleiner Hund ganz gross

Dackel Welpen

http://www.mydackel.de/langhaardackel/
dumb vs. smart wiener dog

Fritzel Schnitzel Dachshunds 2, Daisy and her pups

Mini Dachshund Tricks – Gracie the Dachshund

AMAZING DACHSHUND / DOXIE DOG DOES 10 TRICKS



Dachshund Puppies Longhair

Long-Haired Dachshund | Farm Raised With P. Allen Smith (Back problems –
don’t let jump from too high)

Longhaired Dachshund Grooming

h/t to Paul and George King

10 Great American Animal Races

Growing up in upstate New York, my dad and I would go to the Saratoga Races every August. There’s nothing like watching your horse come around the final turn, battling for the lead. So events like this weekend’s Preakness Stakes always bring back some very cool memories.

But horses aren’t the only animals with a racing tradition. Here are ten examples.

1. Calaveras County Jumping Frogs

These high-jumping amphibians, made famous by Mark Twain, are actually battling it out right now. The Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee began on Thursday. If you hurry, you may still be able to get a bet in.

2. Ostrich Festival Races (Chandler, Arizona)

Did you know Ostriches can exceed speeds of 40 miles per hour? The good folks of Chandler, Arizona, do. I’d love to see this one, just to see what kind of wacky jockey decides to sit on an Ostrich. I’m thinking there may be alcohol involved.

3. Armadillo Races (Edgewood, Texas)

Imagine little round knights in not-so-shiny armor, racing around a dirt track. Sounds kinda cute. Although I’ve read they grow to 2 1/2 feet. That’s considerably less cute. Armadillo racing became popular in Texas in the 1970s, and the Armadillo World Headquarters is in Austin. (You heard me…the Armadillo World Headquarters.) Guess they’re mighty proud of their armored mammals down in Texas.

4. Camel Races (Virginia City, Nevada)

You wouldn’t think there would be camel races in the United States. Then again, we do have a big desert, so why not? The Virginia City Camel Races are a nostalgic reminder of the Comstock Lode, the first large discovery of silver ore in the U.S., when I suppose they used Camels to transport the silver. According to the official website, they also race ostriches and emus, because that’s how they roll in Nevada.

5. Cockroach Races

This is one of the slimier races I’ve come across. The annual cockroach races are held by the entomology club at Iowa State University. And if you’ve ever hung out with the members of the Iowa Stae Entomology Club, you know this is one rockin’ event. They also put on

something called the Insect Horror Film Festival, which features gourmet insect tastings. Who says there’s nothing to do in Iowa in October?

6. Lizard Races (Lovington, New Mexico)

How do you celebrate the 4th of July, with fireworks? How last season. The folks in Lovington, New Mexico, like a few lizard races with their barbeque. The Chaparral Park speedway is apparently the world’s premiere mini-reptile racetrack (Go USA!). And there’s a colorful history to the event, as well.

At the inaugural race in 1976, the lizards, frightened by the big crowds and flashbulbs, apparently started to eat each other (you can’t make this stuff up).

Modifications to the track and crowd placement have decreased the reptile carnage in recent years. But there’s always a chance one of the little guys will go all Godzilla on the competition.

7. Wiener Dog Races (Buda, Texas)

Who doesn’t love wiener dogs? Not only do they look great dressed up for Halloween, but you can also make a little extra cash with them at the track. Head down to Buda, Texas, in April, and you’ll enjoy the annual wiener dog race (and parade!), as well as the yearly chili cookoff.

8. Lobster Races (Aiken, South Carolina)

You would think an annual lobster race would be held in Maine, but the city of Aiken, South Carolina, has been racin’ crustaceans – that’s right, the Aiken racin’ crustaceans – since 1985 as a spoof of the Kentucky Derby. This year’s race, which just happened a couple weeks ago, drew close to 10,000 fans.

9. 4th of July Celebration & Porcupine Race (Council, Idaho)

Squeeze this one in between visits to the Potato Museum and Philo Farnsworth’s home. The race is held each year for charity, but I’m sure

a few dollars need to be taken out for bandaids, just in case any participants make their way into the crowd.

10. Great Alaskan Pig Races

And we end our collection of Great American Animal Races in the 49th state. Why race pigs in Alaska, you ask? If you had to pick something other than dog sled teams, you’d think moose, or elk. Something that represents the state, right? At least, I did. But Alaskans appear to prefer pigs. They’re quick little guys, too. And in these races, there are hurdles. I may need to find a Vegas sports book that takes pork action.

10 Great American Animal Races by Mario Marsicano

2010 Wienerschnitzel Wiener Races

Living the Life of Riley – Wiener Nationals

Northern California Wiener National Series

Old World Dachshund Races

Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals

Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals

When: August 28, 2010 – Registration/Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. – First Races begin at 9:00 a.m. Where: Qualcomm Stadium Rugby Fields (Near Section J-5 in the Stadium Parking Lot) SIGN UP YOUR DOG TODAY! The 14th annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals kicks off in San Diego on Saturday, August 28th at Qualcomm Stadium. The top sixteen dogs from the qualifying round will advance to the San Diego final in September. The top dog from San Diego will advance to the championship at the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade presented by the San Diego County Credit Union on December 30. This year’s finalists will receive the opportunity to march with the Wienerschnitzel float in the nationally televised parade. Any dachshund may participate! Admission to the event is free to humans and non-racing dogs. SIGN UP YOUR DOG TODAY! Entry There is a $7 pre-registration entry fee per racing dog and the entry fee includes one owner t-shirt (guaranteed for pre-registered dogs only). The pre-registration deadline is August 20. Online registration will open in July on our website. Late registrations will be accepted from 8/21 to 8/26 for a fee of $10. Day-of registration is $10. Online registration will close August 26th at noon, but we will accept walk-up registration the day of the event. Event Day entry is CASH ONLY! *This is a rain or shine event. There will be no refunds for this event. Vendor Opportunities The Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals accept vendors with animal related causes and products. In order to view the races, all dogs and their owners must walk through vendor village. This year’s event is expected to draw more than 300 dachshunds and their owners from all around Southern California. Races are free for rescue dogs. No human food vendors please. For more information on Vendor and Rescue Opportunities, please e-mail katharine@holidaybowl.com Living the Life of Riley – Wiener Nationals Northern California Wiener National Series Old World Dachshund Races

Living the life of Riley in fast lane – Wiener Nationals

HUNTINGTON BEACH The last time I talked to Brittany Hayes we were in China, at the world’s grandest sporting event, discussing the possibility of being a champion, an Olympic champion.

Now, I’m talking to Hayes here, at a nearly empty park, but still discussing the possibility of a champion, one who stands 10 inches high and weighs 12 pounds.

And, in mid-question, someone’s dog jumps on my lap.

This rarely happens at Lakers practice, although no one is ever sure what’s coming next from Ron Artest.

“I’m an Olympian,” Hayes says, “and my dog is more famous than me.”

In recent days, I’ve written about Phil Jackson, Mike Scioscia and Vladimir Guerrero. Generally, whomever I write about is a big dog.

Today, I’m writing about a wiener dog.

But, no, not just any wiener dog. This wiener dog is one of the fastest wiener dogs around.

Hey, I do have standards and Riley does measure up, even if he’s so short he could limbo under a bathroom rug.

He already has won the Octoberfest event at Old World Village in Huntington Beach and the wiener dog races that are part of Long Beach State’s homecoming. When your school doesn’t have a football team, apparently you improvise.

Riley next will be going after the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals on Saturday at Los Alamitos Race Course. The event mostly is for charity — benefitting the Seal Beach Animal Care Center — and for laughs.

But something quite significant also waits at the finish line — $1,000. That goes to the dog’s owner.

And the dog house in the shape of a Wienerschnitzel restaurant? That goes to the winning wiener.

What sets Riley apart — besides being Usain Bolt in a teeny chocolate-and-tan fur coat — is that his owner possesses an Olympic medal. Hayes, who played at Foothill High and USC, won silver with the U.S. women’s water polo team in 2008 in Beijing.

Now, she’s on dry land chasing another valued piece of sports hardware: a trophy inscribed with the words “Fastest Wiener in the West.”

So it’s not exactly “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” but let’s see Michael Phelps race on all fours against opponents with names like Killer, Dude and Snuggles.

“I am competitive, of course,” Hayes says. “But Riley just loves to race. He’s a natural. People might think I’m a crazy dog lady. Well, I am a crazy dog lady but not one who goes crazy if my dog doesn’t win.”

When USA Water Polo wanted to do a story — complete with video — on Riley, Hayes was worried about what other people might think.

No one wants to be viewed as having the stability and perspective of a person who potentially one day could live alone with, say, 27 cats.

Well, Hayes isn’t that person. She has a boyfriend, Stefan Luedecke, and lives in a condo. The only hint of insanity is her desire to be an attorney; she just finished her first year at Loyola Law School.

But, be very certain, she does love her wiener dog.

“He’s our child,” Hayes says. “Everything revolves around him. He goes everywhere with us.”

Riley has been inside restaurants, hidden in a beach bag. He has gone grocery shopping. When she coaches, Hayes sometimes takes Riley to the pool, where he’ll sit in a bag with his head popping out.

He has a nice life, in part because he almost died before any of this racing business even began. Riley, who turns 2 in a couple weeks, was sick with bad allergies for five months.

There were times when Hayes had to hand-feed him baby food and carry him out to go to the bathroom, holding him up so he could do his business.

On this day, Riley appears completely healthy, and he sounds that way, too. The little guy enjoys a good bark.

“We say he has a split personality,” Hayes says. “He’s half Riley and half Chucky. He’ll yell at you for five minutes, and then he’ll be kissing you.”

Funny, Scioscia’s the same way.

But Riley is cuter. Scioscia wasn’t the one who dressed up like a fireman for Halloween and received 20,000 votes in an online costume contest.

“It’s really like he’s a human being sometimes,” Hayes says of Riley, not Scioscia. “It kind of scares us.”

On Saturday, Riley will attempt to let his legs do the barking. He will be trying to become a champion, trying to rise above the designation of mere wiener.

This isn’t the Olympics. This is bigger.

At the Games, first place means you get a spot on the top step. At the Wiener Nationals, first place means you get the whole house.

Source:  OC Register

O.C. Olympian Now Eyeing Wiener’s Circle

Nathan’s Annual Independence Day Hot Dog Eating Contest

New York, Boston and Washington are cities warming up crowds with entertainment events during the day, putting up traditional fireworks displays. And what Big Apple Fourth of July would be complete without Coney Island’s embrace of two of America’s biggest loves: hot dogs and competition or Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest (2010).

Nathan’s International Hot Dog Eating Contest July Fourth is an annual competitive eating competition held at Nathan’s Famous Corporation’s original and best-known restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York.

The event is held on July 4 and is regarded as the world’s most famous hot dog eating contest and a colorful tradition of Independence Day in the United States. In 2006, over 30,000 spectators attended the event, and an additional 1.5 million households watched it live on ESPN.

Three time defending champion Joey Chestnut faced off with his competition, and when all was said and done, Chestnut emerged victorious again capturing the title for 2010. The contest festivities started on Sunday, July 4 at noon. The contest has become a 4th of July tradition.

2010 winner ate 54 wieners and buns

Other cities around the country hold local versions of the contest.

Here are a few local audience photos of attendees 😉

Small Bite

Too Much Fun

No Wiener Dogs Were Harmed…

Pet Parties – The Latest Craze

As the baby-boomers are taking the lead, in ever-growing numbers, as pet owners, so is pet spoiling and the ‘special pet events’ phenomenon. Baby-boomers, who are primarily empty-nesters are replacing their grown children with pets and spoiling those pets as they used to spoil their children.

Pet parties are one of the newest crazes; birthday and holiday parties with and for pets. They include activities and goodies for both the pets and their humans. Pet ‘birthday’ parties top the list, especially for dogs and then cat parties rank as a distant second. They vary from a group of pet owners and their pets going to lunch or dinner at a pet friendly restaurant to parties at the park or backyard house events. Pet-care facilities (doggy daycare sites and pet hotels) are another option to consider if you don’t have room for a home party.

As with Halloween… with pet ‘dress-up events’ or just having your pet at a conventional gathering or party, there are lots of factors to consider. Will the pets on the guest list get along? Are your human guests pet focused enough and willing to keep an eye on their pet as well as maintain a pet positive environment at the party for everyone, while still having a good time themselves? And is your pet the type who likes being around other animals and groups of people, or is this party really for you?

There are many restaurants that are pet friendly these days so will cordon off an area, as they do for kiddy parties, for your pet event; some even supply decorations and goodies.

But if you prefer to do it yourself and go all out, here are a few suggestions:

Indoor Party Activities:

• Pick a fun theme. Party favors and decorations are now available for most types of pet parties.

• Have each doggy (kitty, bird, monkey, pot bellied pig, etc) guest come in costume and have a mini-fashion show or have your guests and their humans come in matching costumes! Give prizes for best costume(s), funniest, most original, etc.

• Bring Kong type toys, one for each doggy guest, filled with cheese or peanut butter; catnip or tuna for the kitties.

• Have plenty of training treats, snacks and biscuits on hand and hold contests for best sit, stay, shake, roll over… (perhaps for most finicky for the felines?).

• Bring a good supply of rope toys for a doggy tug of war! You’ll find that sometimes the humans will participate as well.

• Paw mural painting can be done inside or out as long as you cover the floor well.

Outdoor Party Activities:

• A silly pet trick contest is a great event, indoors and out, but outside parties lend themselves to a greater variety of tricks. Give a prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd or just for first prize and then give a treat to the others for participation.

• If you have mostly the same types (or breeds) of pets or groups that are the same sizes, dog (or piggy and kitty… if you can motivate them) races can be fun. (Dachshund or Chihuahua races are always funny.)

• Bring enough balls so there is at least one ball or Frisbee per doggy guest and play free-for-all fetch or wands with fake birds, small balls or catnip toys tied at the end for the cats.

• Agility equipment events like a tunnel for the dogs to race through is a good addition; make sure you have lots of training bits or other treats to offer them when they run through successfully!

• Water activities like swimming events in the pool for certain dog breeds during the warm season are possible activities to consider, or bobbing for biscuits using a small tub or kiddie pool with water and then tossing in some biscuits. Whoever gets them out the quickest wins!

• Also, if at the park, make sure you consider safety issues like portable fencing or stakes to attach leashes, so the dogs and their humans can relax for awhile.

Food:

• Make sure there is plenty of water – Provide separate bowls for each pet guest (possibly personalized for them to take home) filled with mineral, filtered or even Smart™ water.

• Order goodies from the local or online doggy (pet) bakeries and party suppliers, or better yet bake them yourself.

• Have an outdoor bar-b-que and fix a special dinner for both the pet guests and their humans with their own grilled boneless steaks or chicken for the doggies or tuna and salmon for the kitties!

• And of course, you must have a birthday cake! You can make it yourself or order one from a local or online pet bakery. A small slice of carrot cake or really any other cake as long as it doesn’t contain chocolate could be served to most pets as well their humans at a special occasion, but in most cases you will probably want a special one for the pets and one for their humans.

• There are also many human goodies (candy and baked goods) shaped like pets, bones, or pet articles that can add fun to the party.

• A goodie bag to take home filled with unique biscuits, doggy ice cream, dehydrated meats (dehydrated fish, a catnip toy, cat grass or grass seeds and gourmet cat desserts for the kitties), and a small pet safe toy, along with their personalized water bowl is a nice touch.

Make sure you label the food appropriately, especially at a buffet-style meal, to ensure that no people accidentally bite into a dog or cat treat or that the pets don’t get too many human treats!

Regardless of the style of the party or the range of food served, you will need to consider both the fun of all the party guests as well as the safety of the food you choose for the people and the dogs (cats or birds, etc) at the event. You might want to skip serving chocolate and onions completely, keep alcohol to a minimum and have a special (pet free) smoking area to keep the guest of honor and friends from eating the butts. Discussing allergies and safety matters of the pets, children and adults at the party in advance will prevent any surprises for the day of the party, as well, perhaps as part of the invitation RSVP request.

Kids have will have fun participating in the games and giving out treats to the winners, so include them if you have any children on your guest list. But be sure to consider supervision, and I would recommend limiting the number of children present. If you do have children or grandchildren at home, include them in the preparation and give them jobs and responsibilities at the party.

And finally, make sure you have a way of capturing all this fun on film! A volunteer photographer or videographer is great for memories and someone taking Polaroid’s for the costume contest, to send home with guests, is always a great touch!

Future articles will include throwing a ‘fancy’ doggy party and ‘pet’ party recipes. But for now, for those of you baking and making the party food on your own, here is a fun recipe for your human guests (and a small sliver, minus the Tootsie Rolls, won’t hurt the pets either):

FAMOUS KITTY LITTER CAKE

(Several variations of this recipe can be found online)

INGREDIENTS:

1 spice or German chocolate cake mix 
1 white cake mix 
2 large packages vanilla instant pudding mix, prepared 
1 large package vanilla sandwich cookies 
green food coloring 
12 small Tootsie Rolls

1 new kitty litter pan 
1 new plastic kitty litter pan liner 
1 new pooper scooper

DIRECTIONS:

Prepare cake mixes (or scratch cake) and bake according to directions (any size pans). 
Prepare pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble. 
Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in food processor, scraping often. Set aside all but about 1/4 cup. To the 1/4 cup cookie crumbs, add a few drops green food coloring and mix until completely colored.

When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble into a large bowl. Toss with half the remaining white cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding. Important: mix in just enough of the pudding to moisten it. You don’t want it too soggy. Combine gently.

Line a new, clean kitty litter box. Put the cake/pudding/cookie mixture into the litter box. 
Put three unwrapped Tootsie rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until soft and pliable. Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly. Repeat with 3 more Tootsie rolls bury them in the mixture. Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top. Scatter the green cookie crumbs lightly on top of everything — this is supposed to look like the chlorophyll in kitty litter.

Heat 3 Tootsie Rolls in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake; sprinkle with cookie crumbs. Spread remaining Tootsie Rolls over the top; take one and heat until pliable, hang it over the side of the kitty litter box, sprinkling it lightly with cookie crumbs. Place the box on a newspaper and sprinkle a few of the cookie crumbs around for a truly disgusting effect!

Have a great party!

By:  Marion Algier/Ask Marion – Just One More Pet

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