2010 2nd Annual Hawaii Wiener Derby

Dachshund Racing or Wiener Dog Racing has not been around for very long but thanks to the creative ad agency for the 1993 Miller Lite television commercial that listed odd possibilities for sports such as The Miss Perfect Face Off, Sumo Platform Diving and Wiener Dog Drag Races, this phenomenon has taken off in a big way. Wiener Dog Dachshund races are extremely popular events—some horse and dog racing tracks break attendance records when the doxies race days and nights are held.

The national wiener dog racing championships - the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals, feature racing wieners from across the USA. Dachshund owners love to gather and mingle in a sport where the training techniques are unique and creative. A second place winner, a 30-pound doxie named Max is trained by owner David Niebur who yanks a garbage bag across his backyard lawn for Max to chase. 

Most dachshund races are a length of 50 feet, and usually start with the dogs in a starting box. The box is opened upon a signal from a referee and the race begins. In some races the course is wide open, however some races have each lane separated. The latter races tend to be less entertaining since much of the fun of a dachshund race is watching dogs mill  around the starting gate sniffing each other instead of running.

Between 30 and 40 dachshund races are scheduled across the USA annually according to the Dachshund Club of America. Dachshunds are generally easy to train for the show ring, and many of them enjoy showing. The loyal Dachshund makes a good companion whether you live in a small city apartment or the country. But they do have a loud bark, say their owners.

The miniature dachshund weighs 11 pounds or less at maturity; a standard dachshund weighs 16 to 32 pounds. All those in between 11 and 15 pounds are affectionately called "tweenies." Dachshund sizes come in three coat types - smooth, long-haired, and wirehaired, and various colors - the most common two being red and black/tan.

The smooth is the original dachshund. Long-haired dachshunds were developed by crossing the smooth dachshund with spaniels; the standard long-hairs tend to be somewhat larger than the smooths, and their temperaments may be calmer and more focused on their humans. Wirehairs were developed by crossing smooth dachshunds with terriers.

The 2010 Hawaii Wiener Derby marks the 2nd year of the event in Hawaii. We hope to have many tiny-legged hot dogs (or as referred to in Hawaii, sausage dogs) who are hot to trot for the title of top dog.  To enter your star performer, please fill out the registration form online or download the registration form and mail it along with your registration fee.

The public is invited to attend for free and watch the races. 

The 2010 Hawaii Wiener Derby will be held at the Hawaiian Humane Society's Canine Playday at Thomas Square. From the H1 Freeway, exit at Kinau St. from Ewa, or Lunalilo St. exit from Diamond Head, and turn onto Ward Ave. going makai (toward the ocean). Go past the Academy of Arts and it will be the park on your left just before Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall. Hope to see you there!