Orange County

Wee Pups to (Nearly) Take Wing at the Wiener Nationals

Dachshunds are ready to go the distance for dogs in need, at Los Alamitos Race Course

What to Know

  • Saturday, July 20
  • Los Alamitos Race Course
  • 6:30 p.m. start (gates open at 4:30 p.m.)

What sort of sound or catchphrase or verbal indicator might a Dachshund employ when she is ready to run very, very fast?

"Meep, meep" is already taken, of course. "I'm outta here" conveys the spirit of a Dachshund on the move, but that is something a human might say, not a pup who speaks in bark-ese.

Hmm. This is ruff, er, rough.

We'll just assume that the sweet but fleet Fidos that compete in Wienerschnitzel's famous Wiener Nationals have one thing on their minds: Reaching the end of 50 yards in an impressively quick amount of time.

And plenty of Dachshunds will do just that, on Saturday, July 20 at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California.

This summertime tradition is very much about doting on Doxies, and meeting other humans who love these hounds, but there's something even stronger at its strong heart: Raising money for the Seal Beach Animal Care Center, which assists in "...finding home for stray animals in the Orange County area."

Lots of people show with their pooches, hoping they can run, but there are rules to know.

Like? A toy or treat may be employed to "entice" your pumpkin to run, but there is no jogging alongside (two people are permitted with each canine participant, one at the starting gate and one waiting at the finish).

Everything to know? Woof woof: It's right here. There's a release waiver, too.

The cost to enter and cheer on these lil' Lassies and Laddies? It's three bucks, and young people 17 and under will be admitted for free.

Los Alamitos calls the Wiener Nationals the venue's "most popular event" of the year, and over 8,500 people attend, per the course.

So arriving early, whether you have a racing pup in tow or not? Smart move.

Dachshunds are famously smart, after all, and if they could talk, they'd certainly advise anyone to head for the Cypress destination well ahead of the first race of the evening, which begins at 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 4:30 p.m.).

Nope, Dachshunds can't fly, but watching all four of their wee feetsies leave the ground at once, as they attempt to reach the finish line first, can make you feel as though you're heart is in flight.

Yes, we said "wee feetsies." Nope, we're not taking it back.

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