Cutest. Race. Ever.

OH GIVE ME A HOME, WHERE THE WIENER DOGS ROAM: NDG wiener dog race
Photo courtesy of Natasha Clayton
 
“WIENER DOG!”

That’s the typical reaction Laval resident Natasha Clayton gets when walking her Dachshunds, Pixie and Freddy.

The much-loved noodly dog breed is going to be best in show this weekend, when an expected 100 wiener dogs race for the gold in Clayton’s fifth annual wiener dog races at NDG’s Girouard Park.

She says four racing categories are open this year — puppies (five to 11 months), seniors, the handicapped and all the dogs who don’t fit into the previous three categories. Last year, five wiener dogs with wheelchairs and one deaf dog competed in the handicapped category.

Right. As if wiener dogs weren’t cute enough, how about wiener dogs in wheelchairs?
 

Everybody loves a Schnoodle
photo courtesy of Eve Thomas

The annual wiener dog races benefit animal rescues — this year’s proceeds will go to Animal Adoption Montreal and Helping Homeless Pets, the latter of which is an umbrella organization that helps rescues pay expensive vet bills, among other functions.

Small, mostly local companies have pitched in to provide nearly $8,000 worth of prizes to dole out to race and raffle winners. Clayton says backpacks with gift certificates, toys, shampoos, brushes, clothing and more are up for grabs — not to mention prestigious trophies.

Or, rather, karate and bowling trophies re-purposed with a wiener dog in lieu of the original trophy topper.

Dogs can also participate in both a silly dog tricks contest and a bobbing for wieners contest (the event is not as cannibalistic as you may first think). Cocktail wieners will chopped into three and tossed in a bowl of water, and the first dog to eat all three pieces will win a prize.

A word to the wise, though — if you’re particularly competitive and/or kind of a jerk, you and your little dog may want to steer clear of Girouard Park Saturday afternoon.

“Everyone who takes themselves too seriously will be booed off the premises,” Clayton says.

The races start at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25 at the NDG dog run in Girouard Park, rain or shine. Vendors will be on site to hand out freebies, as well.

So far, nearly 70 dogs have been registered. If you’re late to the game but have a wiener dog you’d like to throw into the ring (figuratively, of course), you can still sign up here. Registration is $10. ■

Here’s a video from last year’s wiener dog races: