The 2010 Highway Wiener Dog Derby in Palo Alto

Image by:Christoph Schweiger's

On the surface, it sounds ridiculous. And it is! Ridiculously fun, that is. The Sixth Annual Highway Wiener Dog Derby is set to take place on the 8th of August at Palo Alto High School, and it promises to be a lot of fun for all involved. As the name suggests, the race is open to Dachshunds only, and if you think your wiener dog would like to participate, you can e-mail the organizers to register. The sign-up is no more formal than that, and best of all, participation in the race is free!

If you're looking for some serious competition and you just want to win, win, win, this may not be the race for you and your dog, but if you're looking for serious fun and just want your dog to get out there and have a good time, this race couldn't be more perfect. The emphasis is on fun rather than performance, and some dogs don't even finish the race, to which the owners laugh it off and shrug. One perennial participant described her typical experience this way: "My dogs don't usually finish the race, but it's a riot. Priscilla is too busy trying to pull off her racing jersey to get out of the gate, and Presley veered off the track last year."

So if you think your Dachshund would fit well into a race of this caliber, you can sign up at the website. There will also be a BBQ sausage feast served at the race to commemorate National Mustard Day! A good time will be had by all.