Dachshunds compete in agility, racing and hot dog eating
Deep River — For the most part, the competition was friendly.
But Vienna Kasulis is used to coming in first place, so when another dog zipped by her, she growled.
Saturday was the Connecticut Yankee Dachshund Club’s Annual Fun Day at Devitt Field in Deep River, and about 30 dachshund owners from as far away as Danielson and West Warwick, R.I. brought their dogs.
The dachshunds competed in fly ball, racing, agility, a costume contest and "bobbing for wieners."
“No, you’re not getting any more,” Samantha Owen of Old Saybrook told Rudy, 6, winner of the bobbing for wieners contest. “You already had eight pieces and that’s pretty much more than you’ve had in your life.”
The event raises money to keep the small club going and pay for shows where the dogs may earn points for breed championships, said Barbara Keck of Waterford, the club's corresponding secretary.
It also helps educate people about the breed, she said.
Although dachshunds are sometimes known for their shape rather than their skills, they're hunting dogs, owners at the event said. The dogs were bred to chase down badgers and rabbits, and many are excellent trackers.
Dave O’Brien of Danielson trained Heidi, 2, in fly ball. The sport races teams of four dogs each, relay style.
The first dog races out in a straight line, clears four jumps and then hits a box at the end of the run, which releases a spring-loaded ball. The dog then catches the ball and sprints back over the four jumps to the start line, which signals the owner to release the next dog in the relay.
“Go! Go! Go,” O’Brien yelled as Heidi ran, jumped and returned. He said she started training in January and practices one hour each week.
Gail Tyler of Mystic, treasurer of the dachshund club, described the dogs' appearance running as "little speeding bullets."
She owns two dachshunds, but kept them home Saturday. They’re 12 and 13 years old and one of them doesn't like the heat, she said.
Other dog owners put up pop-up fencing and filled water bowls and wading pools while the dogs socialized and barked.
“They even love swimming, but they tip over when they swim because their legs are short,” said Keck, who teaches obedience classes in East Lyme and Waterford.
Rudy’s a typical dachshund, his owner, Owen said.
“They’re a pretty persistent breed. Stubborn,” she said. They love to run. “But really their favorite thing is cuddling under the covers and being loved. So we’ll go home and he’ll go right into his box, and sleep for the rest of the day.”
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