For years, local, regional and even the national dachshund club would hold dachshund races just for fun. The dogs loved it. The dachshund owners loved it. The spectators adored it. Then the “just for fun” sport received a few seconds of fame in a national beer commercial, and suddenly dachshund racing became a big draw for greyhound and horse racetracks, as well as a variety of other commercial enterprises.

The Dachshund Club of America (DCA) took a public stand against racing dachsies at greyhound tracks and discouraged members from participating. For those wiener dog owners who felt they had lost a great sport — or for those who'd love to race their dachsie — the UKC offers licensed dachshund racing.

Dogs aged one year or older can compete in two different types of classes: a regular class, held on a flat course, and a steeplechase, which has a minimum of four hurdles at least 20 feet apart.

The dachshunds start the race in a six-dog starting box. When the box opens, the dachshunds chase after a lure, which is dragged on a line to the finish line. Each dachsie wears a muzzle and a colored racing collar for easy identification. The finish is made of bales of hay with a hole just large enough for one dachshund to go through at a time.

The winner of the race is determined by the order in which the dachshunds come out of the hay bales into the catch area. Titles for UKC racing include United Flat Racer (UR); United Steeplechase Racer (USR); United Flat Race Champion (UFRCH); and United Steeplechase Champion (USRCH).

Before you begin competing with your dachsie in the next UKC race, make sure that your dog is free of any orthopedic problems that might be exacerbated by running or jumping over hurdles. If your dachshund gets the go-ahead from your veterinarian, try to find a local dachshund club that is practicing for these races.