“On your mark, get set, go!” shouts the referee for the annual Wienerspiel, one of College Station’s cutest and furriest events. A black and white terrier mix shoots out the metal gates, tongue flapping wildly, with a fluffy, white Akita and a gray-and-white merle mix right on their tail. The dogs run in, around, and between black lines. At the other end of the 70-foot carpeted track, owners egg on their beloved pets by waving squeakless squeaky toys and ratty stuffed animals. Spectators sit on the hill next to the track, rooting for their favorite contestant as they head toward the checkered finish line. In less than a minute the race is over, and the top two dogs — Contestant 6, the Akita, and Contestant 2, the terrier mix — move on to the next heat.
The winners of the Wienerspiel Championship race will not only receive bragging rights, but will be placed high on a pedestal alongside their proud owner for photo-ops, with Olympic-style gold medals draped over the winner’s neck with a red, white, and blue ribbon. “Winner’s need to come back and defend their title next year,” says Judy LeUnes, president of Wienerspiel and the nonprofit of the
same name.
There are other contests too. Judy’s spirited, one-eyed pet, Wienke the Wonderdog, was one of the popular racers of the Paralympic Race for disabled dogs and canines with health issues, before he passed away in early 2021. Dogs like Wienke are allowed to walk and only have to travel 10 feet to get to the finish line. Owners sometimes wear custom shirts and have supporter’s hold posters in support of their favorite disabled canine.
“The whole crowd gets involved in it … one year, little Maggie won and Maggie was a student’s dog and [her slogan] was ‘Maggie Out of Sight,’ because she was blind,” LeUnes says.
Wienerspiel translates to “wiener games” in German. The annual event, which is sponsored by the nonprofit by the same name, is its largest fundraiser and was originally brought to College Station by LeUnes in 2007. “Wiener” is a nickname for the dachshund breed. They, and “wanna-be wieners,” as LeUnes calls them, run their little paws off and dress up in flashing lights and sparkling gowns to compete in costume contests. Dachshunds race based on gender,
while other breeds are categorized based on weight class, LeUnes says.
Before the races officially begin, dogs and their owners can strut their stuff in different costume contests. One chihuahua walks the runway in a twinkling tiara and a dress that drags a few feet behind it. In another contest, two siblings make dog lovers laugh with their furry rendition of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.
“We’ve got Most Creative, Best Dressed for the high fashion, Least Effort, which is usually 15 dogs with their collars, Most High Tech, and Doggy Duo,” LeUnes says. “These are usually two dogs that are dressed in a theme, like Batman and Robin.”
Throughout the event, guests can peruse the booths of more than 60 vendors while chowing down on local pizza, cooling down with snow cones, and stocking up on handmade pet clothes and decorative dog food bowls. Guests can also grab local business information and
perhaps a treat for a hungry four-legged family member.
Established in 2018, Wienerspiel is a College Station-based nonprofit that raises funds for other nonprofits that help homeless, unwanted, and neglected animals as well as organizations that protect and advocate for animal rights.
“Our number one focus is the human/animal bond,” LeUnes says. Wienerspiel works to pass local, state, and federal legislation that protects animals.
Serious competitors can attend a free bootcamp the night before Wienerspiel. Participants can practice using the starting cages and make sure that both they and their dogs know what to expect instead of running in circles! “One of the smartest things I did, next to starting these races, was having that boot camp,” LeUnes says. “A lot of people don't realize that their dogs really will run once they figure out what to do, whether it's running to them or just following the other dogs.”
For more information, visit wienerspiel.org.
Wienerspiel 2021
Sponsored by Wienerspiel, the College Station-based nonprofit, to raise funds for other animal-related nonprofits in the Brazos Valley
October 16, 2021 Wanna-be a Wiener Bootcamp from 5 to 7 p.m. (free)
October 17, 2021 from noon to 4 p.m.
Costume contest start at noon, dog races start at 1 p.m.
Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheatre
1015 Colgate Drive, College Station
Race entry fee: $30, includes T-shirt
Costume contests: $15 per contest
