29-06-2025
Germany's fastest dachshund crowned after controversial race
Dachshund Fiete from Tornesch (Schleswig-Holstein) dashes across the grass during the in the Standard Dachshund category of the first German Dachshund Racing Championship. Simon Kremer/dpa
The fastest dachshund in Germany was named on Sunday after a controversial inaugural race.
Fiete, from Tornesch in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, won the final of the first German championship for standard dachshunds in Magdeburg in 5.6 seconds.
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But the final race had to be repeated twice because, despite a photo finish, no clear winner could be determined in the initial two runs.
A total of 220 dachshunds competed in various events over the weekend.
Whistles, squeaky balls and small treats were used to encourage the sausage dogs to cover the 40-metre race track as quickly as possible.
In the miniature dachshund category, Frieda from the state of Brandenburg claimed victory.
"Frieda only gets buffalo meat from us. Maybe that's her little secret," said her owner Stefan Müller.
Participants came from all over Germany, according to the organizers, with two dogs even travelling from Austria.
The dachshund is widely thought to be a creation of German breeders in the 1700s.
