ST. GEORGE, Utah — More than two dozen dachshunds are expected to take over Utah Tech University on Sept. 23 as students and community members gather for Weenie Mania, an annual celebration of the long bodied, short legged breed.
The event begins at 7:30 p.m. at South Encampment on the Utah Tech campus. Guests can watch dachshund races, an obstacle course, dog competitions and a hot dog eating contest. Free hot dogs will also be available.
From Campus Idea to Community Tradition
What began as a new student activity is quickly becoming a community tradition. This year marks the third Weenie Mania, and organizers say participation has more than doubled since the first race.
Sophia Haughn, a member of the Utah Tech Student Association’s Student Life Branch during the first Weenie Mania who served as event director, said the idea came from a desire to give students something different to anticipate.
“I was on Student Life the first year we did Weenie Mania, and I was fortunate enough to be the event director who got to oversee that event the first time that we did it,” Haughn said.
Student Life organizes weekly Wednesday activities and tradition week events throughout the school year, making fresh programming an important part of its work.
“We had heard of other communities and organizations doing wiener dog races, and they just sounded like a lot of fun,” Haughn said. “I think that’s something that our community and students would enjoy.”
The first Weenie Mania featured 10 dogs divided into two heats. Last year, 20 dachshunds competed. Haylee Lemon, one of this year’s organizers, said about 27 dogs are already registered.
“Our community is so excited about it, which is such a fun thing for us to see because we see students engaging with the community and being on our campus together having fun,” Haughn said.
Why Dachshunds?
For Lemon, the current director of entertainment events for UTSA’s Student Life Branch, the popularity of Weenie Mania also reflects how often dachshunds appear throughout Southern Utah.
“I feel like in Southern Utah, dachshunds are a very common breed that lots of people have in the community,” Lemon said. “When you go to farmers markets, or pretty much anywhere, you see someone with a dachshund.”
The event gives those owners a chance to celebrate their dogs together in one place. The animals may not be known for speed or athleticism, but organizers say that is part of the appeal.
“Because wiener dogs are not known for being exceptionally fast or athletic dogs, they are just so fun to watch because of their short size and long bodies,” Haughn said.
New Obstacles and Returning Favorites
This year, organizers are adding an obstacle course race. Students can also vote for the dog they think will win, giving people without a dachshund another way to participate.
The hot dog eating contest returns after a positive response last year. A button making station will let guests create keepsakes featuring dogs in the races, and students can look for a new event shirt design.
Last year’s playful slogan captured the evening’s spirit: “If you can’t run with the small dogs, stay off the track.”
Campus Meets Community
Although Weenie Mania began as a student event, much of its success comes from people outside the university.
“I feel like this event really connects our campus to the community because this event couldn’t happen without the community,” Lemon said.
While some Utah Tech students participate with their own dachshunds, Lemon said most contestants come from the surrounding community.
“Most of our contestants come from the community, bringing all of their wiener dogs together to participate,” she said. “We definitely appreciate that involvement from our community, and it’s just super fun to see that happen.”
For one evening, the Utah Tech campus will become a racetrack for some of Southern Utah’s smallest athletes and a gathering place for the people who love them.
How to Register
Dachshund owners interested in entering the races can register their dog through the online form.
