Short in the tooth

Evan Marmol

Once a month Old World Restaurant in Huntington Beach is overrun by

dachshunds and their owners, who are equal in their exuberance for

the Wiener Nationals.

Amid a harmony of yipping, owners prepped their wriggling pooches

to scamper across the short race track with hopes of victory. At the

finish line, a team member held a hot dog, plush doll or any number

of items to lure the excited dogs.

These spry dogs had gaits ranging from an all-out dash to a waddle

-- some even had a strut, as if in a fashion show. Sunday’s race drew

30 wiener dogs -- some seasoned racers, others rookies. The

short-legged wonders also varied in size from tiny five-pound

“Tweenie Wienies” to colossal 25-pound standards.

Overexcited dachshunds raced heat after heat in the stifling sun,

all intent on pleasing their owners. Spectators, who packed the

benches, showed signs of fatigue far before the wieners.

The now-monthly event started purely by coincidence nine years ago

when race organizer Inge Mckellop invited a dachshund club to Old

World Village to exhibit the dachshund because of the dog’s German

heritage. As part of the presentation they raced the dogs. Since

then, the novelty has grown and Mckellop has converted her

25-year-old business, the Coffee Mill, to cater to humans and

Dachshunds alike.She converted half of the coffee shop into a

dachshund outpost offering shirts, collars, cookie cutters and other

items.

“Some of the dogs have appeared on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jay

Leno,” Mckellop said. “These owners are intense on racing they really

care about their dogs.”

After hours of races Sunday Baby Love was crowned victor, followed

closely by Noodles owned by Kimberly and Nick Garnier of Huntington

Beach.

Noodles is no stranger to the winner’s circle. And his people give

him full credit for his winning ways.

“I mean he’s just a spaz,” Kimberly Garnier said “We do play with

him and throw him a ball, but he wins because he is so spastic.”

Mckellop made sure that everyone left a winner. First through

third place received a plaque and everyone else received a ribbon to

recognize their participation in the event.

For further information, please contact Inge Mckellop at

(714)898-5111. Old World Restaurant is at 7561 Center Ave. No. 49. On

the web at www.oldworld.ws.