Animal Athletes Around the World!

Wiener dog races!

Who knew that there were animal athletic challenges around the world? We didn't until we got last week's issue of TIME
magazine, who highlighted some challenges. Since you may not be aware of either, we're sharing them here!  Of course, our 4 year old black and tan dachshund Tyler says that he's an athlete, too, because he does agility courses!

Tyker ready to run!

WIENER RACES -  This is our personal favorite (and wasn't included in the article) because it's about dashing Dachshunds! Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue (one of the rescues we work with, the other being DC Area Weimaraner Rescue) holds outdoor events and one of the things they have are "Weiner dog races." Our kids have never entered because Franklin would just stand around at the start begging for food, and Tyler would either go after another dog and bark at him/her or run to us.

DOG SURFING - Hawaii and California have had dog  surfing competitions since the 1920s. Apparently, points are given for the length of time on a surfboard, wave sized and "confidence" the dog shows.

Dog Surfing

PIG DIVING - Yup, this doesn't happen in the U.S. South, but in rural China! The Piggy Kingdom Amusement Park in Zhejiang province has pigs jump off a 39 foot platform. That's 6 feet higher than Olympic diving platforms.

Pig Diving

CAMEL RACES- The very first Camel Races are happening this year in December in Dubai, Saudi Arabia. It's actually a marathon that goes 31 miles and awards "luxury prizes" to winners.

SNAIL RACING?!? - Yes. Since the 1960s the World Snail Racing Championships in the English Village of Congham has held this race. Contestants have been said to come as far as Hong Kong. Of course, if they get there at a snail's pace, it'll take about 100 years from China to England. :) These races have happened since the 1960s and we're sure they must go on for weeks!

1 MINUTE SNAIL RACE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/7YhCEUzbCzE