Dog Days of Summer at the farmers market fun for dogs of all sizes

“One, two, three, tally-ho,” yelled Jacque McCormick, thrusting her arms in the air. With the sound of her voice, a parade of paws swooshed across the pavement.

Laughter erupted and children squealed as a crowd of bystanders stood watching the wiener dog races last Thursday evening at the West Linn Farmers Market.

The racetrack was made from a hodge-podge of orange traffic cones and metal grates. Nearby, the farmers market smelled of barbecue chicken and elephant ears.

The race featured a smattering of first-timers — 41 total — some long-haired and chocolate colored, others short-haired and black. Ricco, a black long-haired Chihuahua with a grey muzzle even made his way into the race. Ricco’s owner, Sammy Steeh, dressed him in a hot dog costume — complete with fake ketchup — for the race.

McCormick and dog owners wrangled dogs like Zippy, Daisy, Jasmine and Frankie into the race slots. At the phrase “tally-ho” the dogs burst, looked around, got confused and eventually scampered to their owners across the finish line.

“I’ve been doing this since 1989,” McCormick said as she led the next round of dachshunds into the race slots. McCormick is part of the Dachshund Fanciers of Southwestern Washington. Her racing structure held eight dogs and was made from a cobbling of plywood and brown and yellow carpet.

McCormick’s wiener dog, Festus — or Fussy Festus — is a “mamma’s boy” and Northwest Champion. Festus is the color of coal and caramel. His tanned ears, furry feet and scraggly beard add the regalia of his title. Last year, Festus took first place for dogs ages 2 and younger during the regional championship races during a Seattle Seahawks halftime show.

Festus ran 50 yards and won. McCormick doesn’t remember his time, but it was fast, so fast that when recalling that day, McCormick picked Festus up, squeezed him lovingly and sighed.

The wiener dog race was part of the Dog Days of Summer event at the West Linn Farmers Market. The pet-centric market featured more than 18 canine-friendly booths along 12th Street. The event was organized for the first time last year by local West Linn business Oregon Dogs Inc.

“This year we decided to go all out,” said Valerie Baker, director of operations at Oregon Dogs Inc. “We wanted to put together an event that really represented every facet of the pet industry. ... West Linn has always been a pet-friendly farmers market.”

Baker said based on positive feedback from vendors and patrons, the business plans to make the event even bigger and better next year.

This year at the market, golden retrievers and huskies sat in the shade. A St. Bernard puppy the size of a small pony and a dachshund touched noses. Rescue agencies like Project Pooch, Multnomah Animal Services and Deaf Dogs of Oregon hid from the late July sun under canopies.

Local vendors featured antique dog beds, “Pic of the Litter” portrait studios, skull and cross bone handkerchiefs, and gourmet dog treats from Pawsitive Pastries. Behind the window at Oregon Dogs Inc. a white sheep dog wrestled with its groomer while being bathed.

At the racetrack, Laura Perry, 10, held her 5-year-old wiener dog, Jasmine.

“It’s really cute to see their little legs trotting,” Perry said, mimicking the motion of spinning legs. Jasmine got a new outfit for the race — a pink polka dot handkerchief. Last year, the petite canine took second place.

At the start line, McCormick coached first-time racers. Owners bounced and held their dogs like children on the side of their hips. The day’s winners would receive a trophy, blue ribbon or a stuffed animal mouse, McCormick said.

There were no losers. If the dogs didn’t finish the race, owners ran alongside their pooch to the finish line.

“We want all the dogs to finish the race,” McCormick said. “We don’t care how.”