More than a thousand dachshunds – and their equally enthusiastic owners – gathered this weekend for the world’s largest sausage dog event.
The annual meeting in the seaside town of Southwold, Suffolk, consisted of a mile walk from the harbor to Southwold Pier, with some dogs venturing into the sea.
The event, which started seven years ago and was organized by 33-year-old Laura Baggott, has become an important date on the dachshund community’s calendar.
In 2022 it set a world record with 2,238 dogs present.
The party is partly aimed at raising awareness and fundraising to combat intervertebral disc disease, which is common in sausage dogs because of their long bodies.
More than a thousand dachshunds – and their equally enthusiastic owners – gathered this weekend for the world’s largest sausage dog event
The annual meeting in the seaside town of Southwold, Suffolk, consisted of a mile walk from the harbor to Southwold Pier, with some dogs venturing into the sea
The event, which started seven years ago and was organized by 33-year-old Laura Baggott, has become an important date on the dachshund community’s calendar. In 2022 it set a world record with 2,238 dogs present
The party is partly aimed at raising awareness and fundraising to combat intervertebral disc disease, which is common in sausage dogs because of their long bodies.
This year’s event was almost canceled due to health and safety concerns. But permission was granted by East Suffolk Council just days earlier, much to the delight of sausage dog enthusiasts who came from as far afield as Florida to enjoy the walk.
This year’s event was almost canceled due to health and safety concerns.
But permission was granted by East Suffolk Council just days before much to the delight of sausage dog enthusiasts who came from as far away as Florida to enjoy the walk.
Baggott said: ‘There was a lot of red tape and paperwork, but we did it, and the council was brilliant.’
Heather Forbes, 52, from Wymondham, Norfolk, who was with her dogs Patsy, Saffy, Bubbles and Dolly, said: ‘They are just an absolutely fantastic breed.
‘One, you have one dachshund that you can’t stop. They are cuddly, cuddly, playful and loyal, even if they are a bit mischievous.’
Veterinary assistant Amy Walker, who was with her pets, eight-year-old Lilly and 13-year-old Pickle, added: ‘I love their wild personalities.
‘We have been coming to the walk for three years. It is a wonderful event and we enjoyed it immensely. Everyone is so friendly.
“It’s true they are noisy dogs, but that doesn’t bother anyone in Southwold these days.”
Sausage Dog walk organizer Laura Abbott during the event. Baggott said: ‘There was a lot of red tape and paperwork, but we did it, and the council was brilliant.’
The meeting successfully raised thousands of pounds for Dedicated to Dachshunds with IVDD, a charity that supports disabled dachshunds
Karen Hodgkins, 61, from Bowers Gifford, Essex, who was in Southwold with husband Brian, 72, and their dachshunds Toby, Minie, Sasha and Harley, said: ‘It’s so lovely to see all the dogs together. They have such beautiful characters and they are so friendly’
Sarah Waddoups (pictured) who traveled from Alfreton, Derbyshire, with her 11-year-old sausage dog Lord William, said: ‘This is a great day out. It’s fantastic to walk along the beach and meet so many lovely people and their dogs’
Some adventurous pups even rushed into the sea, frolicking in the foam kicked up by the strong wind
Krystal Alright, from Caister-on-Sea, who was dressed in Halloween costumes with her dogs Shelby, five, and Rollie, three, said: ‘Sausage dogs are an acquired taste. I just love their personalities and their stubbornness.”
The air was filled with excited yelps on Sunday as the charming canines took over the seaside town of Southwold, Suffolk
Sarah Waddoups, who traveled down from Alfreton, Derbyshire, with her 11-year-old sausage dog Lord William, said: “This is a great day out.
‘It’s fantastic to walk along the beach and meet so many lovely people and their dogs.’
Karen Hodgkins, 61, from Bowers Gifford, Essex, who was in Southwold with husband Brian, 72, and their dachshunds Toby, Minie, Sasha and Harley, said: ‘It’s so lovely to see all the dogs together.
‘They have such beautiful characters and they are so friendly. We adopted a mother and a daughter, and then we had a brother and a sister.”
Krystal Alright, from Caister-on-Sea, who was dressed in Halloween costumes with her dogs Shelby, five, and Rollie, three, said: ‘Sausage dogs are an acquired taste. I just love their personality and their stubbornness.”
The meeting successfully raised thousands of pounds for Dedicated to Dachshunds with IVDD, a charity that supports disabled dachshunds.