Hundreds of sausage dogs gather for annual festive parade that organiser started to help her puppy socialise
The pitter-patter of tiny paws has brought joy – and more than a little chaos – to Hyde Park in London as hundreds of dachshunds and their owners gathered for the annual sausage dog Christmas walk.
Now in its eighth year, the event was started by organiser Ana as a way to help her dachshund, Winston, socialise as a puppy. Meeting at noon by the Physical Energy statue in the centre of the park, the dogs – well, the owners really – competed in a best-dressed competition before enjoying an hour of play and socialising before the parade. Ana said previous years’ events had ended up attracting as many as a thousand people and dogs.
Dachshunds may only have little legs, but the Royal Kennel Club still recommends they enjoy up to an hour’s exercise a day. Koda was making his debut at the event with his owner, Alice. “We’ve been to dachshund cafes before,” she said. “It’s so cute. I’ve got spare costumes for him in case he gets wet, and a sling to carry him home on the tube. He’ll probably fall asleep.”
Ian had travelled from St Albans with Daisie. “It brings everyone together,” he said. “It’s just lovely, isn’t it? Dachshunds migrate towards each other, don’t they?”
