The Dachshund is a breed of hunting dog with short legs and a long body, its name originating from Germany. In a city in the country, an event for walking Dachshunds was held last year, with a total of 897 Dachshunds taking to the streets, breaking the Guinness World Record.
According to a report from the Guinness World Records website on March 12, Regensburg, Germany, is a beautiful medieval city that was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. The city is home to the Dackelmuseum, a Dachshund museum that houses a collection of 4,500 items related to Dachshunds.
During the Dachshund parade held in Regensburg on September 22, 2024, many people walked their Dachshunds through the streets. As per the organization’s calculations and verification, a total of 897 Dachshunds participated in the event that day, breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest Dachshund walk event.
The Dachshunds and their owners gathered at a large parking lot in Regensburg before starting the walk, passing through the historic 12th-century stone bridge, strolling through the streets of the old town, passing by the Dachshund museum, crossing the finish line, and finally celebrating at the city square.
The parade organizers divided the participants and Dachshunds into groups to facilitate counting. There were Dachshunds from Regensburg, as well as from various states in Germany and 19 different European countries, some even from Brazil or the United States.
Along the way, a parade band cheered on the participants, with happy spectators and their own small dogs lining the streets. These dogs seemed curious as to why Dachshunds, as a breed, have their own parade.
In Germany, Dachshunds are a beloved breed. According to Smithsonian magazine, Dachshunds originated in the 17th century and were bred as hunting companions. Their elongated bodies and noses allowed them to burrow into burrows inhabited by badgers and other underground mammals. By the 18th century, they were frequently featured in hunting manuals.
This breed is particularly popular in Bavaria, southern Germany, where Regensburg is located. So much so that the mascot for the 1972 Munich Olympics was a black Dachshund named Waldi, the first official mascot in Olympic history.
When asked by German media about the reason for organizing the Dachshund parade, Seppi Küblbeck, one of the founders of the Dachshund museum, mentioned that he wanted to bring some joy to people during these difficult times.
At the end of the event, local authorities estimated that tens of thousands of people participated in the parade, some of whom were dressed in traditional Bavarian attire.