Lake Norman’s amazing animal events

The Downtown Mooresville Weiner Dog race returns on Oct. 2.

AMAZING ANIMALS

Dog races and costume contests abound in LKN

COMPILED BY: » Renee Roberson

One thing is for certain. We love our animals here in the Lake Norman area. Fall is a perfect time to get out and about and enjoy the cooler temperatures with your furry friends. Mark your calendars now for these fun events.

Dashing Dachshunds

After a hiatus last year due to the pandemic, the annual Downtown Mooresville Wiener Dog race is back on this year for Oct. 2. Not only is the event fun for dachshund lovers and owners, but it also serves as a fundraiser and helps raise awareness and funds for Lake Norman Humane.

Mooresville businesswomen Roberta Roberts spearheaded the first Mooresville Wiener Dog Race in 2009. The proud owner of a dachshund, Roberts brought the race concept to Mooresville after visiting the Midwest where many wiener dog races are held as part of Octoberfest celebrations. This year, Wagamuffins Dog Boutique has taken on the organization and coordination of the event.

The Downtown Mooresville Wiener Dog race is free for spectators and runs from 2-6 p.m. The event will take place on the grassy area on the corner of East Center Street and North Church Street in downtown Mooresville. As a bonus, The Downtown Mooresville Festival of Food Trucks event will start on Main Street at 5:30 p.m. so you can hang out for plenty more food and fun with local vendors.

Advance registration is required for the following events:

Race categories:

Puppies: 4 months to 1 year old Juniors: 1 year to 5 years old Adults: 5 years to 10 years old Seniors: 10 years and older Special Needs: Wheelchairs, blind/deaf, etc. of all ages Weenie Wannabes: all dachshunds taller than 11 inches, as well as any non-dachshund breed up to 35 pounds

Upon registration, each dog is broken into brackets based on their age. Each bracket will contain heats of up to 6 dogs per heat and each heat will run every 10 to15 minutes. A complete list of rules can be found on the event website.

Participants can also enter their dogs in a costume contest, in the following categories: Best Dressed Contest (open to all breeds) Best Trick Contest (open to all breeds) Longest Body Contest (Dachshunds only) Shortest Legs Contest (Dachshunds only) Strongest Willed (open to all breeds)

A K-9 officer taking part in the 2019 All American Dog Show.

Strutting for a good cause

What started as a small recreational program has become a beloved event each year in Cornelius. Organizers with the Cornelius Parks & Recreation Department presented the All American Dog Show virtually last year but this year, it is back on in person for Oct. 2 from 3-6 p.m. at Robbins Park in Cornelius.

Hundreds of animal lovers and their dogs enjoy this event each year, which features contest categories such as Best Dressed, Best Spots, Best Trick, Best Kisser, and All American Dog. In additional to the contests, visitors can enjoy vendor tents, concessions, and children’s activities. The show also normally starts with a “shelter strut” comprised of any dog in attendance that has been adopted from a rescue shelter. Learn more at www.cornelius.org.

Helpful herding

Another popular local event is the Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival, scheduled to take place this year on Nov. 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road in Huntersville. Now in its 24th year, this festival includes the National Border Collie Shepherding Championships, Carolina Dock Dogs and Canine Agility Club Competition. Attendees can also check out North Carolina beer and wine, heritage breed livestock, historic craft and cooking demos, food vendors, and more.

According to the event website, sheepdog trials involve three things, a handler, a dog (in this case, champion border collies) and a group of sheep. The ultimate goal of a trial is for the handler to use his dog to herd the sheep through a series of gates and into a pen, using only voice and whistle commands to communicate. Points are awarded based on how well the dog and their handler complete several separate phases of competition. The team with the most points wins.

The cost to enter this festival is $8 for ages 5-12 years and $11 for 13 and older. Children 0-4 years can enter free. Learn more at www.ruralhill.net.

An aquatic demonstration by Carolina DockDogs.

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