Always a weener!

Regular readers of this blog may recall that Diva #Dachshund Dodi was entered in the Halloweener Derby last year, an annual fundraiser sponsored by Climb for Cancer Foundation.

Her performance was memorable. We practiced for weeks, racing up and down the hall at the squeak of her favorite ball. She was in top form, fighting trim. Comes the day of the race Dodi is weight matched against another doxie, I'm at the finish line with treats and toys to lure her, the announcer says "Go!" and they're off like a shot.

One dachshund, anyway.

Dodi sits on her furry little butt and looks around. People are yelling and laughing and I'm at the finish line calling, "C'mon, Dodi! Treats!" and she just sits there enjoying the view.

I must admit, it was mortifying. But I was willing to try again. We signed up for the race, began our training regimen (cue "Rocky" theme...) and I knew this year she'd bring home the gold. A year older, a year more mature, this was Dodi's time to shine.

We get to the races and people remembered her. They came up to me and said, "Maybe this year your pup will run." Not win, mind you, run.

But I tuned out the naysayers. Our race comes up, I pass Dodi off to the handlers, I go down to the finish line, the announcer says, "On your mark, get set....GO!" and they're off like a shot.

One dachshund, anyway.

Dodi gets up and starts walking out the gate at the back, ambling along the way her handler came in. I'm down at the finish line calling, "C'mon, Dodi! Treats! Treats!" and she completely ignores me because clearly, she has better things to do than run on command.

But I refuse to be mortified! My pup has a mind of her own! She marches to her own beat! She's a true dachshund.

She enjoyed her puppy ice cream, we visited with the other doxies and dogs and afterward stopped at a dog-friendly big box store. The convertible top was down on a glorious warm autumn afternoon and she rocked her doggy car seat, the one that raises her up so she can see all the action.

All in all, it was a day well spent. And, after all, it was for charity (and she got ice cream) so no one's complaining.

But as we say all too often in Gator Country...."Wait 'til next year!"