Last Sunday, the 5th Hundetag Baden took place. Since this enchanting town south of Vienna has been my home for a few years now, it goes without saying that I had to attend this dog event. Martina, Atlas, Tiago and Neroli are of course coming along. Murphy too — obviously! ;)
Hundereise Heads to the Baden Trotting Track
Since it's a scorching day, Martina kindly picks us up in the morning and we zip off to the trotting track. That's where the Hundetag takes place — a wonderfully nostalgic venue. You can find all the event details on this page.
Finding a parking spot is no easy feat — things are already buzzing. The four boys get their gear sorted and we head to the entrance. There, a young vet approaches us fairly quickly, checks all our vaccination booklets and "marks" the dogs as cleared with a purple ribbon.
A short queue at the ticket desk and just like that, we're right in the thick of it. Almost!
In the entrance area, funny little stuffed monkeys are tumbling about — Murphy simply cannot walk past them without stopping for a play. He'd happily take one home right then and there, but I want to have a proper look around first — and so do Martina, Atlas, Tiago and Neroli.
Shopping Paradise
A huge number of stalls invite you to browse, try things out, chat with the experts and, of course, buy. Mostly local businesses exhibit here, which gives the whole event a wonderfully warm feel. And water bowls for the furry visitors at nearly every stand — even better!
The range covers pretty much everything a dog's heart — and their human's — could desire. From beds in endless varieties, collars, leads, harnesses and dog sport equipment to training gear, toys and, most tempting of all for the four-legged visitors: food in abundance!
Countless dog dads, dog mums and their pooches are making their way from stall to stall, filling their shopping bags with goodies for their beloved pets. The three Galgos are on their absolute best behaviour amid all the four- and two-legged hustle and bustle, and Murphy only needs to grumble very occasionally. When he's out and about with his long-legged "gang", he carries himself with all the confidence of a little Napoleon — and acts accordingly. ;)
Full-On Action & a Well-Earned Break
We catch a short Dog Dancing display, watch from the shade as some dogs leap into the dog diving pool, and observe obedience work from a distance. Atlas and Murphy cool their paws in the display pools in between.
After taking in so many impressions, we all need a break and manage to find a fairly quiet spot in the food area at the eastern end of the grandstand. Martina and I treat ourselves to something soft — two raspberry sodas it is. Cuddles for our well-behaved boys included.
The whole Hundereise team pays a visit to the stand of "Pflegemama Karin" and her gorgeous collars! After a quick chat, we stroll on and gradually make our way towards the exit. The three Galgos and the little Napoleon are looking a little tired ;)
The Other Baden Derby
Martina is kind enough to drive us home. After a longer lunch break, I head back to the Hundetag armed with nothing but my camera to meet my dear colleague Astrid and her pug Vincent. Murphy, meanwhile, gets to rest up with his dad in the cool living room.
By happy coincidence, I arrive at just the right moment to snap a few shots of the "other Baden Derby":
Which Breeds Are There?
On the opposite side, part of the trotting track has been sectioned off as a show ring. Anyone wanting to learn about the different dog breeds is in exactly the right place at the Hundetag Baden.
The presenter at the breed show gives a brief explanation of the key features and characteristics of each dog, while they are shown off in the ring. Since everyone waits in the area in front, it's easy to strike up a conversation with the owners if you're genuinely interested.
I stay for a while and manage to snap a few shots of the following beauties:
What Is Breitensport?
I meet Astrid on the activity area of the HSC Wiener Neudorf. She wants to try out Breitensport with Vincent, and today is the perfect opportunity — almost all the sports on display can be tried out yourself with your best friend.
Chatting with the club members, I learn what Breitensport consists of:
- Obedience
- Obstacle course
- Hurdle race
- Slalom
It's all about accuracy and speed. In the running events, the handler also has to cross the start and finish line for the result to count. The discipline therefore requires a well-attuned, athletic dog-and-human team.
At 3 pm, an impressive demonstration takes place, and afterwards everyone is welcome to try the discipline with their own dog. Vincent joins in enthusiastically despite the heat and does brilliantly on both the obstacle course and the hurdle run. As a reward, there's a lovely cool-down in the dog pool.
A Surprise for Murphy
We chat for a little while longer, then I make my way back to the car park. Since the stalls are much less crowded by now, I take another quick stroll through and find what I'm looking for at Miss Amber. I get great advice and can even pay by card. A rope toy and one that's a bit reminiscent of a feather duster get wrapped up (and are enthusiastically received by the little rascal at home).
At the exit, the lady with the tumbling little monkeys is still there — of course one of those has to come along too… You should have seen Murphy's eyes :)
In this Facebook video you can see how much fun he has with it.
Hundetag Baden is a lovely, well-attended event with a varied programme and a wide range of vendors. We'll definitely be back!
