Vilnius, Lithuania — As National Dog Day is unofficially celebrated in The United States today, The Gourmet Gazette takes you to the lively Baltic nation of Lithuania where last August 24th, The Corgi Race Vilnius 2024 took place in Vingis Park in the country’s capital city of Vilnius whose Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the corgi dog breed is most often associated with the late great Queen Elizabeth II, over 100 Pembroke and Cardigan corgis from Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Ukraine, and Estonia were in town for a day of lively competition in the capital city of this scenic Baltic Republic. Corgis might be short on legs but they are high on energy and charm. Like Vilnius itself which could become a destination for corgi enthusiasts the world over. Vignis Park is a popular spot for gatherings and is especially loved by dog owners for its many walking trails and a special dog beach, located by the Neris River.

Highlights of the day included the Travel Panorama Corgi Solo Sprint where the fastest competitors showcased their speed and of course there was the fan-favorite costume contest with the most creative outfits being chosen by popular vote. The 100 competitors were joined by thousands of dog lovers at the fun outdoor event. This year marked the third time the city hosted its Corgi Race. The winning sprinters that crossed the finish line for the Travel Panorama Corgi Solo Sprint were Moka, Bruno, and Persikutė. In this new event each competitor ran a separate track racing to cover the distance in the shortest time. Corgis who preferred to show their style rather than their speed entered the costume contest which saw corgis dressed up as Ed Sheeran, Dracula and a unicorn. The main event, “Corgi Race,” started by grouping the dogs by weight. The contenders competed in heats, semifinals, and the grand 50-meter sprint race.

“These doggies might have raced with the shortest legs in town, but they proved that their hearts are as big as their competitive spirit. Their physical preparation and friendliness towards each other were truly impressive. With plenty of licks, sniffing, petting, treats, and fun, the races brought smiles to everyone. And I think that for the dogs it was the greatest walk in the park. And for humans, it brought lots of happiness watching corgis wiggle their way to the finish line,” commented event organizer Dovilė Bielousovaitė.

The Pembroke Welsh corgi is a strong, athletic, and lively little herder who is affectionate and companionable without being needy and they are one the world’s most popular herding breeds, according to the American Kennel Club (AKA). While Cardigan Corgis are powerful workers of deceptive speed and grace, according to the AKA. The best way to distinguish between the two is to look for their tails. Cardigans, which are believed to be the older of the two corgi breeds, have tails while Pembrokes do not. In fact, the Cardigan Welsh corgi is one of the oldest known breeds and believed to have been in existence in Wales for over 3,000 years and were first imported into the United States in 1932 according to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette. https://www.govilnius.lt/ https://www.nationaldogday.com/