There’s a new top dog in the town of Buda.
This week, the Central Texas city unveiled the largest wiener dog in Texas. Standing at 10 feet tall, and 19 feet long, the steel sculpture is an homage to the town’s most well-known tradition: the annual Buda Wiener Dog Races.
The statue is a testament to the longstanding tradition, in which thousands of people gather to watch more than 300 dachshunds and “chiweenies” compete in races and costume contests. The event has become a special part of the city’s history since the Buda Lion’s Club first kicked things off in 1997, eventually earning Buda its title as “the Wiener Dog Capital of Texas.” The upcoming race in April 2027 will mark the 30th anniversary.
Created in collaboration with the Buda Economic Development Corporation and the creative production company Art Seen Alliance, the statue was installed at Buda City Park. Constructed from Cor-Ten weathering steel, the statue will rust over time, eventually turning an even deeper brown.
From the beginning, Jennifer L. Storm, Buda EDC’s Chief Executive Officer, had a vision of what she wanted from the sculpture: something big, fun, and quirky enough “to make people stop and smile.” It took just over a year for the team to get the design just right.
“I knew I wanted the dog to look like she was racing, with her ears flying back, her legs moving, and that determined look that anyone who has watched the annual races knows so well,” Storm says.
The idea first came to Storm on a family road trip a few years ago while driving to Minnesota’s largest ball of twine. “I remember thinking, ‘If people will drive hours to see a ball of twine, what could we do in Buda to get people to exit I-35 and discover our community? I started Googling giant dachshunds right there in the car.”
Storm hopes that the windswept wiener dog sculpture will inspire people to stop, take a picture, and explore the city. “The races bring people from all over the world, but more importantly, they’ve become something generations of families have grown up enjoying,” Storm says. “It’s part of our identity and I love that we now have something that celebrates that tradition every single day of the year.”
