While millions of Canadians spent two weeks this summer following every move of our Olympic athletes, one four-legged competitor from Chatham ran his own race and became a champion.
Buddy, a five-and-a-half-year-old purebred Basset Hound became the fastest of his kind in Ontario, winning the annual Fort Erie Basset Hound Races.
Owned by David Paulovics and his wife Deanna, Buddy bested a field of more than 30 dogs in the event held at the Fort Erie Race Track following its horse racing card.
This is the third year Buddy has competed in the race, finishing third and fourth in his previous efforts. Dave got the idea of entering Buddy after seeing the races on YouTube.
“It’s a nice day out and Deanna and I thought, why not,” Dave said.
He said younger dogs usually win the races but Buddy showed he’s not “past his prime” by completing the 25-metre race in about four seconds.
“As a pup, Buddy always liked to run and go for long walks with us,” Dave said. “Taking walks is the extent of his training.”
Although their appearance doesn’t suggest speed, the dogs were bred to chase rabbits and squirrels. Their average height is 14 inches.
“Buddy’s a little bit longer than most Basset Hounds and he’s about 58 pounds,” Dave said.
The Fort Erie track boasts crowds of several thousand people and most stay for the dog races.
“Just about everybody seems to stay,” he said. “The crowd really gets into it, cheering for the dogs.”
As for how Buddy’s “pit crew” handled the race, Dave said it was simple.
“Deanna holds him at the start of the race and I wait at the finish line. I whistle to get his attention and then I whistle more once the race starts,” he said.
After Buddy won his heat, he raced in the Basset Hound finals where he finished first again. The final race of the day was for the winners of the Basset Hound, Corgi, and Dachshund breeds who competed separately.
The Corgi won but Buddy finished a close third.
“He’s forty pounds heavier than the other dogs and I was surprised he had the strength left. I had whistled so much at the end of the race that I didn’t have anything left,” Dave said.
When he’s not racing, Buddy is a typical Basset Hound, Dave said.
“He spends 95 per cent of his time lying on the couch sleeping or eating,” he laughed.
Buddy does take time away from the couch to visit nursing homes, the hospital and the Chatham-Kent Hospice.
“He’s a big ham; he loves the attention,” Dave said. “When he shows up at the nursing home, it’s always, ‘Hey Buddy’s here.’ Everyone is glad to see him.”
Buddy isn’t very vocal unless he catches the scent of a rabbit or squirrel. “If he’s in the yard and he picks up a scent, he lets me know,” Dave said.
Dave said Buddy will likely race again next year.
“He loves meeting the other dogs. Basset Hounds are very social and there is never any problem with them getting together.”
Until then, Buddy will continue his “celebrity” life, going for walks and getting treats from the drive-through window of local restaurants.
“He just likes to hang out with people,” Dave said. “I couldn’t ask for a nicer dog.”
The race finals can be seen here on YouTube. Buddy’s race starts at about the 5:30 mark. Fort Erie Basset Hound Race.
