National Hot Dog Day is July 19 which, historically, tends to be on the toastier side around Southern California, with temperatures doing the whole upward push thing that they predictably do around this time of year.

Which means that, if you have a Dachshund in your house, you may not want to break out her special hot dog costume for the occasion, the adorable outfit that has a soft, squishy fabric bun encasing it.

For it seems as though every Dachshund around has worn a hot dog costume at some point, and with understandable reason: These Fidos are famously shaped like frankfurters, and arguing the opposite is probably a futile exercise, in the end.

Which means that a National Hot Dog Day has what might be deemed the perfect satellite event: It's the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals, and the 22nd annual go-around — or bark-around? — will fly with fleet feet at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress on Saturday, July 22.

Tickets are three bucks per adult, young people 17 and under are free, and parking is free, too. And the beneficiary to all of this adorable athleticism? The Seal Beach Animal Care Center.

Some $240,000 has been raised for the center by this Dachshund-sweet to-do over the years.

Ten 50-yard trial heats'll precede the final furry run of the night, an exciting competition which will ultimately crown the winning Dachshund.

If you're not watching the dogly action, you can take a few minutes to snap a photo with the pups off the course, meet their owners in the grandstand area, and watch some horse racing, too.

Oh yes, and Wienerschnitzel, the hot dog company founded in Wilmington back in 1961, will also be present and accounted for via its official hot dog mascot. At 6-feet, the mascot is a mite taller than the running superstars of the night, and ready to pose for pictures with fans.

The Wienerschnitzel Wiener National Champion Race is expected to take place around 9:15 p.m. on July 22, but if you want to root for the trials, meet the Wienerschnitzel mascot, and maybe get a snap or two with some of the delightful Dachs ready to take the course, best arrive earlier.

Race #1 arfs off at 6:30 p.m., and while no competitor will be rocking the traditional Dachshund hot dog costume, they will surely win the hearts, yays, and awws of the thousands of people expected to attend.