
Month's of training and costume fittings have all come down to this.

Sausage dogs across Melbourne have donned their best costumes to compete in the city's first dachshund race in front of hundreds of excited fans.

More than 50 dogs competed in the inaugural 'Running of the Wieners' dachshund race in Southbank on Saturday, with many other dogs and their human owners watching from the sidelines.

There were also events for mini, standard, old and disabled dachshunds, as well as a best dressed competition.

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Hundreds of punters watch the Inaugural Dachshund Running of the Wieners Race in Melbourne

Cooper (left) dressed as a racing car driver chases a competitor in the first Running of the Wieners

Daschunds of all shapes, sizes and variants compete in the Running of the Wieners Race and the best Dressed Dachshund during this year's Oktoberfest celebration

Race organiser Scott Highfield says dachshunds are more athletic than people think.

'They're really fast, especially the minis; the minis move faster than you think,' Mr Highfield told reporters before the race.

'It's on for young and old as soon as they jump out of the blocks; it's over very quickly.'

Mini dachshunds Willy (left), dressed as a surf livesaver (centre) and Cooper (right), dressed as a racing car driver compete in the Hophaus Southgate Inaugural Best Dressed Dachshund

Mini dachshund Mia hoping to impress judges in her 'Where's Waldo?' costume for the Best Dressed Dachshund competition

Chilli trained for a month with her owner and won third place in the best costume competition dressed as a biker

Training dachshunds for sporting glory requires patience.

As well as being a contender for the main event, Hayley Swanson's dog Chilli won third place in the costume competition dressed as a biker, complete with a skull-and-bone painted helmet.

'We've been training her now for maybe a month,' Ms Swanson told reporters.

'We've been holding a pie, or little treat, on the back of the mini bike and we take off and she chases after us.'

Xena the mini dachshund, dressed as a nuclear missile competes in the Best Dressed Dachshund competition

Chilli (left) dressed as a biker dog licks Bangers (right) as they compete in the Hophaus Southgate Inaugural Best Dressed Dachshund competition

While Chilli did not win gold, her trainer thinks she has come a long way since embarking on a running career.

'The first time we tried to practise, she ran the wrong way, so we're very proud of her for at least running the right way,' Ms Swanson said.

The dachshund race raised funds for Dachshund Rescue Australia as part of this year's Oktoberfest celebrations.

Adorable mini dachshunds racing in the Running of the Wieners during the annual Oktoberfest in Southgate, Melbourne