HAMBURG, Germany — If Elvis had one advantage over his competitors, it was his long legs. Well, relatively long. His slightly extended snout and slender body also helped him swallow the 80-yard stretch of sandy track in just over eight seconds.

“Sensational!” the timekeeper called as Elvis pounded across the finish line and bounded into the arms of his 13-year-old owner, Emma Pollex, who had run ahead, shaking a small, zipped bag packed with treats.

Elvis was one of the star pugs on a recent sunny Saturday at the Hamburg N.W.R. dog track on the outskirts of the northern German port city.

“He’s really fast,” said Emma, and likes to run, so much so, she said, that Elvis didn’t even need to train before going up against the 49 other competitors.