Moose Hartmann comes from a family of competitors. The talented Hartmann family of Liberty Township excels at gymnastics, football, baseball, softball and even art. It comes as no surprise that the family dachshund is also a winner. Moose, the six-year-old furry family member of Jill, Greg, Lucy, Jack and Max Hartmann, is a two-time champion of the Running of the Wieners at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati.
You might not know it from their stature, but dachshunds are naturally athletic, bred to hunt, hike, swim and run. Moose is true to his breed.
“He’s very athletic, which surprises people,” explains Jill, Moose’s mom and the family spokesperson. “He runs everywhere. If he goes from one room to another, he’s running. He always has to be in front. He wants to lead. He’s always in a hurry.”
Moose is known to be feisty and protective. He had to leave a University of Cincinnati student apartment for his unbecoming behavior.
“We joke that Clifton life wasn’t for him—he got kicked out of college,” Jill says with a laugh.
Back at home, he has the full parenting focus of empty nesters Jill and Greg.
“He is very spoiled. He’s like our little baby. We went from baseball, football, gymnastics and girl scouts to nothing, so Moose is our thing,” she explains.
Greg, who used to coach his kids in baseball, is now one of Moose’s trainers. In the races, Moose runs from Lucy to Greg.
“He loves Greg,” Jill shares. “We train him. We have a golf cart at our campground and he runs alongside us.”
They tried a race at a Cyclones game, but Moose didn’t like running on the ice.
“He ran straight into the penalty box,” Jill says.
For the Running of the Wieners race at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, each pup gets a hot dog costume with their entry fee. The race includes ten heats of ten wiener dogs—100 dachshunds vying for the cup. Each winner competes in the final run.
In his first attempt in 2022, sadly Moose did not place. But he is a competitor, and nothing if not persistent.
“In 2023, he got 2nd place,” Jill reports. “In 2024, he got 1st and then again in 2025, he was the repeat winner.”
Boasting back-to-back wins, Moose is the pup to beat and has the hardware to prove it. He uses his trophies, gold bowls, to lap up some beer in celebration.
“Just a couple of sips,” Jill assures. “I think he kind of knows that he’s special. We walk around Oktoberfest the rest of the day, and people come up to him to get pictures. It’s really fun!”
The family is undecided about this year’s competition. Only time will tell if Moose will run for a three-peat performance, but this champion is inspiring to competitors everywhere.
“He’s got these little, tiny legs, but it doesn’t stop him,” says Jill. “He didn’t always win, but his persistence paid off.”
See the 2026 Running of the Wieners Race on Sunday, September 20 at America’s biggest Oktoberfest. The Cincinnati celebration goes from September 17-20, and includes Gemütlichkeit Games, a 14K/7K Brewery Run, the World’s Largest Chicken Dance and more. Find details online. OktoberfestZinzinnati.com