Man, German Shorthaired Pointer set new dog mile world record
Dan Wehunt and his German Shorthaired Pointer, Odessa, set a new record for the fastest dog mile at the unofficial world championships in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Sunday.
The man-dog duo from Bozeman, Mont., completed the race in 4:07, breaking the previous mark of 4:13 set at the same event in 2016, according to Edhat Santa Barbara.
Man’s best friend.
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) June 3, 2019
Yesterday, @danwehunt of @theJBAC and his dog Odessa set a new dog mile world record in four minutes and six seconds at the State Street Mile in Santa Barbara. It’s on a very fast, downhill, point-to-point course.
📷IG/pacificnorthjess pic.twitter.com/0Cp06pyGCg
The new record could stir up some debate, as two-time Olympic steeplechaser Anthony Famiglietti and his dog, a rescue named Bailey, posted a faster time of 3:59 earlier this year.
A spokesperson for Guinness World Records told Theoden Janes of the Charlotte Observer at the time that Famiglietti would need to submit an application for review in order to claim a new record title. They also noted that Guinness does not "endorse, sanction, or encourage attempts for record titles which place unnecessary pressure or stress upon animals, as we cannot always guarantee that the animal(s) involved are taking part in the record attempt of their own free will."