The Wild Dog Trail

5 Destinations.

5 Original Wild Dogs.

60 Days.

Who Did It Best?

Orlando’s 60-Day Hot Dog Challenge

The Wild Dog Trail is a 60-day community food challenge presented by Wild Heart Haven, with support from Wild Heart Foundation.

Five Orlando-area restaurants will each create one original hot dog for the competition. Throughout the Trail, the community will be invited to visit the participating locations, try the Wild Dogs, follow the competition, vote for their favorites, and help crown the inaugural Wild Dog Trail Champion.

At least $2 from every official Wild Dog sold will support Wild Heart Haven and help sustain the work behind our mission.

Eat a Wild Dog.

Help a Real Dog.

The Wild Dog Trail is designed to make supporting dogs in need something fun, local, and easy to be part of.

Every official Wild Dog sold will generate at least $2 for Wild Heart Haven, helping provide flexible operational support for the work, programs, partnerships, rescue efforts, and community initiatives behind our mission.

Different Wild Dogs. One mission.

How It Works

Each participating competitor will create one original Wild Dog for the competition.

Every competitor starts with the same basic canvas, a hot dog, but what they do with it is entirely their own.

Bold. Classic. Spicy. Over-the-top. Chef-driven. Unexpected.

Throughout the 60-day challenge, the public will be encouraged to:

  • Visit the participating restaurants

  • Try the different Wild Dogs

  • Follow the competition

  • Vote for their favorites

  • Track the standings

  • Help support dogs with every purchase

Who Should Compete?

We are currently selecting the five inaugural Wild Dog Trail competitors.

Know a local restaurant, brewery, hot dog spot, neighborhood favorite, or chef-driven concept that should take on the challenge?

Tag them. Tell them. Nominate them.

Restaurants may also nominate themselves.

Only five competitors will be selected for the inaugural Trail.

NOMINATE A RESTAURANT

Interested in Competing?

The Wild Dog Trail is designed to be a collaborative community campaign, not simply another fundraiser.

Participating competitors will receive campaign promotion, branded marketing materials, social media exposure, inclusion in Wild Heart Haven’s Trail content, and the opportunity to compete in a highly visible local food challenge.

Participating restaurants will be expected to:

  • Create one original Wild Dog

  • Offer it throughout the 60-day campaign

  • Contribute at least $2 from every Wild Dog sold

  • Report Wild Dog sales every Tuesday

  • Promote their participation

  • Display official Wild Dog Trail materials

  • Follow the official competition rules

Selected competitors will receive a final submission deadline during onboarding. Wild Dog names, descriptions, ingredients, pricing, and contribution amounts must be finalized before the Trail launches.

Only five restaurants will be selected for the inaugural Wild Dog Trail.

The Competition

Apply to Compete

The inaugural Wild Dog Trail will feature several awards recognizing different kinds of success.

  • Wild Dog Trail Champion

The overall winner of the competition.

  • People’s Choice

The Wild Dog receiving the most valid public votes.

  • Pack Leader

The restaurant that sells the most Wild Dogs during the 60-day campaign.

  • Top Dog Fundraiser

The restaurant that contributes the most total dollars to Wild Heart Haven.

  • Wildest Dog

Recognition for the most creative Wild Dog entry.

Full voting, judging, and award details will be announced before the Trail begins.

Wild Dog Trail Q&A

  • The Wild Dog Trail is a 60-day Central Florida food competition featuring five participating destinations, five original Wild Dogs, and one question: who did it best? The public will visit participating locations, try the competing Wild Dogs, follow the standings, vote for their favorites, and help support dogs through every purchase.

  • Restaurants, breweries, food trucks, trailers, and other qualifying food businesses may be considered for the inaugural Trail. We’re looking for competitors with creativity, personality, reliable operations, and something memorable to bring to the competition.

  • No. The inaugural Trail is being built across the broader Orlando/Central Florida area. We’re more interested in creating five destinations worth discovering than forcing every competitor into a tight geographic radius.

  • Yes. Mobile competitors are welcome as long as the public can reliably find them throughout the campaign. Participating mobile vendors will need to provide accessible schedules and location information, and Wild Heart Haven can help promote those locations through Trail updates and social media.

  • The Trail will officially begin once the inaugural five competitors have been selected and the final campaign schedule is confirmed. Any dates currently appearing on calendar listings should be considered placeholders until the official launch is announced.

  • Businesses may apply directly, and members of the community may nominate businesses they believe belong on the Trail. Wild Heart Haven will review prospective competitors and select the inaugural five.

  • No. In fact, part of the fun is seeing what different businesses create. Every competitor starts with the same basic challenge: create one original Wild Dog that reflects their own style.

  • Each participating business sets its own retail price.

  • At least $2 from every official Wild Dog sold will support Wild Heart Haven and its work helping dogs in need. Participating businesses may choose to contribute more.

  • The Wild Dog Trail includes multiple ways to win, including public voting, sales performance, fundraising, creativity, and the overall Wild Dog Trail Champion. Full competition details will be provided to selected competitors before the Trail begins.

  • We’re exploring an optional live showcase event where participating competitors could bring their Wild Dogs together at one venue for a special head-to-head experience. The Showdown is still being developed and may feature its own event-day award.

  • Use the nomination form on this page to tell us which restaurant, food truck, brewery, or other local food destination you think should compete.

  • Follow Wild Heart Haven and check back on this page. Once the Trail begins, this site will become the central hub for participating destinations, Wild Dog reveals, locations, voting information, standings, campaign updates, and final results.

This Is Just the Beginning

The Wild Dog Trail is being built now, and this page will become the central hub for everything that follows.

As the inaugural Trail comes together, this is where you’ll find the five participating restaurants, official Wild Dog reveals, Trail locations, voting information, standings, campaign updates, and final results.

Check back often, follow Wild Heart Haven, and get ready to hit the Trail.