Wieners’ circle

Sure, it’s easy to capture the circus spotlight if you’ve got the architectural scale of an elephant or the trigger-sensitive silken grace of a tiger. If you’re bringing a certain cocktail-wiener charm on legs barely longer than a couple of circus peanuts, no one’s going to see you from the stands.

Unless of course, you’re one of Diana Vedyashkina’s seven miniature dachshunds, because then you own that spotlight — and the hearts of countless audience members who take in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus’ “Boom a Ring” performances.

One even might call them the criminal geniuses of the canine performance faculty. These hot dogs capture attention so well that it can make a long trunk or a sharp fang seem like a gimmick.

“They work mainly with their brains,” Vedyashkina said of her charges. “That’s a problem, too. They’re too smart for the circus.”

Vedyashkina’s dogs are artists in the ring, but they’re hunters at heart. Part of what makes the act noteworthy is the fact that her charges are too bright to cooperate with the routines simply because they wish to please her. Dachshunds are charming, playful and quick on the uptake, but they aren’t as slavishly eager to please as some other breeds. Combine those traits with a strong stubborn streak, and you’ll get a glimpse into Vedyashkina’s day at the office.

“They’re very difficult to train,” the native of Saratov, Russia, said. “They are very different characters, and they don’t like strangers.

“They’re hunters. They look everywhere and sniff.’’

They’re not about to perform their routine for everyday dog treats, either, so don’t even think about offering these stars the store-brand stuff.

“You need to have the beautiful treats,” she said, laughing. “They’re really special.” (Their favorite flavor: shrimp.)

The dogs’ act is similar to an equestrian event, with the lean, silky dachshunds leaping and running in unison. Think of it as dachshund dressage.

Luciana, the littlest dog, has the big task of interrupting the smooth unison look at just the right moments.

“She does everything in the opposite way,” Vedyashkina said. “She puts different funny moments in my act. She knows that she’s special.”

The miniature dachshunds may be small, but they won’t yield an inch of ground to larger animal co-stars. The name means “badger-dog” in German, and they were bred to take on toothy foes several times their size.

“They want to hunt them, they want to eat them — even if it’s a tiger,’’ Vedyashkina said. “They’re brave.”

The dachshunds are part of a busy show that brings together performers and crew members from 16 countries who speak seven languages. Schooled in different disciplines, they share a common love of performing and traveling, and their bonds are tight. Even during a brief telephone interview, Vedyashkina was quick to praise and recommend her colleague Vicenta Pages’ tiger act.

“We are like one family,’’ Vedyashkina said.

The animal family includes three Asian elephants and six tigers — and the dogs.

If you’re going to the circus during its Charlottesville stay, be sure to arrive an hour early for the all-access pre-show, which is included in the ticket price. Fans of all ages can meet performers, get some autographs, ask questions and even try some circus skills for themselves.