After 15 years, this year the World Dog Show is once again in Italy, one of the world's most prestigious international dog shows and dog events, which awaits the cream of the dog world in Milan between June 11 and 14.
"The number of entries exceeded all our expectations! Almost 30,000 registered dogs, which is a record success! We are ready to welcome the world!" – with these words the organizer and executor, the Italian Kennel Club, ENCI President Dino Muto, launches this grand event full of countless colorful dog programs.
Unfortunately, the World Show was overshadowed by a terrible tragedy that deeply shocked the entire dog community. A small group heading to the World Show in Russia suffered a fatal road accident involving dogs, their owners, and handlers. A horrific and dreadful tragedy that brought tears to the eyes of many dog-loving acquaintances as well as strangers.
The President of the Italian Kennel Club and the organizers of the World Dog Show expressed their condolences for the tragic death of 6 people and 11 dogs in the minibus accident in Russia on June 8th while heading to the World Dog Show. At the FCI’s general assembly that day, invited participants and delegates present, as well as the President of the Italian Kennel Club, paid tribute to the victims with a one-minute silence!
World Dog Show history:
The World Dog Show is a large international dog show lasting 3-4 days, whose hosting rights are awarded annually by the International Cynological Federation, the FCI. The first World Dog Show was held in Budapest in 1971. In the years that followed, including this year, the event has visited many cities in many countries. Several countries, and even the same city within a country, have hosted the World Dog Show twice, or even three times. This year, Italy received the hosting rights from the FCI with Milan as the venue. Next year, Russia will host this grand show in Moscow.
How it works:
During the event, every BOB (breed winner) and BOS (best of opposite sex) winning dog, as well as Best Junior (winner of the junior class, dogs between 9-18 months), receives the World Winner title (WW). The BOB winners of the different breeds then compete for the BIG (Best In Group) title within their own group. The 10 BIG group winners then compete for the BIS (Best In Show) title, the title of the world’s most beautiful dog.
The Show:
During the World Dog Show, numerous Club Shows and many other special sports and various competitions take place, inspiring dog lovers. The entertaining programs include Dog Dance, Flyball, and Dog Frisbee competitions, which provide an unforgettable show for the audience. Among the sports competitions, Agility is very spectacular, and the visitors' cheering inspires the players. A very charming program is the Junior Handlers competition, in which young people participate with dogs of various breeds and sizes. Also, other dog competitions highlight amazing abilities such as guide dog work, rescue, drug detection, protection tasks, etc.
"The 2015 World Dog Show will definitely be a memorable event, a great opportunity for the city of Milan, which will also put Lombardy and all of Italy in the spotlight," said Dino Muto, President of ENCI.
Between June 11 and 14, nearly 20,000 registered dogs compete in the World Dog Show for world championship titles.
Between June 10 and 13, nearly 10,000 registered dogs compete in various breed Club Shows.
There are 68 participating countries from around the world at the event, led by Italy, followed by France, and many other nations such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Venezuela, and the United States.
"These data are important signals for us," continues Dino Muto, "because they strengthen our confidence and attention in our work from dog lovers. ENCI keeps professionalism and reliability in mind to continuously ensure the level of development in Italy, primarily with animal welfare considerations. The 2015 World Dog Show will showcase the best dogs in every breed, and the audience can experience a unique show combining competition, training, and culture for dog lovers, not to be missed."
The World Dog Show is organized by the Italian Kennel Club, the ENCI (Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana), whose founding is attributed to a few “gentlemen” who in 1882 decided to create a dog association to improve the quality of dog breeding in Italy. Thus the Italian Kennel Club was established with 31 members. The pedigree database started in 1875. By 1904, the number of registered dogs had already exceeded one thousand. The Club received state recognition in 1940, while membership continued to grow. By 1960, the number of registered dogs had reached fourteen thousand. Currently, the Kennel Club has 147 different Organizations and 68 breed clubs operating throughout Italy. The Italian Kennel Club is currently continuously involved in the care and gene preservation of 14 native breeds.
The goal of ENCI is to preserve and support the diversity of Italian dog breeds to promote the best coexistence between dogs and families, to help people and families who love dogs, understand their characteristics, and are willing to mutually enrich each other through their approach. The variety of breeds and their different characteristics allow people to choose a dog as a companion that best fits their lifestyle and personality, creating a deep and fulfilling relationship that benefits both parties, and helps both children and adults alike. Throughout the year, ENCI organizes awareness programs in schools aimed at helping children understand that a dog is a value and also assist them in establishing the best possible relationship with man’s best friend, the dog. In fact, this makes young people much more conscious and reduces in the future the mistreatment of animals and the abandonment of animals.
After 15 years, the World Dog Show returns to Italy to showcase the best dogs in the rings of the Fiera Milano exhibition center. On 103 square meters across 6 halls, 101 rings will host more than 29,000 registered dogs along with their owners and handlers, from nearly 400 breeds and 68 countries. Over four days, 200 international experts will evaluate the participating dogs and then select the World’s Most Beautiful Dog at the end of the show. Among the breed groups with the largest number of entries are Group II with 4,600 registered dogs, Group IX with more than 3,000 members, and Group III with nearly 2,500 terriers.
While the best breeds compete in 10 breed groups, the general public will also be able to see numerous interesting dog sports and other competitions and shows in many rings.
The Agility Competition (June 10 to 14 in Hall 13), which is a great sport where dogs compete and maneuver through various obstacles in a timed race under the guidance of their owners. This is not only a competition but small challenges performed in perfect harmony with the owner, at the end of which everyone is happy.
Flyball (June 11 to 14 in the main ring of Hall 13), is a real relay-style race. Teams of four dogs compete against each other in an elimination format. Each dog jumps over four hurdles, then steps on a box that releases a ball. The dog then brings the ball back to the starting point, and when the dog returns, the next dog can start and this continues until all dogs complete the race.
Dog Frisbee (June 11 to 14 in the main ring of Hall 13) is a great dog sport competition in which the competitor and their dog compete in skill using frisbee.
Of all the events, the most anticipated and most successful is Dog Dancing (June 11 to 14 in the main ring of Hall 13), a sport and dance combined, where the dog and its handler “dance” together to music demonstrating their skills.
And finally, the Junior Handling competitions, for the dedicated young people aged between 10 and 17, who must present the dog entrusted to them in the best possible way in the ring before the judge. Junior Handlers are required to perform various formations to showcase the dogs to the best of their abilities. The first fundamental rule they must comply with is the respect and love for the dogs. The Junior Handler competitions will be held on June 11th and 12th in the main ring of Hall 13 from 14:45 to 15:00 in the afternoon, as well as on June 13th from 14:20 in the afternoon, and on June 14th from 13:30 to 14:00 in the afternoon.
The long-awaited rescue dog performances and demonstrations for the general public will take place between June 11 and 14 in the main ring of Hall 13 from 12:30 to 13:00 in the afternoon.
The special guests of the World Dog Show are the Katakló Athletic Dance Theater, which since 1995, under the leadership of Giulia Staccioli, surprises the audience with a special athletic theatrical show on June 14th, Sunday at 18:00 in the main ring of Hall 13. This is the first Italian athletic theater that introduced an acrobatic choreography as a dramatic theatrical performance worldwide. They have succeeded on stages of many foreign countries with spectacular productions, thereby spreading this special slice of Italian culture around the world.
“The World Dog Show in 2015 will be unforgettable not only for those competing with their dogs,” says the ENCI President, Dino Muto, “but for all lovers of man’s best friend. The main ring every day hosts numerous wonderful, exciting, and special performances starring dogs and humans. Those wishing to delve deeper into the world of dogs will find daily scientific conferences thanks to the experts of Royal Canin and Italian animal welfare professionals. The World Dog Show is open to everyone: families and children, young and old, professionals, and simply the curious alike.”
World Dog Show by numbers:
- nearly 30,000 registered dogs.
- 400 different breeds.
- from 68 countries
- 200 invited judges
- 150,000 expected guests
- 6 exhibition halls (9, 11, 13, 15, 22, 24)
- 103,000 square meters of exhibition space
The World Dog Show is sponsored by Royal Canin, who helps attendees capture a selfie to keep as a souvenir and later look back on their visit to the World Dog Show in 2015 in Italy, Milan, at the Fiera Milano exhibition center.
The online broadcast will be available courtesy of Animal News TV.
Animal News TV is a web TV channel dealing with companion animals living with us, especially dedicating more time to cats and dogs. During the World Dog Show, Animal News TV will broadcast the events, which will be accessible and available in video format even after the World Dog Show.
Online broadcast available>>.
After registration, you will receive a password by email, which you must enter to watch the online broadcast, which starts on June 11th, Thursday at 10:00 AM.
We wish all our visitors great entertainment!
We wish safe travels, good luck, pleasant days, and great results to the dogs representing Hungary, their owners, and handlers traveling to Italy!
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If you are a dog exhibitor or interested in the world of dog shows, I recommend the author’s official website, where you can find the dog show calendars of recent years, the official 2020 MEOESZ dog show calendar, and all the 2020 MEOESZ dog show recommendations in Hungarian and English in the usual format!
Find Ildikó Vámosi dog article writer, author’s official website:
Http://ildikovamosi.hu/
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