The world's largest dog show is organized by the German Kennel Club from November 8 to 12! More than 31,000 dogs from 73 countries arrive in Leipzig for the World Dog Show and its accompanying events; this will be the pinnacle of cynology in 2017, the largest show with the highest number of participants ever held in FCI's history!
This is the 7th World Dog Show organized by Germany. The VDH first held the World Show in 1935, which was followed by 5 more shows in the following decades, exactly in 1956, 1973, 1981, 1991, and 2003.
Venue change: Germany instead of Ecuador
The right to host the 2017 World Dog Show was won by Ecuador with 33 votes in a secret ballot at the 2013 World Show in Budapest, with Germany closely behind with 25 votes. Thus, according to original plans, the Show was to be held in Quito, Ecuador. In April 2016, a strong earthquake struck part of Ecuador, which also shook the buildings in the designated city of the World Dog Show, Quito. Due to these events, the venue and thus the organizing club changed, with Germany receiving the right to hold the 2017 World Show instead of Ecuador.
The German Kennel Club had to organize this large-scale show in 16 months. In light of this, the organizers were very pleased with the record number of entries received for the World Dog Show and its accompanying events.
“We did not expect that a show here, at our place, would attract such huge crowds” – said Professor Dr. Peter Friedrich, President of the VDH (Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen), continuing, “it is an honor for us to hold the largest show in the history of the FCI.”
The previous record was linked to the 2011 World Dog Show held in Paris, which received 21,588 entries.
The German Cynological Federation and its work
The VDH, the German Kennel Club, is the main organization representing dog owners' interests in Germany and functions there as an umbrella organization similarly to the MEOE Federation in Hungary, uniting breed clubs, various dog sports clubs, and numerous other clubs. Its 175 member organizations now count more than 650,000 members.
The VDH has had a positive impact on life with dogs in Germany for over 100 years. The Kennel Club's last 100 years have been rich in traditions; it currently operates as the largest lobbying group in all matters concerning dogs. For government ministries, the media, local authorities, and dog enthusiasts, the VDH is the first point of reference.
Breed clubs coordinate the breeding of more than 250 breeds under the strictest controls. From the beginning, the VDH and its member organizations have established breeding guidelines that are exceptionally strict by international standards. Proper rules and guidelines have the highest priority concerning the protection and health of the animals.
The VDH represents Germany in the International Cynological Federation, the FCI.
The World Dog Show in numbers:
- The 7th World Dog Show since 1935
- 31,115 registered dogs
- 280 different breeds
- From 73 countries
- 203 invited judges
- Representing 45 countries
- 5 exhibition halls with 85,000 m2 exhibition space
73 participating countries from all around the world at the event, naturally led by host Germany in the first place, then Russia, and many other countries participate as well, such as Argentina, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, Iceland, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United States. Here are the top 20 countries leading in entries at the Show:
| Number | Country | Number of entries |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Germany | 8577 |
| 2. | Russia | 3463 |
| 3. | Italy | 2295 |
| 4. | Czech Republic | 1770 |
| 5. | Poland | 1737 |
| 6. | Sweden | 1460 |
| 7. | Denmark | 1421 |
| 8. | France | 1219 |
| 9. | Finland | 1174 |
| 10. | Netherlands | 796 |
| 11. | Hungary | 687 |
| 12 | Norway | 655 |
| 13. | United Kingdom |
62S |
| 14. | Spain | 539 |
| 15. | Ukraine | 510 |
| 16. | Belgium | 454 |
| 17. | Austria | 425 |
| 18. | Lithuania | 385 |
| 19. | Switzerland | 373 |
| 20. | Slovakia | 312 |
Hungary ranks 11th with 687 entered dogs, which is truly a nice number of entries. We wish every Hungarian dog and their owners, handlers much success, may they enhance our country's reputation with many beautiful winning titles!
The World Dog Show and its competitions, presentations
The event series starts on November 8th with the German Winner Show, for which more than 6000 dog entries have been registered.
The World Dog Show, with nearly 25,000 dogs participating over 4 days, showcases the most beautiful representatives of the breeds. The 200 conformation judges award healthy dogs with outstandingly beautiful conformation and exemplary behavior in their breeds, whose baby, puppy, junior, adult, and veteran winners will compete again in the afternoon for further valuable titles.
While the best dogs of various breeds compete against each other in 10 breed groups, the general public can also see numerous interesting dog sports and other competitions and shows in many rings. The World Show organizing committee promises varied programs: the Dog Dance World Championship, the international Agility competition, as well as a very new sport, the Dog Diving World Cup, and the Junior Handlers competition will be held.
Within the framework of the WDS, the FCI Dog Dance World Championship will take place. Dog Dance is both a sport and a dance, where the dog and its handler “dance” together to music, showcasing their agility. Including the qualifiers, 108 competitors will dance for the World Championship title at the competitions, aiming to score points both individually and as teams. Participants come from Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and many other European countries to Leipzig.
The two different styles of Dog Dance, Heelwork to Music and Freestyle competitions, provide exciting entertainment for visitors over 4 days. The panel of 3 judges will be responsible for selecting the finalists.
The World Cup of one of the most spectacular sports competitions at the World Show will also be held, with nearly 350 dogs participating. Agility is a wonderful sport where dogs compete and maneuver through various obstacles against the clock, guided by their owners. It’s not just a competition but small challenges in perfect harmony with the owner, at the end of which everyone is happy.
Agility dogs need to be fast, agile, and have good endurance. They must be able to read their trainer’s body language excellently and flawlessly. Breeds such as Border Collie, Sheltie, Australian Kelpie, and Australian Shepherd can be the most skilled dogs in this sport. Dogs jump, climb, walk under and through obstacles on the agility course. The constantly changing challenges require lightning-fast reactions from them. The goal is to complete the course as quickly and faultlessly as possible. Agility operates in 3 different categories: for small, medium, and large dogs.
A completely young sport, the Dog Diving European Championship, will also be held within the framework of the World Dog Show. Dog Diving starts with a splash. This sport is gaining more and more fans around the world, with its history dating back to 1997 and originating from America. A large pool, a ramp, and a sophisticated measurement system are all that is needed for Dog Diving. And of course, dogs that love water and eagerly jump into the air, into the water as high or as far as possible.
The Dog Diving sport has long thrived in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Great Britain, and Portugal. In other countries, including Italy and Slovenia, this water sport is just beginning for humans' four-legged friends!
What kind of dogs are suitable for this water sport? Any dog that loves water and can easily be motivated with its favorite toy, which it catches and brings back to the trainer after jumping into the water. These are the prerequisites. Then there is training, continuous practice, allowing dogs to prepare specifically for competitions.
What does this sport consist of? Starting out, the dog looks at its own toy at the starting point, the next step is water introduction, the trainer throws the dog’s favorite object into the water, and the dog jumps from a plank to bring back the object thrown into the water. The electronic measurement system determines the speed at which the dog moves through the air, measuring the height and distance of the water jump.
The competition is divided into two classes: the small dog class, for dogs with a shoulder height of 39 cm or less, and the large dog class, for dogs with a shoulder height of 40 cm or more.
The World Dog Show provides an ideal time for everyone who wants to get to know this entertaining sport more closely. The competition will be held on Sunday at the World Dog Show.
And finally the Junior Handling competitions, for the dedicated young people between 10 and 17 years of age who must present the dog entrusted to them in the ring before the judge in the best possible way. "Junior Handling" is a youth competition aimed at increasing the interest of the next generation in dog-related activities, promoting and developing children’s and young people’s relationships with dogs and cooperation with them. Junior Handlers are required to showcase the dogs to the best of their abilities by performing various formations. The first fundamental rule they must meet is respect and love for the dogs. At the "Junior Handling" World Championship, juniors from 35 countries can prove how to properly present dogs.
In Hall 1, every day visitors can enjoy spectacular demonstrations such as police and hunting dog demonstrations, dog frisbee, as well as Flyball, which is a true relay-style competition. Four dogs compete per team against each other in an elimination format. Each dog jumps over four hurdles, then steps on a box which releases a ball. The dog then returns the ball to the start point, and once the dog is back, the next dog starts; this continues until all dogs have finished the race. Two teams compete against each other simultaneously in parallel races. If any dog makes a mistake, steps off the "race lane," or drops the ball, points are deducted from the team’s performance.
Introducing the host city of the World Dog Show, Leipzig
Leipzig is located in the heart of Europe and, as a city of culture, is a true tourist attraction. Few other cities can boast such great traditions as Leipzig, the second largest city in Saxony. It is one of the most dynamically developing large cities in Germany. Leipzig’s history is rich in famous artists who were tied to the city for shorter or longer periods of their lives. For more than a quarter of a century, for example, Johann Sebastian Bach was the city’s music director and conductor of its world-famous boys' choir. Friedrich Schiller also found inspiration for writing the Ode to Joy nearby, and Goethe, Nietzsche, and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel also studied here.
Walking in the city feels like flipping through Leipzig’s history book, as various eras come vividly to life. The historic city center features a unique mix of arcades and modern shops. The Panorama Tower, visible from almost every part of the city, is a symbol of modern Leipzig, and at its height of 120 meters there is a cozy restaurant, where not only heavenly flavors but also a fantastic panorama can be enjoyed by those not afraid of heights.
As an ancient market town, the marketplace has always played a central role in Leipzig. Here stands the Old Town Hall, a Renaissance-style building constructed in 1556 by the then mayor, Hieronymus Lotter. Its appearance has changed considerably over the centuries, with a Baroque tower added later. Important announcements for the city were proclaimed from its balcony, a tradition that is still preserved today, when every weekend visitors can see a trumpeter dressed in folk costume here.
Our Leipzig tour would not be complete without visiting one of the city’s main landmarks, the St. Thomas Church. The seat of the Thomaskirchhof choir was built at the dawn of the 13th century by Dietrich the Sad as an Augustinian chapter church. Bach was the church’s choirmaster and later its organist in the 18th century. If you are curious about the composer’s personal belongings or life, be sure to visit the Bach Museum as well.
Leipzig’s other famous church is the St. Nicholas Church, built in the 12th century, which externally bears the features of Romanesque and Gothic styles on its facade, while its interior is adorned with classical vaults.
The Leipzig festival lineup stands out beyond the literary scene, with the international auto exhibition in April, the Johann Sebastian Bach Festival in May, the International Documentary and Animation Film Festival in October, and the French Film Festival, while November is enlivened by the Leipzig Jazz Festival and the Contemporary European Theatre Festival. To the delight of lovers of curiosities, twice a year Leipzig also hosts Europe’s largest pub festival, which is not surprising considering the city’s great tradition of nocturnal pub crawls, known as Drallewatsch.
The pride of Leipzig, Germany's very first botanical garden, which was opened in 1877 as part of the university. At that time, only medicinal plants were grown there, then it was almost completely destroyed during World War II. Its restoration began in 1945, more than 9,000 plants were planted here, and since then it has been continuously flourishing. It is one of the most popular places in the city for tourists and the residents of Leipzig, where not only can you take long walks, but the park is also ideal for picnicking.
Leipzig is a vibrant metropolis. A mixture of historical heritage and historical modernism awaits everyone who visits this city!
Location: Leipzig Messe Exhibition and Convention Center
Compact, functional, yet aesthetic, with more than 80,000 sqm of area, 5 halls with air-conditioned indoor exhibition space, and 15,000 parking spaces in the immediate vicinity.
The World Dog Show 2017 will be unforgettable not only for those who participate in the competition with their dogs, but also for all lovers of man's best friend.
We wish good luck, pleasant days, and beautiful results to the dogs, their owners, and handlers representing Hungary!
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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 MEOESZ dog show calendar for 2020, and all the 2020 MEOESZ dog show brochures in Hungarian and English in the usual format!
Find the official website of Ildikó Vámosi, dog article writer and author:
Http://ildikovamosi.hu/
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