The Dutch Kennel Club is preparing to host the large-scale World Dog Show between August 10 and 12, 2018. A unique event in the Netherlands, during which everything revolves around dogs.
The "Raad Van Beheer" Kennel Club held its first World Show in 2002. After 16 years, in 2018, they were once again honored to organize and conduct such a prestigious dog show as the World Dog Show. Based on this fact, they eagerly began the preparations, and now in the final stages, they warmly welcome dog lovers to Amsterdam for the World Show, as their motto also indicates: "Show the world your talent".
According to preliminary estimates, the organizers expected 20,000 exhibitors with their dogs at the 2018 World Show, but the number of entries far exceeded this figure. While 14,500 entries were registered for the 2002 World Show, in 2018 this number was more than double! A record-breaking 33,500 entries were ultimately received, breaking all previous entry records!
The Dutch Cynological Association and its work
The Kennel Club was established in 1902, its official name is "Raad van Beheer" op Kynologisch Gebied a Nederland, this is the main Cynological Organization of the Netherlands. It was formed from the merger of 3 different dog organizations, headquartered in Amsterdam. The Kennel Club has approximately 150,000 members, 70 regional organizations, 155 different breed clubs, and registers 45,000 dogs. They hold 20 CAC and CACIB shows for all breeds annually, and a few specialty shows for different breed groups. The Club’s work is supported by 35 employees handling administration at the headquarters.
The duties of the Kennel Club include:
- managing the studbook system
- issuing studbooks
- registering dogs based on microchip
- ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
- protection of dog breeds
- supporting quality breeding
- supporting animal protection
- organizing and hosting dog shows, club shows, and dog sport events
- providing advice and support to breeders and hobby dog owners
- representation in the FCI
- training Dutch conformation judges
- many other activities
World Dog Show in numbers:
- 33,500 registered dogs
- from 362 breeds and
- 72 countries
- 180 invited conformation judges
- representing 50 countries
- 5 exhibition halls with nearly 100,000 m2 of exhibition space
- 200 commercial stands
The World Dog Show and its competitions, presentations
The event series begins on August 9 with the Benelux Winner Show, for which more than 7,000 dog entries were registered.
The World Show, with more than 30,000 participating dogs, takes place from August 10 to 12, 2018, showcasing the best of the breeds over 3 days. The 180 conformation judges reward healthy, exceptionally beautiful, and exemplary behaving dogs in the breeds, who then compete again in the afternoon for the group winner title.
The allocation of World Dog Show judging by breed groups is as follows:
On August 10, 2018, Friday, dogs in breed groups I, III, and IV will be judged.
On August 11, 2018, Saturday, dogs of groups VI, VII, VIII, and X will be presented.
On August 12, 2018, Sunday, the final day, breeds of groups II, V, and IX will be judged. The day concludes with the BIS program selecting the WDS’s most beautiful dog!
While the best dogs of different breeds compete across 10 breed groups, the general public can also watch numerous interesting dog sports and other competitions, presentations, as well as participate in educational programs. Some interesting programs that repeat alternately over the 4 days include:
- The world of Dog Dance
- Obedience presentation
- How to support your dog’s daily life
- Flying frisbee dog demonstration
- Fun training
- Singing dogs
- Frisbee techniques
- Assistance dogs presentation
- Police dog training demonstration
- Rescue dog demonstration
- Agility – how to teach weaving
- Assistance dogs at work
- Agility – body language
- Dogs’ behavior translated into human language
With these programs, every day from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the organizers welcome visitors in Hall 1.
Meanwhile, during the WDS, the Junior Handling competitions take place continuously over all three days, a competition for dedicated young people between the ages of 10 and 17, who must present the dog entrusted to them in the best possible way before the judge in the ring. The “Junior Handling” is a competition for young people, aimed at increasing the next generation’s interest in dog-related activities, promoting and developing children’s and young people’s relationship with dogs and cooperation with dogs. Junior Handlers are required to showcase the dogs to the best of their ability while performing various formations. The first fundamental rule they must comply with is respect and love for the dogs. The “Junior Handling” World Championship final begins on Sunday afternoon, where a total of 5 youths qualify from the preliminaries and semifinals, from whom the 2018 Junior Handling World Champion will be selected.
The zero tolerance principle at the 2018 World Dog Show
An event of this scale carries great responsibility. The Dutch Kennel Club pays special attention to the safety of dogs and people at the World Dog Show, the Benelux Winner Show, and the specialty show. Upon perception of any bad or abusive behavior, zero tolerance principles are enforced, for example if an exhibitor, handler, or visitor behaves irresponsibly or improperly, the organization immediately takes the necessary measures. Incidents such as leaving a dog or dogs unattended in a closed, parked vehicle (regardless of external temperature), as well as fighting or threatening behavior, will be taken seriously and addressed.
When such events occur, the following actions must be taken: Dogs are disqualified from the competition and stripped of their titles. This applies to all dogs presented by the participant or handler, and they are further banned from all future competitions! Additionally, the person concerned will be suspended, preventing participation in further shows. Complaints will also be submitted to the disciplinary committee of the Dutch Kennel Club citing grounds for exclusion of the individual.
Since the health and welfare of dogs is of paramount importance at the World Show and its accompanying events, the Dutch Kennel Club has established a dog welfare control group, which will be present everywhere during the show, monitoring the well-being of dogs throughout the entire venue and its surroundings. The group members pay attention to activities both inside and outside the halls, for example checking that dogs are not kept in cages for too long, not on grooming tables for extended periods, that they have proper access to drinking water, and that they are treated appropriately (rough handling is prohibited).
The group cooperates closely with local police. If it is determined that the dog’s welfare is compromised, they prepare a report and, depending on the severity of the case, will take action. This may even result in the dog’s exclusion from the event.
The use of choke collars is prohibited, even for foreign exhibitors, and this is checked at the World Show. Moreover, the international panel of judges evaluates not only the appearance of the dogs but specifically decides whether each presented dog is “fit for the intended function.”
The Netherlands, the land of windmills and tulips
The Netherlands is the country of magnificent tulips, giant cheeses, fabulous windmills, picturesque small towns, and traditional wooden clogs.
Every corner hides wonders; traveling its landscapes is like the landscapes of Netherlandish painters coming to life: windmills, riverside idylls, old small bridges, green pastures, and endless tulip fields greet you in this peaceful region. If you visit the Netherlands and have time, be sure to visit the Keukenhof flower garden, which is the most beautiful and largest flower garden in Europe.
Although more than half of the Netherlands was once covered by water, today it is the most densely populated country in the European Union. The Netherlands is home to 16,700,000 people and a total of 1,700,000 dogs. People speak several languages; many speak English, French, German, but many other languages are also present in the country.
Amsterdam, the dog-friendly city
The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, woven with canals, is a city with a unique atmosphere. Nearly 5,000,000 tourists visit here annually. Amsterdam is a dog-friendly city, with numerous dog-friendly parks where owners can safely walk their dogs. The beach has a section specifically designed for dog walking, which stretches for 40 km. Amsterdam is famous for its hospitality, with 375 hotels here, most of which are also dog-friendly.
Amsterdam has been the capital of the Netherlands since 1813, with one-fifth of its area covered by waterways of canals and rivers.
The city's ring roads, avenues, are formed by the canals (gracht), which have a total length of 44 km. The city is thus divided into roughly 100 islands, connected by bridges spanning over the canals. Amsterdam is rightfully called the city of waters and also the Venice of the North.
Amsterdam’s role in the arts and culture of the Netherlands is indisputable. There are numerous theaters and museums here, the most famous being the Rijksmuseum built in 1885 and the Van Gogh Museum, where among other things Rembrandt’s painting “The Night Watch” and works by Vincent van Gogh can be seen, as well as interesting collections like the dollhouse and Delft porcelain collections. Another famous building is the Rembrandt House and the Anne Frank House.
The cultural life in Amsterdam is diverse, with an abundance of jazz and classical concerts enjoyed alternately, and theater and cabaret are also thriving genres in the city.
Amsterdam's airport, called Amsterdam-Schiphol airport, is the country’s main international airport. It is located about 10 km southwest from the city. It is Europe’s third largest and the world’s fourteenth busiest airport (in terms of both passenger traffic and cargo transportation). The international airport terminal covers 600,000 m2 and 50,000,000 million people pass through here annually.
Taxis and buses are the dominant means of transport in the city, but in addition, train transport is also significant, and the METRO runs in the city center. If you don’t plan a lightning visit, it’s worth hopping on a bike to wander the labyrinthine streets, where the swaying and “clinging” characteristic houses and the small bridges will make you forget that you are in the 21st century. The city is fully accessible via constructed bike paths, which is why the ratio of cyclists is also high, with more than 1,000,000 cyclists roaming the roads inside the city. You can travel all through Amsterdam on the bike paths.
Modern highways and ferry services are still significant in the country.
Location: Amsterdam RAI International Exhibition and Conference Centre
Amsterdam RAI is one of the Netherlands’ largest International Exhibition and Conference Centers, the venue for exhibitions, congresses, and international fairs held in Amsterdam. The fully air-conditioned RAI complex is the main exhibition and congress center in the Netherlands, as well as the busiest center in Northwest Europe.
The RAI complex is located in the immediate vicinity of South Amsterdam’s business district, the World Trade Center. The complex comprises 22 conference rooms and 11 halls, with a total floor area of 105,000 m2. The largest room has a capacity of 12,900 people. The central parking provides space for about 4,600 cars, the underground parking can accommodate another 3,000 cars, and the center is also easily accessible by bus and only 10 minutes from the central train station.
RAI hosts about 50 international conferences, 70 trade shows, larger exhibitions, and more than a thousand smaller presentations annually, attracting more than 2,000,000 visitors. It houses numerous restaurants, of which 4 are fully self-service, and it also offers full event services for press conferences, banquets, receptions, parties, and product presentations.
Amsterdam RAI is a place where experiences and ideas, brands and products are exchanged among people. In 1970, the Eurovision Song Contest was held in this complex. The congress center was expanded in 2009 with the RAI Elícium Center, which includes a ballroom, meeting rooms, and an organizing office. Amsterdam RAI is a unique International Exhibition and Conference Center in the heart of Amsterdam, providing excellent services with perfect accessibility.
Motto: "Show the world your talent"
The Dutch Kennel Club, in cooperation with the Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Conference Centre, the city Municipality, the Police, and the hospitality sector, has meticulously planned everything so that during the 4 days of the World Show visitors to the city have places to eat, drink, sleep, so that everyone can travel safely in the city and enjoy themselves thoroughly together with the dogs. The organization wants the 2018 World Dog Show to remain a memorable experience in everyone's memory. The slogan "Show the world your talent" is clearly a truly fitting motto for this wonderful event!
The World Dog Show in 2018 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 great results to the dogs representing Hungary, their owners, and handlers! 🙂
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If you are a dog exhibitor or if you are interested in the world of dog shows, I recommend the author's official website, where you will find the dog show calendars of recent years, the official 2020 MEOESZ dog show calendar, and Hungarian and English recommendations for all 2020 MEOESZ dog shows available in the usual format!
Find Vámosi Ildikó dog article writer, author's official website:
Http://ildikovamosi.hu/
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