As you are reading this issue of the FCI Newsletter, the summer dog-show season is at its peak. The biggest event - a feast for all eager exhibitors – of this year was the FCI World Dog Show 2012 in Salzburg, Austria.
I would like to congratulate the Austrian kennel Club (ÖKV) and everybody who contributed to this outstanding canine event.

This issue contains a report and evaluation of this show. I would like to point out that unfortunately, abandoned dogs in closed vehicles at shows are a remaining issue. The speakers continually encouraged people to come to their vehicles and take their dogs out, even announcing particular license plate numbers of these vehicles, asking the owners to release their dogs immediately from the heat. Despite the joint effort of the police and paramedics, there was one dog who, sadly, didn‘t make it.Unfortunately, this has been a recurring scenario, even at the most prestigous shows. I am asking everybody to keep an eye on this problem and to look for ways to deal with it. Dogs hardly deserve to be treated like that.

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Stefan Stefik
FCI Treasurer
Middle- and East-European Cup and Crufts qualification

The capital of Czech Republic – Prague has a long-term tradition in organising international dog shows. At the beginning of May an international dog show was held in five exhibition halls of the Expo centre. There were 3,182 entered dogs of FCI breeds and 81 dogs of non-FCI breeds, presented in 44 rings. Besides the Crufts qualifications, the dogs also competed for the prestigious title Middle and East European Cup 2012. There were 75 judges from 11 countries invited (besides the home judge from Czech Republic, also Denmark, France, Finland, Malaysia, Germany, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Sweden). On Saturday, there were the breeds of groups 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and national breeds; on Sunday, the groups 2, 5 and 9 were judged.

The exhibitors travelled from 15 different countries. Naturally the most exhibitors were Czechs, followed by 66 dogs entered from Germany, 48 from Poland, 20 from Slovakia, other countries – e.g. Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Sweden or Switzerland had just few entries.

Top five breeds with the highest entry were Rhodesian Ridgebacks (94), Staffordshire Bull Terriers (82), Labrador Retrievers (67), Golden Retrievers (56) and Bernese Mountain Dogs (56).

There were well-prepared information for every show day in Prague. The excellent idea was to print the plan of the show rings on the back side of the catalogue. It made it very easy to find whatever the exhibitors or the visitors were looking for.
The final programme was opened by the majorette performance and dance with the dog. There were extra final competitions for junior dogs also and they could be awarded with Best in Group Junior and also BIS Junior titles. The winners of BOB were also awarded with the title of Prague Winner. The Czech national breeds had their presentation and also a special final competition. There wera also Junior handling, couple and breeding class competitions in the final ring.

The highlight of the show – choosing the Best in Show winner, always involves two dogs: the winner of Saturday - who is chosen from all group winners of that day - and the Winner of Sunday. The winner on Saturday was the English Setter Ch. High Dreamer in Gold Latin Lover, bred by B. Gruzzi, owned by Mr Jaroslav Seda and handled by Jitka Svobodova – one of our best junior handlers (e.g. she was 4th in Junior Handling at the World Dog Show in Salzburg). The winner on Sunday and also BIS winner was the male American Akita Ich. Lord of Odate´s Inheritance Merlin, bred by K.& R. Bermann, owned by Mrs Monika Ludvickova and handled by Patrik Panyrek. The Best in Show judge was the Czech allrounder judge and Vice-president of the Czech kennel club Mr Vaclavik.

For the Autumn show - the double CACIB show on 3-4 November 2012 – there will be a very good chance for exhibitors to have a double chance to win the CAC title (needed for the Czech championship) as well as the CACIB. There are some countries (not the neighbouring ones) which have a contract with the Czech kennel club, allowing the dogs to obtain just one CAC to be awarded the Czech championship title.

In two years, the FCI European Dog Show will take place in Brno on 23-26 October, 2014. Brno is only 200 km from Prague - the city of a hundred spires. Maybe this is a good reason to come and visit the heart of Europe with its heritage and treasures.

Libuse Brychtova, WDPA member

© Petr Dvorak
BIS + Best of Day winner
Breed: American Akita
Name of Dog: Lord of Odake´s Inheritance Merlin
Owner: Monika Ludvickova (CZ), handler: Patrik Panyrek ,(CZ)
Judge: Miroslav Vaclavik (CZ)
people from left to the right: Miroslav Vaclavik (BIS judge), Jiri Siska (Show director), Patrik Panyrek (handler), Jaroslav Matyas (BIG judge), Josef Nemec (BOD judge)
© Petr Dvorak
BIG I.
Breed: Welsh Corgi Pembroke
Name of Dog: New Idol Dragon Joy
Owner: Klara Wastiaux (CZ)
Judge: Mariusz Iliev (RO)
© Petr Dvorak
BIG. II
Breed: Giant Schnauzer Black
Name of Dog: Northon Negral
Owner: Krzystof Pawlowski + Weronika Jurek (PL)
Judge: Vladimir Adlt (CZ)
© Petr Dvorak
BIG. III
Breed: Airedale Terrier
Name of Dog: Hill Hilton Adia Avi
Owner: Jana Foltová (CZ)
Judge: Iuza Beradze (GE)
© Petr Dvorak
BIG. IV.
Breed: Dachshund Miniature Wire-haired
Name of Dog: Febienne Dogabo
Owner: Sarka Donicova (CZ)
Judge: Birte Sheel (DK)
© Petr Dvorak
BIG. V + Sunday Best of Day + BIS
Breed: American Akita
Name of Dog: Lord of Odake´s Inheritance „Merlin“
Owner: Monika Ludvickova (CZ), handler: Patrik Panyrek (CZ)
Judge: Jaroslav Matyas (SK)
© Petr Dvorak
BIG. VI
Breed: Beagle
Name of Dog: Beagelee Walk the Line
Owner: Anna Krejzkova (CZ)
Judge: Petr Rehanek (CZ)
© Petr Dvorak
BIG. VII + Saturday Best of Day
Breed: English Setter
Name of Dog: High Dreamer in Gold Latin Lover
Owner: Jaroslav Seda (CZ), handler: Jitka Svobodova (CZ)
Judge: Frantisek Simek (CZ)
© Petr Dvorak
BIG. VIII
Breed: American Cocker Spaniel
Name of Dog: Koun´s Shou Vernal Melody of Love
Owner: Hana Manova (CZ)
Judge: Annika Ulltveit-Moe (SE)
© Petr Dvorak
BIG. IX.
Breed: Poodle Medium Black
Name of Dog: Corrida de Nigromanta
Owner: S. and V. Grunfeldova (CZ)
Judge: Jouko Leiviska (FI)
© Petr Dvorak
BIG. X.
Breed: Saluki
Name of Dog: Khyrisma Anistana Avatar at Yaran
Owner: Eva Krejcova (CZ)
Judge: Vlastislav Vojtek (SK)