How high were you expectations on this show compared to other big events?

Well it's always a big challenge to attend a World Dog Show. We are going there in order to show our dogs to others and hoping that the judges will appreciate the quality of our dogs and try to get a placement.

We are attending multiple shows per year, in our own country and in Europe. Having performed very well previously, expectations are always high. Most important is that the quality of our breeding/dogs is recognised and rewarded with either a good report, placement or podium. Anything beyond is an additional reward.

What bothered you most and what was the strongest positive point of the show?

We arrived there very early and had to queue for about 1 hour before we could finally enter the show. The organisers should have foreseen more entry capacity. Luckily it wasn't raining.

We found out that the show rings for one of the breeds were outside in a tent. Most of the exhibitors had to stay outside in the sun.

We were not allowed to stand close to any walls in the shadow and we weren't allowed to stay with the dogs in the hall either.

They should have foreseen more room in the shadow or inside the halls.

One of the most positive points was the parking reservation system. I was also happy with the flooring in the show rings, not too slippery.

Were you pleased with the halls?

The halls were fine in general. However the rings were too small.

How was the flow of information? (registration, internet info, catalogue, signs, information desk, etc.)?

We didn't have any issue regarding the registration.

However we would have appreciated to be better warned that we would have to show outside. This was not clearly communicated.

Do you think that the exhibitors take less care of their dogs nowadays if you hear about the many dogs that are left in the overheated cars? How do you protect them?

I don't think it happens more often than before, but there is more attention for it. Although it sometimes happens accidentally, there should be no excuse.

I think some accidents happen because entry to this size of events is so slow and long, people mistakenly think it won't take that long to return to the car.

But we never leave dogs unattended ourselves.

I am always very concerned that my dogs have enough water and air.

What is the most important reason to come to a big event like this? Is it the judge, the title, the country,…?

We like to attend events like this in order to see a lot more different dogs of our breeds and to meet friends from all over the world.

We limit ourselves to shows where we can drive to by car. The judge is less important to us.

Of course we like to show our dogs and this allows us to evaluate their quality comparatively as well.

© Gijs

Gwenaelle Guillaume

Interview: Karl DONVIL