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
Obedience World winner 2012 in Salzburg – Austria

From 18-20 May 2012, the best dog handlers met in Salzburg during the World Dog Show. The area was a huge ice hockey stadium and the handlers where quite happy that it was away from the exhibition, because they experienced no traffic jam and no parking problems.

It was the highest entry ever with 19 nations to participate. Congratulations to the organising staff who handled this perfectly and the feedback from the team leaders and handlers showed that; friendly staff, perfectly trained stewards and also the judges team (I was chief judge) agreed.

But it was not only the organisation from the ÖKV - Austrian Kennel Club - which was perfect, also the behaviour of the handlers could not be better and obedience is getting one the few dog sports where not only team work and brain of handler and dog are shown, but also the friendship between the handlers of all nations is fantastic.

It was the first time that Japan entered this competition with 7 teams and they were one of the highlights and very refreshing –it was a real World winner competition.

But in the end, there is always only one winner on the Podium – but winners for me were all 102 teams.

Many thanks to the Austrian Kennel Club ÖKV for their support and we all know that an event like this needs not only a lot of work but also quite some money – again thank you.

The judges were, Carina Savander Ranne from Finland, Thomas Lundin from Sweden, Gianfranfranco Giraudi from Italy and myself Johann Kurzbauer – Austria.

Thank you also to a perfect steward team under the command of Gabi Pichler.

Results

  1. Christ Enquist Pukkila (FI) with Tending Able Tiger, Border Collie: 281 points
  2. Jessica Svanljung from (FI) with Tending knight, Border Collie: 280 points
  3. Galina Federova (RU) with Wonder west spacy, Border Collie: 277.5 points

Team results

  1. Finland : 837 points
  2. Sweden : 822,5 points
  3. Norway : 811,5 points

Johann Kurzbauer
President of the FCI Obedience Commission