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Hello all,
I wanted to share yesterday's
show results here with everybody... not so much for 'bragging
rights'.. even though the kids did very well,
but because I continue to be
amazed at German shows. AKC shows could learn a lot from them
in regards to how to treat exhibitors.
Even one of the German men
commented to me about how... "You know this is Germany and we
have to organize a better show than anyone else!" And since
Charlotte will be coming over with Killian soon for a German
show, she especially might be interested in this.
This was not one of the big
International shows in Germany. They offer CACIBs, which are
International Champion points. This was a 'National' show,
hosted by several German breed clubs. So I was not expecting a
big 'to do'. The last 'sighthounds' only show I went to was
around 300 dogs. Boy was I wrong!
I was expecting sighthounds
only, since I entered through a German sighthound club website.
This was the Düsseldorfer Windhund Rennverrein club (DWRV),
which is really a coursing club! What I did not know was that
they coupled together with other specialty clubs for other
breeds. I thought it was strange when they told me the show was
in the Expo Center in Rheinberg.... Sounded like a BIG building
for a small show. But what I found was that DWRV, had rings 1
through 4 for the sighthounds, while the other clubs were
running other rings. However sighthounds alone totaled 934 dogs!
I have no idea what the total was, since my catalog only
included the DWZRV dogs (sighthounds).
I had only Rave and Sanna with
me. Rave was Best male and BOB and Sanna was Best Female (they
really don't award BOS here.)
For just 2 dogs... this is what
they gave me.... (a lot different than that 35 cent AKC ribbon...
This club did not make money on my entry which was only EUR 20
per dog!)
I will try to explain just a
little bit what some of this stuff is. Some is unique to
Germany, but some awards are FCI and in all FCI countries.
(I attached some of the
documents so they are readable... if you read German that is.)
Green large paper labeled 'Urkunde'
- This is a 'diploma' and many FCI countries give these. It
shows the dog's name, 'rating' and placement by the judge.
You might be able to make
out 'V1' written near the bottom. The 'V' is from the German
word for the excellent which I think is vorzuglich. 1 is the
class placement.
Tan large paper is a Title
Certificate. This show was a special 'title show' where the
best male and female earn the title of 'Landessieger'. I still
don't know how this works, but clubs get permission from the FCI
to award special titles. Most countries only have 1 title show
per year, but Germany is the constant over-achiever and seems to
have several title shows. Title shows attract larger entries
since you get to put the title in front of the dog's name if you
earn it.
Small white CAC card is towards
the country's CH title. In Germany you need 4 CAC over at least
1 year in time. In Germany, only the best non-German CH male
and female get a CAC in each show. Some countries, like
Luxembourg, award the CAC to the best in each class.
Small pink card is the VDH card.
ONLY Germany has this and I still don't understand it. This is
awarded at the judge's discretion to the best male and female.
They call it their 'Club Champion' title. I think if you get 4
you are 'German Club Champion'. And they consider this a little
more prestigious than just "German Champion'.
Pink narrow paper - is a type
written critique from the judge.
Then they ALSO gave a trophy
for the CAC, VDH, Landessieger award.. so both Rave and Sanna
got 1 each.
And those trophies probably did
not come in little plastic bags. They had to wrap them up to
keep them nice.
Rave also got a trophy for his
BOB. He also won the Group, and oddly for that there was not
trophy. Instead he won the dog bowl and the 10 Euro certificate
which is redeemable at certain German gas stations!
And they run these shows like
in typical over-engineered German precision. Absolutely amazing
to watch. I'm almost amazed they they did not have 'assigned
seats'... Germany is kind of like the 'Texas' (or Quebec for
you Canadians) of Europe.
You simply must try to put one
of these experiences on your 'wish lists'.
What I think would be nice for
AKC shows and matches is if they adopted the diplomas and the
critiques. It think would really help new exhibitors.
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