An American Girl Learning European Ways

By Kathy Caton-Eiler

Today I have to share my personal experience with taking in the European “flair” of the dog show but also my adjustments to a new environment. Lets just say I want everyone to take note that American hair dryers do not go well with European electricity! Before you all ask, yes I did have the correct adaptor which converts the Europe 220v to an American 110v electric.  My lesson was obvious as I started the morning to blow dry my hair and boom, the electric blew! I felt like I was in a movie where they call in the fire trucks and kick out the stupid American. So I hesitantly call the front desk and innocently notify them the electric is out. As they come up to fix it, I stand with wet hair and my best smile possible, soon it’s repaired and they apologize for the electric problem. Thank goodness all was fixed and I now know to use the provided hair dryers! With this kind of start you know it was going to be a great day.

Off to the dog show with my first stop to the Cane Corso rings, total entry of 317 among 5 rings! I should of know when I saw 5 rings that it was gonna get complicated, but it was more than complicated. As handlers shuffle making a plan on jumping ring to ring, I was asked to help show starting in the first class, I was happy to help. As we get the minor puppy boy class going into the ring I was given an adorable 3 month old puppy to show and off we go. As I approach my exam I notice the judge was soft on the new babies and pleasant with the exhibitors, but all I could think was ” how am I going to understand what he is asking? I don’t know much of foreign languages!” I was prepared for my smile and nod. Much to my surprise the judge was not fooled by my smile and nod,  asked me in English, “how old is your puppy?” Relieved I answered “3 months and 2 days”.  He looks at me with a smile surprising admits “you speak good English, are you Swedish?” At this point I am thinking do I admit to being an American handler, will it hurt me in placement at an European dog show?  ” I’m American” I replied with a proud smile, the judge was  great and immediately welcomed me and began a nice chat, what a friendly experience and not at all intimidating. I went on to place second behind my puppy’s littermate and complete my euro dog show in ring time, little did I know not the last I would step into the ring today! After they knew I could actually handle dogs, off I went being asked for many dogs, I had to finally say ” I’m sorry but I really want to watch some of the dogs I came to see!” Disappointed they understood and I was able to take in the multiple rings packed with dogs circled on the inside and people stacked rows deep around the outside. I am amazed how many people attend the show and each dog comes with what seems to be team of people. Many exhibitors and spectators wear their kennel logo, color or some type of clothing that represents their dogs. In the USA we are not allowed to wear any identifying name or logo, here it’s all about the team logo! Many dogs have their win photos and associated country flag held in the background, truly excited with every win the ring is flooded with photographers after each class to capture the win.

Another part to this European flair of dog shows that has really caught my attention falls with the identification rule we follow, they yell the dogs name when he runs or to get the Dog’s attention. What we consider double handling it apparently the norm here, yelling and throwing toys for the dog to watch, the people run corner to corner to get the dog pulled to attention. Some rings were a bit more wild than others but the tops had to be the Boxer and Dobe double handling. The dogs seem to be pulling so hard they were down to the ground at times, vision the cartoon with a person pulling back on a lead with the dogs nails pulling his body with muscles popping, well that was the show! Shocking to our free bait the judges seem to like this look and I found it hard to see what the dogs outline looked like.

A few of my favorites and what I find to be humorous observations have to be first, the synchronized clapping and second, the background 80s hits music for the groups. The clapping ring side starts with a slow clap and grows with the number of people join in and keeping speed with the dogs movement, faster they move faster the beat. Absolutely amazed I thought for sure it was a one time moment, but no this is found among multiple rings and felt like I was at a sporting event with the rowdy crowd getting a chant started. I have to say it made me smile every time and I couldn’t help but giggle when it started each time. Now for the music selection offered at groups yes it’s the top 80 hits! The music softly plays as the judging proceeds with two ringmasters announcing the play by play over the microphone as they stand with the judge. As the judge makes his final cut the music gets louder to add to the anticipation for the judges choice. One by one starting with fourth pick the ringmaster announce the judges selection, now the music goes into an upbeat pulsing night club mix as the first place is chosen and the photographers flood the ring.  Sadly I find myself with a head beat to the music and realize I’m listening to the song from the movie A Night at the Roxbury! Oh yes I was in that moment with the same song doing the same head beat, bursting out laughing our group had some great flash backs with the group soundtrack.

Long story short its been a lot of fun and a very welcoming adventure over the last few days. Today was FCI group II only which held 4,613 entries, the top winner of the group a lovely Leonbergi as its called in FCI.

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Posted by admin on May 18 2013. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.