World Dog Show 2012 – Salzburg, Austria

July, 2012

by Kerry Rushby

In addition to being one of the four founding organizations of the FCI, the Austrian Kennel Club is probably one of its most active members. Three times Austria hosted the World Dog Show event – Innsbruck in 1976 (4,478 dogs were entered), Tulln in 1986 (7,952 dogs) and finally 18,607 dogs competed in Salzburg in May 2012. After five years of careful planning, the World Dog Show 2012 was the event every dog show fan looked forward to attending. Almost 100 rings were set up in the contemporary Messezentrum while the Main ring was set up in the spacious Salzburgarena which was added to the exposition center in 2003 and is used for major events and rock concerts. The oval wooden dome of the Salzburgarena is the largest in Western Austria and it can seat over 5,000 people. An enthusiastic crowd filled most seats and warmed the somewhat austere decor of the main ring with applause and cheers for the crowd favorites.

Most of the competitors arrived to Austria from its closest neighbor – Germany, with Italy following close in its footsteps and Russia, the new dog world superpower, coming in third. The UK was represented by 172 dogs.

The weather forecast turned out good and the show weekend was set against the perfect backdrop – the beautiful Alps. Traffic jams caused some problems on the first day, but this seems to be the common issue with all show grounds built within the city borders. Located in the geographical center of Europe, Salzburg has internationally renowned baroque architecture and one of the best-preserved city centers north of the Alps. Built in the 8th century, the Salt Castle was originally populated by the tax collectors who collected a toll for the salt transport along the Salzach river. During the third week of May, Salzburg became the world capital of the dog sport and hosted a Canine Festival: local dog owners and guests from abroad had the possibility to attend dozens of general and breed-specific seminars that offered not only a chance to learn and share the knowledge, but also meet old friends and colleagues.

The main ring entertainment program that ran daily covered a great variety of dog-related activities, police dogs to freestyle.

Austrian Kennel Club plays a very active role in other dog-related disciplines, running numerous competitive events throughout the year. It also hosted the first FCI Tracking Dog World Cup in 1994, the FCI Obedience World Championship in 1996 and 2005, the FCI World Championship for Utility Dogs in 1999 and the FCI World Championship for Agility and Utility Dogs in 2009.

The honor to judge the final Best in Show competition was offered to the President of FCI Mr. Hans Muller. After careful deliberation he made his choice by calling back from the lineup two worthy finalists. The most beautiful dog of the World Dog Show 2012 was the top Shiraz California Dreamin’ owned by Ingunn and Nicklas Eriksson. Runner-up was the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Andvol Pinkerton owned by Olga Shuvalova from Russia.

In the entry of just under 19,000 top figures went to Germany with 2,631 followed by Russia with 2286 entries. This entry was good when you consider that all docked and cropped dogs are not allowed to show under the strict Austrian laws. A number of club shows took place nearby in attractive grounds and by the look of some sunburned people the next day, they enjoyed the good weather!

The show always had a busy feel about it and the organizers had certainly done a fantastic job in promoting the show in Salzburg; from the moment we left the airport on Wednesday there were bus shelter posters, adverts on the back of buses, a designated shuttle bus driving to and from the car parks, and many shops in town had ‘doggie’ displays and sings for the WDS. Well done! I cannot congratulate you enough for this OKV, you have to involve the local community and encourage outside people to come to the show.

The only area in the show itself that did not seem busy was the area designated for the overseas kennel clubs, which was in the foyer area of the showground’s main entrance. Generally people passed it by unless you had a reason to go to the stands in question. For example, the Finnish KC always attract a crowd as they photograph all Finnish BOB winners and upload them to their website immediately.

Saturday night saw many of the VIPs and dignitaries attend a gala dinner at the Archbishop’s palace in the center of Salzburg; a splendid venue and occasion where we dined well and were serenaded in the classical style as befitted the home of Mozart!

This year’s show entry gained 18,607 dogs from countries all over the world. Once again, Junior World Winners (winners of the junior class – dogs and bitches between 9 and 18 months) compete in Junior Groups. What set this World Dog Show apart from the others was that according to the local rules, instead of choosing the Best Junior, judges nominated both a dog and a bitch to compete in the final. The judge for the Junior Group 3 was Kari Jarvinen (Finland) and he sent the Irish-bred Kerry Blue Terrier Bell Bolari Breezeban Up And Go owned by I. Pechertisa (Russia) to compete against other junior group winners in the final on Sunday. Zane Smith judged American Staffordshire terrier bitches, but it was the 7.5 year old dog Don King Of Ring’s owned by Natalija Zeljic (Serbia) and put up by his colleague Hana Brezinova from the Czech Republic who took home the top honors in the Terrier Group that was judged by Paul Stanton (Sweden). Next it was the time for the exciting Junior Group 7 competition judged by Monika Blaha (Austria). The winner, elegant 13-month-old English Pointer bitch Weimpoint Keep Smilin’ bred and owned by Edwin and Kristina Lenaerts (Belgium) is a direct descendant of the US Seaside pointer lines. A few seconds after her young handler accepted the award, both of them returned back to the main ring to compete against other Best of Breed winners in the Group 7 to become runner-up against the Shorthaired Weimaraner Grey Classic’s Ipanema Girl. The Weimaraner, placed first by the German judge Horst Klibenstein, is also bred and owned by Edwin and Kristina Lenaerts, so this was a huge success for those young and ambitious breeders. Junior Group 8 was judged by another German Dr. Peter Beyersdorf and he chose the English Springer Spaniel Sieger’s Match Point owned by Alberto Abajo from Spain as his winner. This was obviously a day for the English Springers as another representative of this breed, Linmoor Zimply Zalient owned by Katarzyna Ksiazek became the group winner under Damir Skok, president of the Croatian Kennel Club. Lisbeth Mach, charming and efficient judge from Switzerland, was in charge of Junior Group 10 and her winner was the Greyhound Fionn Clann Delwyn Drew bred and owned by Maria Sheina (Russia). Rafael de Santiago, vice-president of FCI, who was in charge of Group 10 put up a well-known crowd pleaser Saluki Shiraz California Dreamin’ handled and owned by Nicklas Eriksson from Sweden.

7080 dogs of 168 breeds that represented FCI Group 1 (Sheepdogs and Cattledogs), Group 5 (Spitz and Primitive Types) and Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs) competed on Saturday, May 19th. Erwin Deutscher, a judge from Austria went for the glamour and clever presentation of the Old English Sheepdog Bottom Shaker So Easy To Love owned by Jozsef Koroknai from Hungary. Tamas Jakkel who stepped down from his post as the Main Ring Commentator during the World Dog Show to judge FCI Group 1 chose as his winner the Welsh Corgi Pembroke Andvol Pinkerton owned by Olga Shuvalova. This dog is well-known outside of his home country for numerous BIS wins around the world and representing Russia at the Eukanuba World Challenge in 2010 where he was shortlisted in the final.

Phyllis Poduschka-Aigner, judge from Austria, selected as her Junior Group 5 winner the Basenji Justine Ekibondo bred by Miroslava Miklishova from Czech Republic and owned by the Italian Dandonpei kennel. FCI Group 5 was judged by the regular visitor of large international events around the world, all-rounder from the Netherlands Hans van der Berg. His winner was Canadian-bred and Lithuanian-owned Siberian Husky Snowmist’s Quicksilver Speigas (breeder Kim Leblanc and owner Laura Baryte) who was also the Best of Winners & Best Bred-by at SHCA in 2011. He was shown once again to his full potential by Tim Terella of Fairview, Pennsylvania. This dynamic duo was greeted by enthusiastic cheers from their American fans and won over the hearts of the European public. Swiss judge Laurent Pichard selected as his Junior Group 9 winner the black toy poodle Shantaram Hands Off, owner-handled by Alessandra Giuliani from Italy. Norman Deschuymere, well-known Belgian Sheepdog specialist, judged Group 9. His winner, the Standard Poodle Aleph American Idol, was born in the US and is co-owned by Paula and Bert Morgan (Ardent Poodles) and Elizabeth Brown (Donnchada Poodles) and handled in Europe by Charlotte Sandell. This dog’s accomplishments in 2012 include BOB at Crufts and BOS at PCA National Specialty Show as well as several Group and BIS wins in Scandinavian countries. He will return to resume his US specials career next April immediately after PCA 2013.

On the last day of the show, Sunday May the 20th, 5857 dogs of 123 breeds from FCI Group 2 (Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid Breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Breeds), Group 4 (Dachshunds) and Group 6 (Scenthounds and Related Breeds) competed for the honors to be selected as winners of their respected breeds and compete in the grand finale that followed the ceremony of passing the FCI flag to the host of the next World Dog Show, the Kennel Club of Hungary. Junior FCI Group 2 judge represented Germany. Hans Wiblishauser’s winner was the Salt and Pepper Schnauzer Skippy Saltus Ze Zahrabske, owner-handled by Monika Skok (Croatia). FCI Group 2 had Hiroshi Kamisato, a judge from Japan, in charge and he chose the Newfoundland Starry Town Bon Prin bred, owned and handled by Maurizio Mauro (Italy) for his nominee for the final lineup. Helaine Maissen-Jarisch’s Junior Group 4 winner was the Standard Smooth Dachshund Emdash ADdmire owned by Alexander Tatarov and Claudio de Giuliani’s Group 4 winner, the Standard Smooth Dachshund Norden Liht Unkas owned by A. Krylova, proved that Russia produces the best Dachshunds in the World at the moment. Junior FCI Group 6 judge, former vice-president of FCI Austrian Karl Reisinger, sent another Russian dog to the Junior BIS, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Irma Podkoldernik Jadowity owned by I. Antipova (Russia) and last but not least – Milivoje Urosevic, the judge from Serbia, went for the representative of the very rare breed – Basset Fauve de Bretagne Shiroblam First Slip and owner Elizabeth Stroemberg to complete the BIS lineup at the World Dog Show 2012.

Lisa Croft-Elliott and Carrie Russell-Smith had a great show, starting at the World Show with their Cardigan Corgi Junior World Winner Dog, Lisa Croft-Elliott & Hanno Dijkhorst’s Yasashiikuma Dragon Defender NJK, JESG’12, JWW’12. Junior World Winner Bitch also owned by Lisa Croft-Elliott & Hanno Dijkhorst, Am. Ch Pluperfect Merrymoon Poetry In Motion JWW’12. They also had World Winner Bitch CACIB; Lisa Croft-Elliott & Hanno Dijkhorst’s Ch. Slo, NL, Lux, Int Ch, FCI Centenary Winner Floatin’ Helen Heilin NJK, JWW’10, CW’10, ’11, W’10, ’11, EW’10,’11, JWW’10, WW’12. Also winning Intermediate Bitch was Lisa and Hanno’s NL Ch. Waggerland Drop Dead Gorgeous NJK, JWW’11, JEW’11, JW’11, handled by Our Dogs very own Dom Santoriello under Judge Glenda Cook of Australia. At the World Club Show, Anif (A) Austrian Club for British Herding Dogs, Cardigan Corgis under Judge Mrs. E. Soltesz (Austria) they were awarded World Club Junior Winner Dog with Yasashiikuma Dragon Defender NJK, JESG’12, JWW’12. World Club Junior Winner Bitch and BOB was Lisa Croft-Elliott & Hanno Dijkhorst’s Am. Ch Pluperfect Merrymoon Poetry In Motion JWW’12. World Club Winner Dog CAC was Lisa Croft-Elliott & Paula O’Donnell’s Am. Ch. Pecan Valley Touch Of Darkness. World Club Winner Bitch CAC was Lisa Croft-Elliott & Hanno Dijkhorst’s NL Ch Waggerland Drop Dead Gorgeous NJK, JWW’11, JEW’11, JW’11

In other American news, Rebecca Cross’ Scottish Terrier, McVans Be Bop Baby won the CACIB and World Winner 2012 title, American-bred Akita, Regalia’s Saffyre won Best of Breed in American Akitas owned by Marcel Huls and Matthew Bostock from the UK.

From Canada, Dawne Deeley and Richard Hellmans Karelian Bear Dog, Tsarshadows The Art of War won another World Winner title and Best of Breed

This was a great show held by the Austrian Kennel Club in a great show arena. The show ran smoothly, attracted thousands of visitors, had great weather, great rings, and no complaints, just great memories from one of Europe’s best locations, and a fabulous city to spend some days in, Salzburg.

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