by Costanza Ferraris Arezzo first International Show
After almost one month of rest the international dog life show started again in Italy. Five years ago the inauguration of the new year took place in Milan. Since 2003 the first show of the year is organised by the city of Arezzo (Toscany). Before it was a national event, then little by little the entries increased. The good organisation and also the wonderful fair area gave the hint to the local kennel club to ask the ENCI (Italian Kennel Club) to give the permission to become an international event. The request was well presented and so three years ago Arezzo organised its first international show.
The first show has a different atmosphere. After one month of “holidays” there are many things to tell. The competition is still hidden by the Christmas atmosphere. Then little by little that the judgements go on the face of the relaxed face of the person arrived from holidays lives its place to the exhibitor. Concentration and tension run again in and around the rings.
Arezzo is a two day show. This year there were about 1800 entries. The number of entries is increasing according to the previous years. The total is higher then the other shows where you have between 1500 and 1600 entries.
On the first day there were 674 entries and 99 breeders. Among the unusual breed we can mention the Romanian Mioritic Shepherd dog. It is a newly recognised by the FCI and it seems that is the first time that they are showed in an Italian show. As the name says it is a Romanian shepherd dog. In the catalogue there were two bitches: the first was in the open and the second in the juniors class. Both came from Rumania but live in Italy so in the future it will be interesting to see the evolution of this new recognised and imported breed in this country. This breed looks like a bit to a rustic Bearded Collie or a Polish Shepherd dog. Its was called once Barac. It first standard was written in 1981 to be revised in 2002. The standard says “It is a large dog but never heavy; vigorous and spectacular. The coat is long and well furnished on the head, all of the body and the limbs. Males are taller and stronger than females.” The tail is long and it is forbidden to cut it. It is a working dog even if there are always more fans who prefer to have it as a pet. The FCI has filled it in the first group under the section 1 (Sheepdogs without working trial). In Romania there are three Romanian shepherd dogs: the Mioretic, the Carpathian and the Bucovina shepherd dogs. The first two have been recognised by the FCI in 2005 on provisional basis. The third one is only registered by the Romanian Cynologic Association (A.CH.R).
Among the hunting dog there were four Black and tan Coonhound. This breed comes from USA. Even if there were already registered puppies by the ENCI it is still very difficult to see subjects in a show.
The best subject of the first day have been: Cafiero di Lucus Agitiae (Maremmano Abruzzese Shepherd dog – gr 1), Mi-Pao's Cream Casper (Chow Chow – gr. 5 – it won the CC at Crufts 2005), Mich Basha (Rhodesian Ridgeback - gr. 6), Francini's Effimero (Cocker Spaniel – gr. 8).
On Sunday there were only for group but with 976 entries. The second group is always that one with more entries: Bulldog (28), Newfoundlander (32), Rottweiler (46), Great Dane (50) and Boxer (66).
We have to mention the Misericordia (Toscany Red Cross) that had to work a bit more. Two people and one judge were bitten by “nervous dogs”. The secretary office the staff had “won” the first prize for all patience they had facing owners who wanted to live the show before the official time without paying the caution. A few exhibitors threatened the secretaries telling that they have “dangerous breeds” and that they have to live the show. The kennel club had to send a few names to the ENCI to forbidden these people to enter their dogs to shows. Is it more dangerous the dog or the owner? One thing is sure, these scenes in front of visitors are not good publicity for the breeds.
The best four of the second day were the Bobby Ensson Bohemia (Leonberger – gr 2), Qoccle's the Devil Kiss (Yorkshire Terrier – gr. 3), Ginepro del Lago Prile (Standard Rough Coated Dachshund – gr. 4) and Tito d'Agata Blu Alessandro (Pug – gr. 9).
For the BIS ring there were only nine subjects. The winner of the group seven of the previous day was absent. The speaker reminded that exhibitors must respect the laws of the show. BOG winners who are not present on the following day for the BIS lose all what they have won on the previous day. This because the winner of the 7th group was not present. Most of the subject present in the BIS ring were champion males.
Mr. Rainer Vuorinen from Finland had four places for the BIS podium. Fourth was the Maremmano Abruzzese Shepherd dog winner of the BOB in Tulln 2005. Third was the Yorkshire Terrier. It belongs to the same kennel who won the 3BIS at the European show in Spain 2004. Second is the Leonberger. This subject was imported in 2004 from Slovenia to Italy where it started to win the 3BIS in Turin. Since then it has won many groups and BIS places. First was the Pug coming from a well known kennel but not used to win BIS. When the speaker told his name the owner did not realised and so he remained for a few minutes in the middle of the main ring waiting to see the winner of the show. His joy was true and also his tears. The professionalism and the experience of handlers and breeders let them win more easily then a “simple” exhibitor. The victory of this Pug in Arezzo has given to the BIS podium a colour of spontaneity.
