news - 08/06/2007 CROATIA European Dog Show 2007 day 2 - Croatia
by Karl DonvilCroatia European Dog Show 2007 in over 4000 photos! In order to find your picture please click on the tab "SHOP" and then on "help". Read here how to find and order your photos and pay your order.Some photos may be of lesser quality due the light conditions in the halls and not suited for big enlargements. If in doubt please contact me and refer to the photonumber to info@123dog.net.
Zagreb (Croatia) was a marvelous guest for the European Dog Show 2007-06-16
We all remember well the cruel war in the Balkan Countries, former Yugoslavia. Croatia was one of the first to claim independence and had to fight very hard for this. The country had thousands of casualties and vast areas were destroyed, some villages were totally swept away. All this happened as recent as 1991 until 1995. It is amazing to see now how well this country recovered from its wounds and how warm and friendly its inhabitants are.
Since Eastern Europe has opened its borders its judges have become very popular, its native breeds have conquered the west and its exhibitors have found the way to western areas. The quality is high and their wins very frequent. No wonder that the FCI has started to grant permission to organize European and World Shows as they guarantee lots of entries. We all remember Bratislava and Poland as very successful.
This year Croatia was on term to organize the 2007 edition of the European Dog Show. As the World Show was held in South America it was to be expected that the European would replace this important event for the European countries. The organization was managed by Mr.Damir Skok, a young veterinarian working for Pedigree and thus well trained and PR minded. The degree of professionalism was high and I heard little or no negative comments from the exhibitors. Of course it was warm and the rings could have been larger, but in general everything was OK. I liked very much the idea of having the opening ceremony in the center of the city and open to all the people of Zagreb. This works often better then hanging huge publicity boards in and around the city as everyone is talking about the concert and links it to the European Dog Show. I have no idea what the impact was, but the numbers of visitors was not bad at all, considering the very nice weather that has usually a negative impact on the people who prefer to enjoy the sunlight instead of wandering around in halls. The main ring was completely surrounded by stands and every evening well occupied by spectators. If this could be an indication, then it can be called a success. The main ring was well studied. One long side was reserved for the judges and guests, a short side was for the press that was well represented and the other sides were for the spectators. There was enough security to prevent problems. The podium was build just outside the main ring in between the side of the judges and the Press and still insight for the public around. I loved this idea as the show can go on and it allowed the photographers to work without interrupting the going on of the show. As usual the first day several smaller problems arise, but they were adjusted the next day, like the spotlights that created a problematic back light for the photographers. The next day they were removed to the corners which was applauded by the Press.
One hall was reserved for the commercial stands and although I didn’t have the impression that it was passed by the visitors, here I have heard a few complaints. There were not so many trade stands and it seems that many cancelled or were forced to cancel due to lots of problems with the customs at the border. At one stand two teenagers collected money for Animal welfare and abandoned dogs by playing violin. They were very good and many people stayed there for a while to listen to them. They collected more money then any other charity stand.
The rings were rather small and in between, many corridors were blocked by seats of picnicking exhibitors. This is one of the things we still need to learn in Europe as it can cause a catastrophe in case something happens and panic arises. It would be better to arrange special grooming areas like we use to see in South America. As it was very warm as usual we have problems with dogs suffering from the heath. Notwithstanding the efforts of the committee and the announcements in the halls, several dogs died in cars and many car windows were broken by the security. In one car no less then 3 Mastino Napoletanos died while one could be saved. Rumors were spread that dogs were poisoned, but this is of course a good excuse to say if one neglect its dogs. If exhibitors or handlers have too many dogs to take care of and not enough kennel staff then this excuse is easily used. In between the halls there was enough shadow, water and other shelter for the heath and there was no reason to leave dogs in cars and whether poisoned of killed by the heath, fact is that they were unattended, and for this there is no excuse at all and it is unfair to blame the committee for any casualties of this kind.
In the ring of the American Staffordshires has been a fight between exhibitors but nothing very serious and one judge has been bitten by a Hovawart and needed to be taken to a hospital for first aid after which he came back and continued judging. All this is very normal if you find 10400 dogs and their owners and handlers together.
The time schedule was strictly followed and that meant that all judgments started according to the program and to main ring program. The main ring itself was large, but not large enough to hold all the dogs in some categories at once. It would perhaps have been better to judge the baby, puppy, junior class and couple class per breed group. But on the other hand this would have overloaded the time schedule on the second day, as no less the 5 groups were to be judged.
Another possibility could have been to have a tighter system of prejudging. But anyway, they managed to not run out of time.
The main ring was held sober, even on Sunday. The 6 national breeds were presented to the public, the Hrvatski Ovcar or Croatian Sheepdog, the Posavki Gonic or Posavian Hound, the Istarski Gonic or Istrian Hound in short haired and coarse haired variety and of course the world famous Dalmatian. Special attention was paid to the new Croatian breed, the Tornjak. This breed is selected and created to give to the numerous shepherds by the government in order to protect their flock against the bears and wolves that are protected and still living in the wild mountainous areas in the main land as a compensation to not killing them. The ceremonies were not overloaded and the handing over of the FCI flag and the slot ceremony were kept brief. The delegation of the Hungarian Kennel Club presented its national breeds and brought in a doggy dancer on a chariot, pulled by four Hungarian ponies and a funny foal. She gave a performance with a Mudi, proving that this sport is not only reserved to Border Collies. The music was performed by 3 girls playing Modern Hungarian Polka Music on Electrical Violins.
Mr.Damir Skok, was widely honored for the splendid work of himself and his excellent staff. Him was granted the honor of judging the Best In Show, not an easy task seen the high quality of group winners. One could have expected him to choose the Dalmatian, winner of group 6, but I fully agreed with him that the winner should be the Great Dane who was one of the most self presenting Danes I have ever seen. A well deserved victory! Runner up was the Bobtail, another favorite, well groomed and of perfect constitution. Third BIS went to the glamorous Afgan Hound, who floated around the ring like lightning. It was splitting hairs as the others must have come very close to Mr.Skok’s choice.
It was another good Eurodogshow, not the most glamorous, but one with one of the least complaints, perfectly managed and while keeping in mind that this country recovered only one decennial ago from a very destructive war. In the dog world we are lucky not to see much of what is going on in some areas in the world and most exhibitors understand very well with each other, despite of what their governments decide. The same good feeling is shown here and I kept the best memories on the warmth and hospitality of the Croatian People and made many new friends. I could not encounter any of the ethnic problems that caused this recent war and I believe that Croatia has a great future ahead. I believe that this country is open to any broadminded foreigner, at least that is the feeling I brought home.
Congratulations to the Croatian people and to the Croatian Kennel Club and all those who took so well care of the Organization of this great European Dog Show.
