LUXEMBOURG SPRING 2018
KIRCHBERG, LUXEMBOURG | APRI L 7-8 , 2018 | PHOTOS BY KARL DONVI L
T here was a serious drop down in numbers of entries. Last year the spring edition had 4551 entries, this year it dropped to 4038. The Autumn edition counted 3647 entries. But still, this show is a success and we all know that in general, everywhere, the numbers of entries are dropping. No reason to panic. Luxembourg will always remain popular as it is relatively easy to become Champion of Luxembourg, notwith- standing the fact that there is strong competition. Winning here is always worth the title because there are lots of good dogs to beat, lots of good entries from many different countries and that means something! The new trend is double shows, but too often they are granted to relatively small shows and there is lack in competition in many breeds, many with only two dogs or even one. Who is there to beat then? What is such a win worth? Just pay and go, no need to show, as you get your ticket anyway. I am convinced that this trend is a serious treat for the future of the dog show scene. There will be no more prestige associated to the title of Champion. That is why we need big shows like the ones in Luxembourg. I am also convinced that this is one of
the reasons why there is a serious drop down in the numbers of entries. If a dog needs a certain number of CACIB’s to become champion of a country he can enter a few double shows and in very short time he has what he needs and with only little or no concurrence. Before it was a long process as you had to enter your dogs on many shows in order to become the same amount of titles and with stronger competition. The FCI and the national organizations now demand also that shows in a cer- tain area can only take place if there is at least 3 weeks in between. What about a double show then? All this affects the show scene in general and reduces the number of entries. It will mean the end of many smaller shows that will have serious difficulties to cover the expens- es. And there should be international rules that a CACIB can only be granted if there are a minimum of dogs entered. Now it is not normal that a dog that is entered as the only specimen, becomes his title just like that, while in popu- lar breeds there is also just one CACIB to win, while there are 30, 50 or 100 dogs entered. Last year this show faced bad public- ity due to a few dogs that were trapped in close cars on the parking. But I know
that this show is doing many efforts to prevent this. This year they had even more people checking cars and again some dogs were found in cars. Urgent messaged were send via the intercom and windows had to be smashed. In every hall, on every exit, on every eye- catching spot posters were hung, warn- ing against the danger of leaving dogs unattended in cars, even in the shade with windows open, but still, there are always people who are convinced that it is enough. Saturday night I saw the news on television in my hotel about the problem. They have given a lot of attention to this problem with an extended interview with the organizers and footage about the teams of security, vets and fire man, inspecting all the cars on the parking area. I can personal- ly assure that the team of Luxembourg is doing much more of prevention than many other shows all together. They don’t deserve the bad reputation that some aggressive animal right organiza- tions try to give them as a weapon in their fight against dog shows in gen- eral. Anyway, there are plans to ban handlers and exhibitors from shows for the future. In Luxembourg they will no longer be welcome anymore. The FCI should make up a list of such
182 • S how S ight M agazine , M ay 2018
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