Another year another dog show weekend for CACIB Ljubljana & CACIB Tromostovje 2009. From the start there needs to be a clarification. I largely agree with Jure on the subject of dog shows. Most dogs there are very cool, many people aren’t. It may sound harsh but I never understood how anyone could possibly care how much time and effort has been put into grooming, trimming, spraying, waxing, polishing, powdering, whitening etc. of dogs hair, nails, teeth and whatever else they can come up with.

Things like this shouldn’t happen:

Identity of the poor dog intentionally left unknown. This is one of three FCI approved show trims for a poodle.

Unfortunately though, dog shows are an inevitable part of breeding. Entirely understandable from the perspective of keeping a breed within desired parameters. I just don’t get how hair acrobatics is a part of those parameters.

Moving on…

Hanibal observing the procedure of the show & judge Satu Ylä-Mononen

This year we tricked Hanibal into his very first dog show appearance (came with his first proper shower as well) and although he did well he didn’t do really well. He just doesn’t feel comfortable being shown off for the judges. Oh well, I guess he’s not obsessing over it. Neither are we :)

weimaraner & pointer

Altogether Hanibal got himself the titles of SKVPM club champion, 3x CAC* SLO & 2x CACIB**

Dina only got to show her stuff on Saturday and she got SKVPM club champion, CAC SLO & BOB*** which means she walked out as the winner of the mother vs. son showdown for the best of breed title in the club special.

CAC = Certificate d´Aptitude au Championat
CACIB = Certificate d´Aptitude au Championat International de Beaute
BOB = best of breed

Judge’s comments for Hanibal

Otto Schimpf(AUT) breeder of Dogo Argentino

• Nice dog
• good head
• good colors
• doesn’t have ring training
• good front
• good line of the body
• correct type
• eye color acceptable depending on the hair color

Excellent grade

Béla Siklósi (HUN) breeder of Newfoundlands

• 1.5 years old
• elegant type
• correct size, bones
• nice head
• correct white
• correct front
• strong topline
• need more angulation behind
• nice movement

Excellent grade

Judge’s comments for Dina

Béla Siklósi (HUN)

• 5 years old
• correct size, bones
• little too long
• nice head
• correct
• little soft topline
• correct angulation
• correct movement

Excellent grade

Satu Ylä-Mononen (FIN), breeder of Berner Sennenhunde, only gave verbal comments at the club special. Since I didn’t hear them in person I can only report she had praise for both of them. Dina won over Hanibal because of her more relaxed character.

This year I took a slightly different approach to photographing dogs at the show. In previous visits I mostly used wide angle lenses to show the dogs interacting with their owners/handlers. Sometimes it came out well, sometimes it didn’t. Somehow people feel like they need to present the dog as if I was a judge. The problem is that I couldn’t care less about all the show poses it can do. I see them as beautiful and entertaining dogs, not as fashion accessories and beauty objects. So this year I switched tactics a little bit.

Using a borrowed 50/1.8 lens I could simply isolate the dog from its immediate surrounding and focus on expression. I didn’t forget to include the owners whenever there was an opportunity though.

dachshund (?)

afghan hound

many more photos in the gallery