105 sheepdogs participated in a show today at Manege den Esch in Zuidwolde. The participants come from all over Europe. “Most of the dogs come from the Netherlands and Germany. We also have a few from Belgium, Spain, France and Great Britain. There is even a dog from America. I think that dog is with German owners; it probably won’t be special have flown over for this show’, Anja Boonemmer of the organization laughs.
The New Year’s Eve show is truly a tradition. “This show has been held here in Zuidwolde for 30 years. People come here to wish each other a happy new year and start the new year fresh together. There are many people who have not even registered a dog, but who come purely for the New Year’s wishes,” says Boonemmer.
The dogs have to go through a whole program. “They must be sociable and behave properly between other dogs and people. That is the most important thing. The judge also checks whether the participating German Shepherd looks as the breed should look. In addition, the judge looks at how the dog moves. Especially in the older age groups, how a dog walks is very important,” she continues.
For dogs that are not yet adults, walking can be a thing. “When a puppy is born, it weighs 500 grams. And when it is six months old, it is already 15 kilos. So a puppy grows much faster than a human child. Sometimes they also grow completely apart. Then it is a nice standing dog, but then it cannot move properly due to its long legs, just like an adolescent,” Boonemmer explains.
Three judges determine the winner. “Today there are two judges from Germany and a Dutch judge. They are all specialized in this breed. With a normal inspection you can meet someone who actually doesn’t have much experience with sheepdogs.”
Perhaps the champion of the future is here. “That could just be possible. I’ve seen a few very nice ones. The world championships are in September and we have often seen that a dog that has won here has gone far at the world championships,” says Boonemmer.
Is it actually a dog spectacle or a human spectacle? Boonemmer laughs: “I think it’s a people spectacle.” This is most noticeable in the running laps of the dogs. The shepherds run fast, but the owners run even faster behind the audience to attract the attention of the dogs so that they walk even more beautifully.
Charlotte Schelhaas and Ursa Koers participate with their 1.5 year old dog Bowie. They have a kennel and therefore quite a bit of experience. “We train for 10 minutes every day and we do show training twice a week. We do that in the woods, but also in a ring. The dog actually has to learn to look for the handler. That he looks: where is my boss? Then it will run nicely,” says Schelhaas.
And walking nicely, that’s what Bowie did at the inspection. The judge awarded her first prize. The judgement? “Very nice, dark colours. The ears are well placed on the head. It is a very beautiful dog for its age and the judge liked to see that”, Schelhaas beams with pride. “We are super proud!”