Our festival of diversity

Just about a year and a half ago, when we stepped in as hosts after it had become clear that the FCI World Dog Show would not be able to go ahead in Ecuador after the tragic natural disaster there, we did not yet dare to hope for the levels of enthusiasm with which so very many people have embraced this four-day event in Leipzig and the German Winner Show preceding it on Wednesday. Nor did we have any idea at that point of the immense strain stepping in at such short notice would place on our hard-working staff at VDH and on our kennel club members. Inevitably, many people have been pushed almost to breaking point by the immense preparations required for this event. We can now proudly note that we have 24692 entries to the World Dog Show from 73 countries and we also have a total of 6423 starters at the German Winner Show. 280 different breeds can be admired in Leipzig. And 203 breed judges from 45 nations will be on hand to assess the quality of the dogs on show.

It is a source of great pleasure to us that we have been tasked by the FCI with breathing life into this event, the most important in the FCI calendar. This will be the seventh time the show has been hosted in Germany – after 1935, 1956, 1973, 1981, 1991 and 2003. And of course there will be plenty going on outside the show rings as well – thrilling dog sports, a highly entertaining programme of demonstrations and fringe events, and lots of specialist retail stalls.

Happy and relaxed dogs, fit and healthy and embodying the very best their breeds have to offer – that’s what we can confidently predict we will see in the ring of honour. I hope that you have a great time at this festival of diversity. Enjoy this chance to meet wonderful dogs, be they the lively partners of hunters, of sportspeople or simply of people who love getting out into nature with the four-legged members of their families.

Peter Friedrich
Chairman of the World Dog Show
VDH President