Events

INTERNATIONAL DOBERMANN CLUB [IDC] WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007 and Congress

DESIO MILAN, ITALY

This year’s Dobermann World Championships were held once again in Italy, at Desio, on 22 and 23 September. Desio is small city, near Milan, and the show itself was held on the grounds of a historical public park. This is the most prestigious show for Dobermann conformation, and is judged by the top echelons of IDC judges. There is also an IDC Working Championships, which is usually held earlier in the year. The IDC finals were also telecast live on Italian TV, and there were about 600 Dobermann entries.

I also attended the IDC Congress, and got to once again meet many friends and make new acquaintances and contacts. In this year’s congress, proposals were made to recognize the American Dobermann Pinscher as a completely separate breed of dog. A motion was also passed to create a ‘Universal Sieger’ title. Such a dog must be in the top 3 of the Working championships and IDC show, with a minimum of 290 marks in working. Moreover, all senior dogs to earn any top IDC placing must have a working qualification.

For a Dobermann lover, this show represents heaven on earth. You get to see many famous dogs and legends in the flesh, talk to breeders and watch expert judging from legendary judges. One of the hardest things to judge and understand in the Dobermann breed is ‘typicity’, and it was a great learning experience to watch the judges make their selections and grading of hundreds of the finest Dobermanns. This year’s judges were Pezzano, Naube, Wiblihauser, Coppo, Redtenbacher and Ehrenreich. And the show ground was big, with about 8 large rings and judging being done simultaneously over 2 days.

I must also add that it was interesting to see and appreciate some very famous dogs, which you only get to see in pictures and videos. Even having seen them before, its always a pleasure to view and touch them again, like an unforgettable price of art. And it was good to see their progeny and understand some of the dog’s hereditary power and genealogy in action.

On Saturday was the judging for the junior classes – baby, junior, youth. And the judging is for black males, black females, brown males and brown females. The top 4 in each class were selected on Saturday for final judging on Sunday. There were quite a number of entries in the junior classes, and some outstanding dogs like Sant Kreal Zeus [Russia] who won his class. I had to run from ring to ring to catch most of the judging and sowing, and mind you.. it was a big field!!

By evening, the final four babies and juniors were brought into the ring, and given their placing by all 6 judges. For the finals, it is a group judging, and the dog with the most votes from the 6 judges wins. IU was very happy, that the puppy handled by a good friend of mine won World Champion Puppy black male. He has an unpronounceable name – Latvijskij Dendi Alingar Mag. We just call him Dendy!

I also got to spend time with a number of other breed lovers, notably from Romania and Israel and Norway. I also met some very good breeders and judges, and it was evident that Dobermann fever was in the air, and the atmosphere was one of close fraternity and sharing our strong love for the breed.

This year’s IDC had a number of entries from the Nordic countries, and not surprisingly, as next year’s IDC will be in Sweden. So, there was quite a few Dobermanns with tails and uncropped ears. Thank God they had the physiques of a Dobermann, or you could mistake them for hound dogs! But thankfully, there are still countries which are not rash and ignorant enough to ban cropping and docking, and the true Dobermann is thriving there.

On Saturday night, we had the Gala Dinner, which turned out to be a formal affair held in a historical hall, on the show grounds. The food was superb, and the company was warm and cameradie. We all shared a strong passion for the bred, and the night was long as we drank and talked and made guesses for the next day’s judging and winners.

Sunday was the big day, the judging of the Open, Working and Champion classes. However, that morning had a sober start without the usual pomp and ceremonies. It was announced that Gabriel Prosperi, a well respected breeder from Campovolano kennel, was in a coma after a massive heart attack. As such, IDC lost a very animated and avid supporter of the breed. Nonetheless, the show went on until darkness, when the final classifications were done.

The results –

IDC Sieger 2007 - Zordan Zewi Del Citone [Gino Gomez del Citone x Giada Di Villa Conte

IDC Sigerin 2007 - Revel Di Casa Coppo [New Nedo Di Csa Coppo x OPdette Di Casa Coppo]

IDC brown male champion – Tahi Remi Diablo [Master Max of Djarmati x Tahi Remi Ibiza]

IDC brown female champion – Raisen Riven Del Fiorsilva [ Ferrofarah Gomez Campovalano x Riven of Tandenburg]

Zordan is a very typey Dobermann male, with a wonderful head and expression. He is testament again to the great reproduction quality of the top Italian Dobermann lines. Revel, the female World Champion, has a very nice head. For me, the Dobermann breed begins at the head, and this bitch is such a dream to behold.

There was also an Honour class for past Champions, and last year IDC Sieger- Pathos Dell Querce Nere, won it. Pathos is a very nice dog, and he has bred some very good quality progeny lately. But the highlight for me that night was also the special Honours given to one of the greatest living Dobermanns, Nitro Di Rio Bianco. He was brought into the honour ring by his breeder, Mauro Favero, and it was like a celebrity entrance, with the spectators all clapping wildly, and many photographers flashing away in the night. As Nitro stood there, Dr Pezzano, the top IDC judge and Italian Chairman, spoke about the dog and read out all his achievements and titles- including IDC, DV, World Show, Italian, International, Working, etc championship wins. After that long list, Nitro took a lap of honour around the ring, handled by his own breeder. It was a proud moment for all.

He moved like a dream. He looks non-spectacular, but if you look closely, you can hardly find any fault with this dog. And he has great reproductive power, contributing many of his great qualities to his progeny. Indeed, Nitro is a legendary dog already, alongside Gino Gomez. And, here is the best part… he is 10 years old now and still probably one of the best dogs in the entire IDC ring!

The show ended late and I soon left towards Turin, where we were staying. Over the next few days, I had the opportunity to visit some breeders and kennels in Northern Italy. I visited legendary kennel like Nobili Nati, and there i had the chance to do sleeve work with their dog Nilo. Mind you, its something else have a top Dobermann who weights 50 kg bite your sleeve on attack! But it was great to share knowledge, advise and simply be with some of the top dogs and breeders in Italy.

I was lucky to be able to visit and spend time at the home of Florindo Coppo. He is considered one of the better Italian judges and breeders of the Dobermann, and he is also a specialist for the Rottweiler and Shutzhund sport. The IDC Siegerin 2007 Revel Casa Coppo is bred by him. And we were very honored when he offered us a puppy female, as he is keen to help develop the breed the Asia. She is from his V litter, and I decided to name her Vittoria Venezia Di Casa Coppo. I have given this dog away, and we now have something better coming!