Healthy competition at annual dog show

KASL judges expect good breeding, grooming and temperament at All Breeds Championships

The Kennel Association of Sri Lanka (KASL) officially introduced their judges for their annual All Breeds Championships being held this weekend at the Sports Ministry Grounds. The events included both breed verification and dog handling programmes held yesterday, Saturday October 12, and the championship show which will be held today, Sunday October 13 from 8.30 a.m.

The Judges for this year include President and Chairman of the Board of the Philippine Canine Club and President of the Asia Pacific Region of the FCI, Augusto Benedicto S. Santos III. Coming from the biggest Polo- playing family in the Philippines, dogs and horses have been a part of his family tradition and his ardent interest in both breeding and judging dogs has seen him judging in most parts of the world. Augusto Benedicto S. Santos III will be joined at the KASL show by FCI certified All Breed judge, Monique Van Brempt from Belgium. Being the President of the World Terrier Association as well, she said she was expecting high standards at the show in Sri Lanka. She has judged in countries all over the world and at many World Dog Shows and European shows.

The high standards she expects extend to areas such as grooming, and even temperament. Having judged shows since the 1980's she says "Sometimes the best looking dog is not always the best dog. It is completely unacceptable if a dog does so much as growl at the judge when being examined."

"This is something Sri Lankan breeders need to be more mindful of," observed leading vet and owner of a veterinary clinic, Dr. Nalinika Obeysekara. She went on to explain that these aspects of breeding need to be highlighted as they are equally important as the physique and stature of a breed.

Also on the judging panel today is International All Breeds judge, Mizra Saif Baig. Being from Pakistan, who too shared that he was from a very young age encouraged to love dogs as his family were ardent dog lovers. among his many achievements he has been acclaimed for his dog handling abilities. "I was seven when I won my first 'Best Junior Handler' award," he reminisced. "My uncle who was a prominent personality in the field in Pakistan trained me."

President of the KASL Nela De Zoysa put forward the idea of the "Sri Lankan Hound" being recognised as a breed. The enthusiasm of the Judges was evident as Augusto Benedicto S. Santos III said, "It will not be easy, but you must start." Protocol in getting a breed recognised by the FCI was discussed and the judges graciously invited a display of the common "street" dog in the ring in order to determine the capability of the breed.

Representing the sponsors of the event Royal Canine, Dr. Sanjay Wasala shared that suppliers have even agreed to produce a special kind of dog food for the common Sri Lankan dog, and research is currently being carried out on determining nutritional requirements.

This year's competition which will be the 79th annual Championship will feature three consecutive rings for the first time in Sri Lanka, bringing it one step closer to the global standards of competition.