Ennepetal 2.0 – A milestone for K9andSports

What was possible in Ennepetal on January 10th was above all one thing: teamwork. That's precisely what K9andSports is all about – people from different fields come together, exchange ideas, and work collaboratively on the future of working dog sports. Despite challenging weather conditions, many made their way to Ennepetal or participated online. The diversity of the participants was particularly noteworthy: representatives from sports, breeding, science, and service dog work met – from all over Germany, as well as Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria.

Numerous representatives from service dog authorities took the opportunity to network. Ennepetal 2.0 also had a strong international presence: the Austrian Armed Forces were represented, the K9 officer of the Swiss Army had traveled there, as had experienced breeders, such as FMBB President Johan Weckhuyzen and Knut Fuchs.

Working group of authorities handling service dogs

Jan Kulig, chairman of the working group of authorities handling service dogs, told the participants: “K9andSports first presented itself to the working group in 2023. Since I was there, I can say that the proposals met with a very positive response even then. The procurement of dogs is a central issue in all public administrations. At least for Hamburg, I can say that since we switched to puppies and young dogs, origin and genetics have become increasingly important.”

In-depth expertise through strong speakers

The presentations by the top-class speakers were accordingly well received:

• Professor Dr. Julia Metzger gave an introduction to the genetics (and epigenetics) of modern dog breeding and then answered questions extensively.
• Hans Ebbers (PHK a.D.) inspected two dogs for sale in a nearby training hall and explained, together with Dr. Esther Schalke, how he checks the official requirements.
• Jens Frank, Associate Professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and expert at the Scandinavian Working Dog Institute (SDWI), demonstrated, using videos and a dog he brought with him, how detection dogs are trained for tactical operations: with a particular focus on learning theories and his clearly structured training methods. A fascinating insight into a scientifically grounded practice. 

Collaboration is key

The event in Ennepetal made one thing particularly clear: the desire for collaboration is strong. Many discussions revolved around common standards, improved networking, and long-term partnerships between sport, breeding, science, and government agencies. The event laid an important foundation for this – and opened many new doors.

Made possible by many helping hands

Behind Ennepetal 2.0 lies an enormous amount of work – both visible and invisible. Planning, organization, technology, film and photography, on-site support: all of this would not have been possible without dedicated people working behind the scenes. This team effort is the foundation on which such events can be built.

External partners and companies also contributed to the success of the event. We are therefore all the more pleased that new support has emerged since the event and that further collaborations will follow.

Looking ahead

Ennepetal 2.0 was not an end point, but another step on a long journey. New formats, new collaborations, and new platforms for exchange are already emerging. Plans include:

• a detailed video summary of the event
• further specialist articles in recognized media
• new appearances at specialist events and conferences

The journey here has been many things – but not easy. However, Ennepetal 2.0 has shown that with dedication, patience, and teamwork, real milestones can be achieved. And that's exactly what K9andSports will continue to work on – together with everyone who wants to join them on this journey.