Im September fand die erste Arbeitsgruppe zum Thema Optimierung des Richterwesens statt. Teilgenommen haben Klaus-Jürgen Glüh, Daniele Strazzeri, Horst-Dieter Träger, Meik Greub und David Buss.

1. Ambassador Georg Sticha is now working in an advisory role in Austria.

2. At the FCI FH World Cup, extensive film footage was made by NDR, while Ambassador Christa Bremer was present and accompanied her. She is in contact with Stüwes regarding possible filming at the DMC Championships.

3. We are observing changes in communication in the area of ​​working dog sports in Germany. Roswitha Dannenberg, Daniele Strazzeri, Horst-Dieter Träger and many others have done an excellent job reporting extensively on the topic in SV. Reports in the ADRK and RZV will follow next month.

4. The working group led by the ambassador and veterinarian Simon Bach initiated initial discussions with potential doctoral students. There is great interest in collaboration between scientists and breed associations.

We consider the following topics:

• How does the active keeping of working and sport dogs affect their overall health compared to pets?
• The evaluation of biting statistics in Germany in connection with sporting dogs.

It was discussed how financial resources could be obtained to support the relevant doctoral students. It is suggested that the breed associations should also be involved in this matter. We hope that such initiatives can also be started in other countries and interested students can be found who want to work with us. In addition, we strive for collaborations with universities, laboratories and other interest groups. Currently, other support is only possible to a limited extent.

5. Ambassadors Katja and Daniel Stüwe and their team are working intensively to make the DMC Championship attractive for the public and young people. The event includes demonstrations by rescue teams and the military, a cocktail bar, a raffle, a party and a children's dance group. The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder will also be present. Entry is free, including a party night. Additionally, there are special children's events and a bouncy castle to attract spectators. Young people can take part in a special test, and K9andSports will have its own stand, supported by youth ambassador Vivienne Bauer.

6. A conversation with Robert Markschläger (Head of the FCI Working Group for Working Dogs / FCI Working Dog Commission) is available at his request to discuss the collaboration between FCI and K9andSports.

7. A new draft of the statutes is being coordinated, which is intended to attract supporting memberships for K9andSports in order to increase our financial resources. In this context, potential sponsors are also being sought.

8. There is also a helper camp for the 24th/25th. August or August 31st/1st September planned.

9. Another important topic was the 2nd breeding meeting, in which public authorities, breeding clubs and working dog organizations are to take part.

Since a few days we are cooperating with an independent registered association K9andSports Austria. K9andSports has been trying to support in the Austrian cause wherever possible. Always keeping in mind that we need to stick to the facts, stay polite - even if its not always easy if you are brave enough to read parts of the Austrian press and posts in Social Media. Our Ambassadors rallied to get us valid and informative statements all of which you can read under "arguments - quotes" as well as in our posts on Facebook and Instagram. Today, K9andSports handed in a statement to the Austrian Parliament covering the reasons why IGP dogsport is a "must" for society, K9 programs as well as the breeding of working dogs. We are keeping our fingers crossed that political decisions will be taken on an informed basis. In the meantime, lets go out there and explain and show the world that our dogs are neither dangerous nor unnaturally aggressive and keep it with our ambassador and SV President Roswitha Dannenberg: "the fact that our sport is being attacked, shows us more than ever that we need to explain and inform!" 

The German Nationals (BSP) are especially exciting for us, as K9andSports ambassadors Luca Strässer, Jogi Zank, and Björn Gießen have successfully participated. Horst-Dieter Träger and Linda Kies had great conversations with SV President Roswitha Dannenberg and SV Vice President Daniele Strazzeri. 

What is worth waiting for!

Official feedback from the authorities that they want to work with K9andSports, to promote the exchange between breed clubs, sports associations and the service.

After the Youngstars Camp 2022 in Germany had such a great success, now one is coming in Sweden. Patrick Aaronson was able to find helpers, judges and trainers to volunteer. All participants under the age of 25 take part free of charge. 

Together with service dog handlers from the police, military, customs and rescue dog organisations, we analyze what dogs need to bring with them in order to be operational. The goal is to create a catalogue, which must be part of a breeding review. The DMC licensing regulations will be the first to be adjusted according to the results. What do we want to achieve with it? That dogs go into breeding that are suitable for sport and service. And that the authorities can gain insights from the review that are specifically relevant to them. To make it clearer, a few examples that need to be checked more extensively in the future: nose work, environmental safety (e.g. undergrounds, working in the dark). 

We want sport and service to come together again, as in the past, as far as breeding is concerned. To this end, we have started talks in many countries. In a working group we are working on catalogs which properties are important for the various authorities: police, military, customs and also in rescue dog work. What the goal is: we want to align the breeding selection in such a way that these traits are also tested, as far as they can be inherited. Various breed clubs are already involved here. 

On March 14, ambassadors from many countries met for 2 hours in the second online meeting to discuss how to proceed with the "K9 and Sports" initiative and to present the first results from the working groups. 

We have already been able to organize several seminar places for our young stars (<25 years). 

You can find more information under the category "Youngstars"

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You are incredible - we are heading for the number of 5000 signatures - for this 1000 thanks!!!

The list of ambassadors is also getting longer and longer and every day we are able to recruit further valuable members from many nations and different areas of responsibility.

Currently we are working on a concrete plan how we can concretize our goals and to achieve them. We want to establish working groups that can exchange ideas on the respective topics or promote our cause in their own countries.

We will put all our heart and soul into presenting the sport of working dogs with its different areas in society in a positive way and putting it in the right light!!!

Together we are strong! We had you up to date!