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Today, we want to let you know about some milestones we accomplished at K9andSports in 2024. In our second newsletter, we will discuss our plans for 2025.
Promoting Youth in Dogports
Our Youngstars initiative offers dog sports enthusiasts up to the age of 25 the chance to learn about working dog sports. To date, our ambassadors offered more than 300 free seminar spots, creating real interest and opportunities! Many Youngstars are out there eager to learn. Check out our current seminar offerings: https://k9-and-sports.com/category/igp-youngstars/
IGP Youngstar 2.0 / Helper Camp – Coming in 2025
In 2023, we invited 160 Youngstars to an unforgettable training weekend with a crazy line up of renowned instructors – the response was overwhelming! For 2025, we are planning the next camp, this time with even more support from breed kennels. And if that wasn’t enough, we will add to it K9andSports Helper Camp targeting aspiring and active helpers of any age. Follow our social media accounts to register in time!
Ending Myths About Working Dog Sports
Our working group „Scientific Work and Animal Welfare“ conducts interviews and collects facts, many of which you can find on our blog pages: https://k9-and-sports.com/category/blog/
We want to further promote scientific discourse around working dogs and sports. Veterinarians and ambassadors Dr. Simon Bach and Simone Stroh lead the project and are in close contact with graduates. Potential topics are discussed with, among others, the University of Munich (LMU). Our goal: To clarify myths surrounding the „aggressive protection dog“ on the basis of sound research. For more details, check here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18MZZELx6L/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Collaboration across all stakeholders
At our first on-site event, representatives from working dog breed clubs, sport clubs, the German Kennel Club (VDH), customs, police, and the German Military came together to discuss the qualities a working dog must have in today’s time. Dr. Esther Schalke (veterinarian and commander of the Bundeswehr service dog school) provided a scientific perspective on the discussion. On the basis of the found consensus, we tested various breeds in parcours settings, showing how sport and service complement each other perfectly. Such wide collaboration across all stakeholders marks an important first step, and we are looking forward to approach further topics. Watch this great video of a special idea, for some impressions: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1UWEpvpXeB/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Unrealistic emotional Legislation?
In Austria and a state in Australia, working dog sports were very close to being outlawed. We were able to make a collaborative statement in the legislative process. You can take a look at it here: https://k9-and-sports.com/downloads/
What Was Special?
Through joint effort of our ambassadors, we were able to quickly collect many signed statements from K9handlers, officials, veterinarians, judges and businesses. Highlight: Robert Cabral, YouTube creator with over 320,000 followers, published several videos on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udq5F8-Z15I
A petition on Change.org got us more than 40,000 signatures. The result? We helped prevent restrictions on working dog sports: https://www.change.org/p/erhaltung-des-internationalen-gebrauchshundesport-mondioringsport-in-%C3%B6sterreich
How You Can Help
Signed statements from experts, businesses, service dog handlers, and veterinarians are valuable. If you are in any position to draft one, please get in touch with us!
We Want to Hear Your Opinion!
Whenever possible, we try to discuss with you. At the WUSV, many of our ambassadors, including Jogi Zank, Daniele Strazzeri, Horst-Dieter Träger, Erin O’Shea, and Luca Strässer, met and exchanged ideas with you. You filled out feedback forms and gave us valuable insights into where you see the need for improvement in the sport, particularly in event organization and in the area of judging. We are currently collecting facts and trying to come up with good solutions. It goes without saying, that we want to collaborate with all stakeholders: we want to promote the sport, not work against it! We will keep you posted on any progress!
Clarifying Prejudices
We all need to make an effort to break down prejudices about our dogs and sport in the general public. We are already active on social media, in local press, and at competitions, trying to reach as many people “outside of our bubble” as possible. Even a bouncy castle and some music at a competition can help present dog sports in a better light to local residents. If you need tips and suggestions in this regard, feel free to reach out to us.
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