Reflection on the EDS

Maybe I am a bit old fashioned... but shouldn't European style dogs that conform to the FCI standard win at the European Dog Show?

One would think. 

When I saw the online results for standard wirehaired dachshunds yesterday I was a bit shattered for a number of reasons:

1.) A very small showing of Standard wires... only 48 and some were absent. There are clubshows in Sweden that regularly have larger entries. The miniature AND kaninchen wires had more entries. I find that crazy. Was it due to the judge? Are people starting to shy away from the big shows? It has been a lot about faces and handlers in the past years...

2.) I expected to see some of the bigger name kennels... but many were seemingly absent. I don't know the reason for this, but I can say that I know I was not familiar with many of the judges names that I saw on dachshunds at EDS. Often, the international shows are opting out of breed specialists and trying to stretch their money by instead bringing in all-arounders. It is a sad reality and often the dogs that represent the standard best are overlooked, whether it be by handling,  "flashy-ness", or face.

3.) NONE of the winning dogs at the EDS this year were of full European blood. I actually did a double take when I saw the names of the winners... American and Brazilian lines and kennels dominated. 

As a lover of the old European style and firm believer that a dachshund isn't a dachshund without hunt, these results made me extremely sad. Admittedly, I do find myself ooo-ing and ahhh-ing sometimes over a dog with similar bloodlines to the winners, but the reality is, that is not what I strive for in my future breeding. I want a dog that will go to ground, track blood, and willingly and vocally chase hares and deer. Do I have the perfect dogs? No, far from it. They are excellent dogs in their own rights and I wish I could mix and match them all. Take the hunting drive from Fred, the looks from Bax, and the grace and movement from Liina. Who knows, years down the line I may have the opportunity to realize this dream. Do I strive for a World Winner Dog? Sure, who doesn't. The reality is that I want to stay true to my breed, whether or not they are the most beautiful dog in the world. I want a dog that hunts and, specifically, can maintain the courage and ability to hunt under ground and remains functional, without exaggerations. 

I fear that the dachshund may go the way of so many other dogs... labrador, german shepards, etc... and be ruined by the show ring. We don't need "show" dachshunds and "working" dachshunds. 

They should be one in the same.

*Note: The comments and posts are my personal opinion.*