So we were in Slovakia. On Sunday 4th July, 2000 was held the "European show of Czechoslowakian wolfdog" in Nitra, SK, managed by Slovakian Club of Czechoslowakian wolfdog. As refferee was invited Ing. Monika Soukupova. I was very surprised with some things at this show, and I have to share my deep experiences with you. But first I have to say, that I am no genetist, no vetenarian and no kynological specialist. All I will write you here, is only my opinion as a laic.

My first surprise was, that on this, for the breed practicaly most important dog show in Slovakia, were no members of management of the Slovakian Club (except Mrs. Kollarova), although on Saturday they were there all (on Saturday was held the International dog show). At a dog show with this name, I would suppose presentation not only of owners of dogs, but also the management of the Club. Or they didn´t want to meet us ?

The presence on the show was high (more than 20 dogs), including one from foreign country (Edit Molnar from Hungary). There was nobody from other countries, which made me to think about that, if it is neccessary to name the show "European", when it is practicaly only club show of the Slovakian Club. Wouldn´t be better to stay on ground and don´t try to present something, what is impossible to do ?

I was very dissapointed from the quality of presented dogs. Of course, there were also very nice and quality animals, but more than a half of dogs made me feeling sad. For the first sight, it looked like the best of the breed will be showed - short ears and tails, perfect mascs, standard colour of eyes and so on. Looking closer, I realised, there is something wrong on them. I thought, they just are not in condition, but after some discussions with owners I found, that it was not the truth. But weak body construction, small high and dog without muscles, what could cause that ? I was also very surprised, that in the catalogue is mentioned less bitches, than I could see on the show. To my surprise, many of "bitches" were male dogs. With only one fault - they have no sexual signs. I began to realise it all. Then I got to my hands the pedigree of one of showed dogs and I realised everything - narrow breeding of relatives. Don´t be fooled, you will not read about this anywhere. This plague of current dog population (not only of Czechoslowakian wolfdogs) hides under different names. Most often is is masked as a "line breeding". Unfortunately, our Slovakian friends forgot the mistakes of past (we all know the trouble with "Rep z PS" and they repeat them in the present time.

The most tragical was for me, when I realised, that most of breeders I have talked with at the show, agrees with using the "line breeding" and that they consider it for the only way of future breeding. I also heard the unbeliavable opinion, that narrow breeding of relatives extends the genetical potential of dogs etc. But the results of "line breeding" are already visible on the dogs. Except the above mentioned signs in the exterier of dogs, the number of dogs alowed to enter the breeding goes down, and what is the worst, the number of litters too. The situation is probably so bad, that during the bonitations are disobeyed the basics of standard of the breed (see the results of bonitation on August 14, 1999, mentioned in Bulletin 3/99, where is allowed to breed an animal with high 58 cm!).

I realised, why there is long time impossible to get breeding datas about Slovakian population and why even the management of our Club doesn´t have them. The secret would be opened to everybody. In this situation, it would be only logical to open itself to other countries and use maximally in breeding "the fresh blood". But the management of Slovakian Club choosed right the opposite way. It made administration obstacles for using the foreign dogs in breeding. In spite of that, some smart breeders try to cover their bitches in foreign country and to get the permit from their club, but it is still without result.

So let´s wish that next year in Nitra the reasonable opinion of Slovakian Club will be found and that the guarant of the breed will go as an good example in quality of breeding.

Pavel Hanuska