Shows in Oktober 2025

In October, my calendar only has one exhibition scheduled. That’s just not enough! Martina Weissmann registered her “Tilly” for a long show weekend at the beginning of October in Geneva, Switzerland. Since I find “Tilly” beautiful, I actually wanted to exhibit her myself. But I didn’t feel like making the long car trip to Geneva! First, I had to ask dear Martina if she was okay with me coming along. She was really happy about it! Then I booked a flight from Düsseldorf to Geneva. However, I had to fly back on Saturday evening because we had a “cruise” with brunch on the Rhine on Sunday morning.

No sooner said than done. I asked Martina about a hotel. She had already booked one, surprised me, and gifted me a room in her hotel.

I arrived at the hotel at 2 pm, after flying out of Düsseldorf at 7 am and changing planes in Zurich. Unfortunately, Martina only arrived around 5 pm and walked through the entire parking garage without socks. Her feet were black and gray, and I was close to a nervous breakdown.

After the luggage was in Martina’s room, Martina had to go into the shower with “Tilly” to wash her feet and beard. Several towels had to be used for drying, and then we started blow-drying and brushing “Tilly” completely. Actually, I wanted to go to Lake Geneva with Martina and have a nice meal somewhere.

We ended up with a disgusting pizza at the hotel and a pumpkin soup that could have been sold as tomato soup. It was truly awful, and we preferred to go to bed hungry.

On Friday morning, entry was at 7 am, the first exhibition started at 8:30 with judging, and the second show on the same day started at 1 pm.

The alarm went off at 5:30, and we stood in front of the hall at 6:30 without breakfast. The breakfast was also terrible. We only took 2 boiled eggs, you can’t go wrong with that. We wanted to offer “Tilly” some boiled ham for breakfast, but she didn’t want to eat it.

The first CAC show was judged by the famous all-rounder Mr. Heinische from Finland. Only 3 OES were registered: 1 male and 1 female in the open class, and “Tilly” in the champion class.

We were more than satisfied “West Side Story aus dem Elbe-Urstromtal” became Best of Breed, Best Male “U2 of Reality Dream”

We were done with judging by 9 am, unfortunately there was no honor ring for the CAC show.

We spent the time with an excellent warm lunch at the exhibition. That was urgently needed, as we were hungry. For breakfast, we treated ourselves to 2 cups of tea for 7 euros.

At 2 pm, another Finnish judge, Mrs. Ylä-Mononu, judged. There was another female in the youth class.

This time it was the other way around: The male became Best of Breed and “Tilly” Best Female. This judge also judged Group 1 and made the dog 2nd in Group 1. That’s always bad for the next 2 days. Because the other judges orient themselves by what happens in the honor ring, and if they have no idea about the breed, they always play it safe and let the same dog win BOB again. Believe me, after 53 years in the show ring, I know the ins and outs of the business.

“West Side Story aus dem Elbe-Urstromtal” became Best Female, Best of Breed “U2 of Reality Dream”

It was 2 pm, and we had nothing left to do at the show. There wasn’t much to see. We decided to leave “Tilly” at the hotel, who was tired, and took the bus, which leaves directly from the hotel, to Geneva to the beautiful Lake Geneva. The water fountain on the lake shoots up 140 meters and pumps 500 liters of water per second.

A little alcohol was needed. We urgently needed the famous Swiss chocolate and a few macarons from Ladure, nothing better. That was our dinner.

Back by bus, but first got on in the wrong direction and ended up at the final stop. The next morning, entry was only at 7 am, as there was only 1 show, as on Sunday. However, I had to bring my luggage to Martina’s room in the morning because I wanted to be at the airport by 4 pm. My flight was at 6 pm via Frankfurt back to Düsseldorf.

On Saturday, the Turkish all-rounder Mr. O. Belkis judged, and did exactly what I had feared.

“West Side Story aus dem Elbe-Urstromtal” became Best Female, Best of Breed “U2 of Reality Dream”

The beautiful Tilly “Ch. West Side Story aus dem Elbe-Urstromtal” earned the title “Swiss Beauty Champion” with this 3rd win

On Sunday, the Frenchman Mr. Kramer judged the breed and the group. I can see into the future and knew that the male from France would win BOB and Group 1 with him. Imagine, I CAN SEE INTO THE FUTURE!!! And that’s exactly how it was! The male BOB and “Tilly” BOS

We had a bit of small talk with nice people we knew and then went over to the IBIS hotel. Martina accompanied me to the airport and there we really enjoyed ourselves with a late lunch overlooking the runway. Breakfast was unfortunately terrible again and 2 hard-boiled eggs kept us going until 4 pm.

At around 6:30 pm I took off in strong winds, it was quite a bumpy ride. Landed on time in Frankfurt, but only had 50 minutes to change planes. That was tough!!! From A38 to Gate B16 was about 1.4 km with hand luggage. I had muscle soreness for 3 days from all the stress with stairs up and down. After the plane was ready to depart, we all had to get off again because one oxygen mask wasn’t working. Bus ride again, more stairs, then back on the same bus and to the replacement flight. It was close! We took off at 10:50 pm. Frankfurt airport closes at 11 pm! Sometime around 11:45 pm landed in Düsseldorf. Got the car and arrived home at 1:30 am.

The alarm rang at 7 am, because Paul and I had a brunch cruise on the Rhine with friends in Düsseldorf at 9:30 am.

When someone goes on a journey.

Our little “Y’Limmerick aus dem Elbe-Urstromtal” passed his first show with flying colors at 7 months old in the puppy class. At a show in Lithuania, he became Best Puppy. Congratulations to his proud owners, the Gerulis family.

The CACIB in Leuven/BEL only had 2 OES entered. Mr. Tomas Rohlin from Denmark judged our two OES. My dear Martina Weissmann made her way from Ottweiler in Saarland to exhibit with me.

It was, of course, successful:

Best of Breed was “X’Texas El Paso aus dem Elbe-Urstromtal, just 19 months old

Best Female “West Side Story aus dem Elbe-Urstromtal” Owner Martina Weissmann

Judge Mr. Rohlin

In the morning  at 9:45 am we were done with judging, the honor ring started at 3 pm and Martina stayed with me instead of driving straight home. As always, it was very harmonious.

I was able to get some “office” work done…

Martina took great photos of Peter and me. The Swedish judge Mrs. Östergard judged Group 1 and we became 4th Best in Group.

Photo Mike Dols