Welt-Hundeausstellung in Bologna/Italien

We’d known for a long time that this was happening: Worlddogshow in Bologna. Italy is always a dream destination and well worth a visit. Then the list of judges was announced, and it was immediately clear to me: there’s no point in entering! Two unknown Italian judges and a Finnish all-rounder…

But going there as a tourist is certainly a lovely idea. So I booked the flight and hotel in February, without realising that we would have two litters. Paul wanted me to go because he knows I enjoy it. Together with Martina Weissmann, we travelled from Eindhoven to Bologna on Thursday 4 June 2026. A flight of just 1.5 hours, with 28 degrees and sunshine on arrival. It was cold in Eindhoven and there was a bit of rain.

We spent Thursday afternoon and Friday exploring this wonderful city. Bologna is a dream: so many beautiful old buildings, the most delicious ice cream in the world, and food and drink everywhere you look. What more could you ask for? On Friday evening, we met up with Maree Aitchison and her friend Georgie Hoare. Both had travelled from Tasmania, Australia. It was a wonderful evening.

A rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of Bologna

followed by 2 Limoncello Spritz

You can find delicious food anywhere and everywhere in Bologna.

Pasta                                                                                                                                      delicious tomatoes

Parma ham and Parmesan cheese

Such a wide variety of fresh vegetables and the tastiest garlic

Saturday was dedicated to the ENCI Winner and the club show. The day began at 8 am with the judging of the OES Special Show, followed by the ENCI Winner at around 3.30 pm. The results, photos and videos are all available on my Facebook page: Cornelia Loest

Chairs were in short supply at this exhibition! The only places with chairs were in the centre of the piazza by the coffee stand and on the benches outside the snack stands.

I was lucky enough to be allowed to use a chair from the Bearded Collie ring. Well, there are advantages to being old.

In between, we visited the hall where all the stands of the international kennel clubs and breed clubs were located. The stand of the Italian OES Club was beautifully decorated, and they were serving Prosecco and the most delicious Italian biscuits.

On Saturday evening, we met up with the Irish Girls. Justina and her sister Monika took over my famous ‘Firstprizebears’ Bearded Collie kennel three years ago now. It was lovely and great fun.

Those are the days when you get up at 5.30 and fall into bed dead tired around midnight.

Sunday was the day of the World Dog Show for the OES, with 25 dogs judged by the Finnish judge. I recorded the whole thing via the Facebook livestream. You can watch the judging there. By midday, the judging for both breeds was complete. For the OES, the result was as expected, but for the Beardies, it was simply dreadful. The breed no longer matches the description in the breed standard, and the judges forgot to read the standard before judging. A real shame. A very beautiful bitch from the intermediate class had my full attention; only the judge failed to recognise her outstanding breed characteristics.

Our day at the World Dog Show was over and we spent the afternoon in Bologna, where it was 30 degrees. Our flight back to Eindhoven left at 9 pm, and we were back in Maaseik by 12.30 am.

It was lovely.