Mr Schwab, this is not the first time you are appointed WDS observer; the last time was in Paris, the highest entries ever for an FCI WDS with 21,718 dogs. Milan almost matched the record with an entry of 19,952. What comment do these figures inspire you?

Clearly, the stature of the World Shows has grown significantly. However, I think these registrations around the 20,000 mark are the maximum we can hope for. What is more, a successful show does not always depend on the number of entries, but on the service we can provide to the exhibitors and their dogs.
Differences of a few hundred dogs entered are undoubtedly due to geographical factors, the time of year and particularly, in recent years, the critical political and security situations in the different countries.

In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of the connection with the Expo Milano 2015?

I don’t really see either pros or cons with regard to the Milan Universal Exhibition. Exhibitors and visitors at the World Dog Show clearly have different interests. The World Show exhibitors will have a week full of travelling and work and won’t really want to tire out their dogs or themselves. Once the visitors to the Milan Universal Exhibition have been to the pavilions of the different countries, they won’t feel much like another visit to the dog show. The various press bodies were probably the only ones to profit from a single trip to both events.

Do you have any special comment about the venue?

There’s really nothing to criticise with regard to the exhibition halls. What a size!!! A ring of honour that is almost too large, a pleasant temperature, plenty of room for visitors, a multitude of stands, information points in every hall, the layout and surface of the rings, good toilet facilities, the ability to walk your dog outside and, above all, the clean and hygienic surfaces, both indoors and outdoors: perfect.

Would you say that this WDS ran smoothly for all (exhibitors, judges, visitors, press,…)?

Apart from a few disappointed, worked-up and aggressive exhibitors who were disposed to argue about nothing and caused the police to be called, I felt very comfortable with everything and was perfectly satisfied. I came back to Luxembourg on Monday telling myself: mission accomplished!
I can only congratulate the ENCI for their outstanding organisation. Bravo and all the best for the future.

Thank you, Mr Schwab, for this interview!

Interview: Marie Luna Durán
FCI Marketing and Public Relations Manager