Saturday/Sunday, 26th/27th of April

(klick at the pictures to see them in original size)
Early the next morning we had to do a 3-hour drive to Lodi, where the back to back Specialty´s of the Great Dane club of Northern California would take place. Linda had to judge nearly 120 Great Danes the first day. Lodi lies inland and has much higher temperature´s then the Bay area about 30° C– a regular heat shock for us after the mild temparature in the bay area of 20° C and extreme conditions for the dogs. However, the exhibitors made themselves and the dogs as comfortable as possible: Seats under sunshades all around the ring, tents with Benches for the dogs in the „second row “. Many had arrived with a motorhome or camper – not the kind of camper you see in our country. In America the exhibitors ride  with „Mobilhomes “ as big as tourist coaches in Europe and in great comfort. If one imagines that almost all exhibitors are „Semi proffesionals “ who earn money with showing dogs on shows, so-called „Handlers “, then one can understand this. In the end, some Handlers drive along the highways during several days to come to a show. Sometimes they already have six and more Great Danes who belong to mostly other people and are only shown by them. So-called „Owner-Handling “, a dog presented by his owner is done allso, they can enter in special owner handeled classes but it is more rare.

Because of the big distances there are mostly two or more special shows with different judges at one venue. The American show-system is a lot differant from ours. There are six instead of five colours: Mantles have their own colour variety. The classes are also different. At first there is the Puppy class with dogs  from six to nine months, then a Puppy class from nine to twelve months. Then follows the class of the dogs from 12 to 18 month. And then it gets extremely different: there is the „Bred by Exhibitor “ class and the American Bred class (dogs who are bred from American blood lines). In all these classes all colour varieties are together in the ring. Then the open classes follow, each of the six colours judged separately. Then from the winners of all these classes the best dog and the best bitch is determined. These receive points (with a mayor's show, to which a certain number of dogs and bitches must be entered, the winner gets 5 points) and with a score of 10 one is an American champion. In addition, there is Veteran class, a „Stud-Dog “ class, a class with brood bitches and a Best of Breed class in witch only Champions can enter, nevertheless they don´t take part for the points but only for the Best of Breed, as this earns them points for the Top Twenty witch is decided at the National.    With all these classes all colour variations were together in the ring again.

There are no written reports by the judge in America – so with a big show a judge has to judge more than 200 dogs. The atmosphere in an American Great Dane show is unusual: Double-Handling is forbidden, it is so quiet that one could hear a pin falling all around the ring. In the showarea no dog barking can be heard, everything is smooth and quiet and self-controlled. All around the ring there is no smoking, and no running around by exhibithors –one can lean back and follow the event totally relaxed. The American breeders and exhibitors gave me a lot of information if I had questions. That is how I found out that there are no breeding-rules and regulations, but only voluntary health testing in America. Who wants to breed, must apply for a kennelname with the American Kennel club (AKC)– that’s all. The AKC has very similar ruling as our VDH or the Dutch Raad van Beheer. Dane clubs are in almost every state in the States. The main club is the GDCA, „Great Dane club of America “ in which you can be a member if two other members support this and they vouch for the integrity, honesty and good citizenship of the member to be.

What was also new for me, was the „photosession “ at the end of the show. The winners of all classes were photographed by a professional photographer, together with the judge, the President of the club and the show-chair and with the prices won. And after the successful first day of show everyone meets at a party in the evening. Besides food and drink, there was  an auction for the benifit of the organising Dane club, and the healthfoundation of the GDCA – a very good idea. Many donate to these auctions pieces of jewellery, Dane-accessories, pictures, statues, magazine subscriptions or also wine. Then all this is auctioned with a lot of bidding and a lot of fun. 4,800 dollars was collected on this evening.

 In the second day of the back to back specialtyshow had a Canadian judge, and Linda and I used the opportunity, to see what his decisions would be, and to speak with the exhibitors. Because during both days with on few exceptions the same dogs are entered, there is only one catalogue in which there is a sidebar printed to enter the result of each day, in which the start number of the dog is printed and you can write down the results. This way an interesting direct comparison comes up.

We concluded the show week-end with a Mexican lunch in Prunedale and we had a lot of fun –above all, because we could eat with our fingers.