Vrnjacka Banja stands out as one of the most beautiful locations in Serbia, which is why we broke our rule about avoiding long travels for dog shows.
We brought our young dogs, Astor and Astra, to gain “ring experience” and to make high-quality photos and videos before and after the event.
The June sun pushed temperatures above 30°C, forcing us to move the dogs into the deep shade of the spa park to keep them cool.
Despite these challenges, they surprised us – beyond the excellent grades we aimed for, Astra won CAJC title!
Who Judged the Dogs at CAC Vrnjacka Banja?
These are the FCI judges who were in the rings at the National Dog Show Vrnjacka Banja:
Judges | FCI Group |
|---|---|
Sunčica Lazić | I & part of II |
Pero Ćelebić | II |
Vladimir Mihaljčić | III, Show Terrier tip Bull |
Mića Nikolić | VI |
Goran Đorđević | VII |
Dragan Ristić | VIII |
Siniša Sančanin | IV, V, IX & X |
What Happened Inside the Ring?
Pero Celabic was the FCI judge for our dogs, and he also judged German Shepherds, Bullmastiffs, Dogo Argentinos, Shar Peis, Saint Bernards, and Presa Canarios.
He showed good knowledge of the breed, but during the ranking and explanation of his decisions, he made a few mistakes that show he is not a “specialist” for the Sarplaninac. When I say mistakes, I mean the comparison of dogs inside the ring, not the description!
I liked how he approached every dog – checking coat length, chest depth, teeth …
I also highly appreciate when dog show judges give a clear and loud explanation of their decision that gets written down on paper!
During the ranking, he asked us to make several laps inside the ring with short breaks (don’t forget, the temperature was over 30°C).
Unfortunately, our dogs did not have ring training – Astor had a somewhat “stiff” approach, and Astra was too eager to play with other dogs while moving, which is certainly not good.
A Small Detail the Judge Spotted Right Away
The judge pointed out a small problem during the movement. If you watch the video below (0:23 – 0:26 seconds), you will see Astra flinch slightly while she is moving.
This happened because of how my father held the leash.
The judge spotted it right away and asked my father to make one more lap.
Breeding Pair
We entered Astor and Astra in Best in Show as a breeding pair.
Honestly, we didn’t expect to win a place because our goal was just to get a few scenes for a video clip.
The competition was serious, and it was a real pleasure to watch those dogs in the ring. Astor and Astra left a positive impression on the crowd.
How to Stand Out During the Dog Show Rankings?
As you can see, our dogs are dark gray, and it is recommended for the handler to wear light-colored clothes. This contrast helps you stand out from the crowd and catch the eye of the judge and the public during ranking.
My father did not follow this rule because we had clearly defined goals before going to Vrnjacka Banja.
However, if you want your pet to get the best possible placement, pay attention to your styling and the color contrast.
You can see how they looked in their short summer coats in the gallery below.
Final Word
The National Dog Show CAC Vrnjačka Banja took place on June 30, 2012, organized by Kennel Club “Vrnjci.” We carry nice memories from this event; the number of exhibitors and the attendance were at a high level.
Astor and Astra met our expectations, but we saw some gaps in their socialization and ring training.
Judge’s decisions must be respected whether we like them or not, but we also keep the right to give a “review” of the events inside and outside the ring.
Finally, I highly recommend visiting Vrnjacka Banja to see for yourself why it is among the TOP 5 destinations in Serbia.
