The top prize of the Gipuzkoa International Dog Show has traveled from Irun to Paris. Unity, a male Yorkshire terrier from the French capital, was recognized as the 'Best in Show', the top dog of the exhibition, at Ficoba. His owner, from the 'Let's go baby' kennel, expressed immense pride in Unity while holding him alongside the trophy donated by the Royal House and the rosette that certified his victory.
The small, gleaming-coated winner topped a unique podium: in second place was a striking Portuguese Water Dog, a medium-sized breed; and in third, a large and majestic Newfoundland. In this instance, the smallest competitor took home the biggest prize. This achievement came in the final round, where the top ten dogs from each group competed. Besides the three mentioned, seven other breeds, including the Australian Shepherd, German Shorthaired Pointer, Miniature Poodle, and Dachshund, reached this final stage. This concluding round marked the end of an intense and dog-filled weekend at Ficoba, organized by the Gipuzkoa Canine Society.
Approximately 1,200 dogs paraded through the exhibition halls between Saturday and Sunday; on yesterday's session, which was the International Exhibition following the previous day's National Exhibition, the number was around 700.
This year's event was notably international, featuring judges from the United Kingdom, France, and Finland, and dogs participating from these same countries. As an example, the winning Yorkshire terrier's journey: the Parisian dog «was chosen as best in group by a judge from England, and as 'Best in Show' by a judge from Finland. It was a truly international competition,» summarized the president of the Gipuzkoa Canine Society.
After two intense days, the president of the Gipuzkoa Canine Society stated that «we have met our expectations. We are very happy. There was a great atmosphere, a large audience, people had a good time, and we spent the weekend surrounded by dogs, which is what matters.»
This weekend's exhibitions showcased impressive specimens of breeds such as the Giant Poodle and Siberian Husky, with a special focus on the Euskal artzain txakurra (Basque Shepherd Dog), considered vulnerable. Currently, there are not much more than five hundred examples of this breed, which experts describe as «wonderful,» characterized by its friendliness and family attachment. Another breed that was quite common years ago but is now less frequently seen is that of the winner, the Yorkshire terrier. Among those with the strongest presence at Ficoba were bulldogs, chihuahuas, dachshunds, Siberian Huskies, and whippets.
The Gipuzkoa Canine Society also highlighted the demonstrations included in the event's program, carried out by a special unit of the Guardia Civil from Madrid, which brought its specialized dogs for rescue, drug detection, and other substances to Ficoba.
