|
|
|
|
|
Belgium & Cynology |
|
|
|
|
|
Belgium & Cynology |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Before
discussing and presenting more in detail the leading body of Cynology in
Belgium, which is a federated member of the FCI, some information on the
country and its importance can be useful. KINGDOM
OF BELGIUM Belgium is
one of the smallest countries of Europe, but is very densely populated. It is
a constitutional monarchy, officially called the Kingdom of Belgium.
Sometimes, Belgium is said to be situated in the centre of Europe, which of
course is totally wrong. I think that, when we look carefully at the map of
Europe, Vienna, much more than Brussels, is entitled to be called the centre
of Europe. Therefore, the last years, we see more and more that Belgium
recommends itself by the catch phrase ‘the heart of Europe’, a title and a
term which is safer, because less ‘geometrically wrong’, but once
again very controversial. In fact, I have seen in the official FCI-magazine
that still other countries claim to be situated in the heart of Europe.
Perhaps there can be some agreement with the statement that its location has
made Belgium the economic and urban ‘nerve centre’ of Europe. In any case,
it can truly be said that Belgium is located at the crossroads of Latin and
Germanic Europe. The northern part of the country, referred to as Flanders,
has a Dutch-speaking population, and the southern region, known as Wallonia,
is French-speaking. German is the official language in the so-called Eastern
Cantons and Brussels is bilingual.As to the history of the country, Belgium,
which became independent (from the Netherlands) in 1830, sometimes is
described as ‘the battle field of Europe’. Indeed, Belgium or its
territory has continuously been ‘under the rule’, dominated or occupied by
a whole series of more powerful countries, such as Spain, Austria, France, the
Netherlands and Germany. So, we can say that the ‘hospitality’ of Belgium
is ‘legendary’ and perhaps historically explainable. We can give
now the following essential information on the geography of Belgium, the
people and the political subdivisions: Country
name: (Kingdom of) Belgium. Websites : www.vlaanderen.be;
www.wallonie.be; www.belgium.com;
www.visitbelgium.com.
The very first dog show in the world took place in Belgium, on Friday 28 May
1847 in Tervueren, not on 30 June 1859 in Newcastle, as has been published in
most dog books! At this first show only hunting dogs were entered. PRESENT
DAY ORGANISATION OF BELGIAN CYNOLOGY First of all we can give an ‘organigram’ (schematic figuration) and the names (short and long forms) and abbreviations in English, Dutch and French, of the leading organisations and commissions:
KMSH:
Koninklijke Maatschappij Sint-Hubertus Website: www.kmsh.be
or www.srsh.be V.d.A.:
Vergadering der Afgevaardigden van de KKUSH K.R. :
Kynologische Raad van de KKUSH Tuchtcommissie
– Commission de Discipline – Commission for Discipline K.B.C. :
Keurmeesters Benoemingscommissie
You may believe it or not, but explaining the structure of the Belgian
cynological organisation is not only difficult, but even rather delicate.
Susceptibilities can even be wounded. In fact, in Belgium, passionate
discussions can arise whether or the Union or the Society are the most
important organisations governing canine affairs. A ‘cynologist’ or canine
personality in Belgium very often is regarded as a typical member and defender
of exclusively either the Union or the Society. Fortunately, many members of
our canine committees and/or commissions consider themselves simply as
representatives, delegates or defenders of ‘Saint-Hubert’, which is the
short name to designate the overall organisation which is affiliated to the
F.C.I.
At the present time, Belgian cynology is governed by one single organisation
called ‘Royal Cynological Union St. Hubert’. This Union consists of the
‘Assembly of Delegates’ and the ‘Royal Society St. Hubert’, both of
which are represented in the ‘Cynological Council’. No regulations
whatsoever can become effective without having first been approved by the
committees of the ‘Assembly of Delegates’ and of the ‘Cynological
Council’.
Let us have now a closer look at the competences and responsibilities of all
these bodies governing canine affairs in Belgium (see above the ‘organigram’).
The ‘Cynological Council’ is composed of 14 members, of which the
presidents and the general secretaries of the Royal Society and the Assembly
of Delegates, five members nominated by the Board of Management of the Royal
Society and five members nominated by the committee of the Assembly of
Delegates. The so-called ‘bureau’ (daily management) consists of one
president and one secretary, chosen by its members, but the president must be
a member of the Royal Society.
The ‘Assembly
of Delegates’ groups together the Belgian canine associations or clubs.
Its purpose is to study all matters likely to promote amateur dog sport and it
is also responsible for the organisational regulations necessary for this
purpose.
In political/governing terms the ‘Assembly of Delegates’ could be called
the Chamber of Representatives and the ‘Cynological Council’ the Senate
(the 2nd chamber). In any case, these two bodies are equally competent.
The Society has
the following responsibilities and competences: - Editing the
Stud Book. THE
BELGIAN STUD BOOK
In 1882 the Society Saint-Hubert was established for the purpose of improving
canine breeds and one of the first projects was the creation of a Stud Book,
the ‘Livre des Origines Saint-Hubert’, abbreviated as L.O.S.H., which was
modelled after the Stud Book of the Kennel Club of London. The first volume,
with registrations up to the end of 1882, was published in 1883. Since
then, the L.O.S.H. has been published regularly, except during the two World
Wars. In this Stud Book the dogs with known ancestry (at least four
generations) are registered, and for this reason it is called a ‘closed
register’. The last L.O.S.H. is the 107th volume of 2000.
The A.L.S.H. (Annexe au Livre des Origines Saint-Hubert) is an annex Stud
Book, in which dogs are registered whose parents are known (thus at least the
first generation), or dogs from recently created breeds, or dogs from
not-allowed cross-breedings. When four generations of the ancestors are known,
the dogs are transcribed automatically to the L.O.S.H. register.
The R.I.S.H. (Registre initial Saint-Hubert) is an ‘open register’, in
which dogs from unknown origin can be entered, if their appearance is in
conformity with the breed standard. This register also contains dog breeds
‘in reconstruction’, such as the Bouvier des Ardennes.
The Belgian Stud Book now represents an enrolment of about 900.000 dogs, and
an average of about 23.000 new registrations are being added each year.
*Without
R.I.S.H.
In the Stud Book 2001 (not yet published), 21.949 dogs will be registered. Hit-parade
of the most popular breeds in Belgium On the left
side of the table the average breed ranking and the average numbers of
registrations a year in the Belgian Stud Book are given for a 12-years period
((1990-2001), and on the right side the breed ranking and the numbers of
registrations in 2001.
* The
following breeds, not mentioned in the right column, belonged to the top-25 in
2001 (ranking is given, breed name and number of registrations between
brackets): Show and trial activities
Over thousand official
events are held each year, with the participation of approximately 85.000
dogs. The great majority of these activities are shows and working trials or
tests. Shows:
A total of 125 shows with more than 30.000 entries are organised each
year, the most important being 9 CAC-CACIB and 4 CAC-shows. Each year
there are also four or five ‘open’ all-breeds shows and approximately 15
‘Club matches’. The great majority of the shows are specialty shows, for
one breed or a breed group. Belgian
Regulations:
Since October 1, 2001, ear cropping is forbidden in Belgium. Tail
docking is still allowed until January 1, 2006. Trials:
Each year between 900 and 1000 trials are organised, with about 55000 entries.
These trials or tests are held for hunting dogs (field trials), guard and
defence dogs (the in Belgium very popular Ring Sport program and IPO, the
international working regulations, two programs which properly speaking are
aimed at the advanced or competitive trainer). The obedience trials (companion
dog program) are unbelievably popular and are suitable for dogs of all breeds,
which can be trained either to the elementary level or to advanced obedience
trials. Agility trials also have become extremely popular. Other
tests or trials:
Each year a lot of ‘breed selection days’ (breed surveys) are organised by
the breed clubs. After having been successfully judged, the dogs can obtain a
‘suitability for breeding certificate’.
Belgium is a small country, nevertheless the Belgian fanciers may be proud of
their 10 national breeds or 14 different ‘dog versions’ when including the
varieties. Most of them are highly appreciated all over the world. Of three of
these breeds Belgium is the ‘country of origin’ together with France. Belgian
Shepherd dog (Malinois, Tervueren, Groenendael and Laekenois) (Group
1, Section 1)
We may assume that this breed is the pre-eminent Belgian national breed,
because of its popularity (in Belgium only surpassed by the German Shepherd
dog) and fame all over the world. It is the only breed name with the adjective
‘Belgian’. The Belgian Shepherd Dog Club was formed in Brussels on 29
September, 1891, which means 8 years earlier than the foundation of the parent
club of the German Shepherd in Germany (Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde). References: Schipperke
(Group 1, Section 1) The
Schipperke, a wholly black little shepherd dog (in Flemish dialect Schipperke
means ‘little shepherd dog’), and the Belgian Shepherd have a common
ancestor, the ‘Leuvenaar’, an extinct Belgian breed, whose name means
‘inhabitant of Louvain’. Reference:
‘Schipperke’, Dr. R. Pollet, Interpet Publishing, 157 pages.
Because the Bouvier
originated in Flanders, but as well Belgian as French Flanders, the breed is
considered to be Belgian and French. In Dutch the breed is officially named
‘Vlaamse Koehond’ (Flemish cow dog) and sometimes ‘Vlaanderse Veedrijver’
(cattle drover of Flanders). In the Netherlands in the early 1980’s the
Bouvier even was the most popular breed, more popular than the German
shepherd, what really seemed to be unbelievable. Reference:
‘Bouvier des Flandres’, Dr. R. Pollet, Interpet Publishing, 157 pages.
After 1910, in the Belgian Ardennes, a smaller cowdog developed, the Bouvier
des Ardennes (in Dutch ‘Ardense Koehond’), which, just as the Bouvier des
Flandres, is a compactly built and harsh-coated cattle dog, but with
naturally standing uncropped ears.
The Chien de Saint-Hubert, in Dutch ‘Sint-Hubertushond’, in English St.
Hubert Hound, originated in the Belgian Ardennes. The official breed name in
English is ‘Bloodhound’. Griffons
(Brussels Griffon, Belgian Griffon and Brabançon Griffon) (Group
9, Section 3)
The collective noun ‘Griffons’ designates three toy dogs, which
morphologically are identical. Nevertheless, the F.C.I. recognises them as
three separate breeds and not as varieties. The ‘Griffon Bruxellois’
(Brussels Griffon, in Dutch Brussels Griffonnetje) is rough-haired and
red, the ‘Griffon Belge’ (Belgian Griffon, in Dutch Belgisch Griffonnetje)
is rough-haired and black or black and tan, and the ‘Petit Brabançon’ (Brabançon
Griffon or Small Brabant Griffon, in Dutch Klein Brabandertje), is
short-haired and the coat may have the colours as in the rough- haired. The
three breeds can be born in the same litter. Epagneul
nain continental (Papillon and Phalène) (Group
9, Section 9)
This toy dog, a Franco-Belgian breed, in English ‘Continental Toy Spaniel’
and in Dutch Continentale Dwergspaniel, is a Belgian-French breed. There are
two varieties. The original and oldest variety is the Phalène (in Dutch
‘Nachtvlinderhondje’), with drooping ears, carried much like the folded
wings of the moth. This variety almost disappeared around 1980. The Papillon
(in Dutch ‘Vlinderhondje’), is the variety with erect, fringed ears which
resemble the wings of a butterfly. Phalène is the French word for
(night-)moth, and Papillon means ‘butterfly’. Bichon
Frisé (Group
9, Section 1.1) This Bichon, full name in French ‘Bichon à poil frisé’ (means ‘curly-coated Bichon’), in Dutch ‘’Krulharige Bichon’, is a Belgian-French breed. Until World War I the Bichon Frisé was very popular in Belgium. Unfortunately, after World War II, the popularity of the Bichon Frisé dramatically decreased and the breed had to be revived, as well in Belgium as in France. Yearly
registered average number of litters of the Belgian breeds. The averages
(figures on the left) are calculated from the registrations in the Belgian
Stud Books during a 5-years period (from 1996 to 2000): In the column
on the right the breed ranking and the number of registrations in 2001 are
given.
(*) (last
year 6) (**) (in 2000 : 33) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
