3rd Löwchen World Congress / French Speciality 2014

28. februar 2014 13.13

3rd World Congress afterthoughts:

It was hard to get back to reality after fabulous week in France.This week will be something I will remember the rest of my days. I do have to admit I did have quite big expectations for the successful congress, but it went beyond my wildest expectations. I did not expect to find so warm and welcoming atmosphere and generous hospitality. The service and food at the hotel was divine, everybody there were so kind and did want to communicate. But The French Bichon - Lowchen club did just blow my mind! We were taken in like part of the family, we foreigners - who just happen to love the same breed.

Let's face it, some French Lowchens do look quite different to other lowchens around, and their breeding instructions/regulations have made breeders' work very hard. Two years ago the first thoughts were raised over French Congress and last week it became reality, and the engine behind being Sylvie Soula. Her commitment and love to our breed pulled this congress together and what a congress it was!

I want to give my sincere thank you to the whole French club led by president Annie Veyrier and vice-president Marie-Christine Bodson together with Sylvie for their open mindedness and specially for making our stay so very pleasant. I really hope that this is only the start of fruity co-operation for the future of our breed!

Other people I feel have to be pulled out are Janet King for planting the seed of change many years ago. Janet is a legend in our breed and have been battling against windmills in France when the ground was not fertile enough for change, but seed of change was planted many years back not during this week. Hélène Percherancier's(Toto des Fayettes) love for the breed and eager to learn more about it is shining thru so clearly and special thank you for making me smile everytime I think of you and last but not in any count least, the best and funniest translator I have ever met in my life -Mireille Poupard. Without your quick reflections and super sence of humor the congress would have not been the same!

I did travel together with Marina Gross who was once again the perfect travel companion and I dare to say for us both: we had fabulous time! THANK YOU FRANCE!

It was arranged 4 shows during this week and we did it REALLY well! So happy with two new French Champions!!! Big hank you Bodil Bråten that I could borrow Pekka for this trip! -Jari