Offenburg (dpa / lsw) – At the international pedigree dog exhibition in Offenburg (Ortenaukreis), the experts and jurors this time look very closely at the whiskers, in technical jargon: vibrissae. With a new animal protection dog ordinance there is an official basis for this, said the 1st chairman of the Baden-Württemberg State Association for Dogs, Ulrich Reidenbach.
For the show on July 16th and 17th at the Offenburg exhibition center there is still an exception, according to which vibrissae that clearly grow back are also accepted. For all other exhibitions in Baden-Württemberg, only dogs with complete touch and whiskers would be allowed, said Reidenbach.
Even before the change in the animal protection dog ordinance, according to the state association, it was not permitted to shear off the vibrissae. But that was interpreted very differently, said the head of the association. According to him, poodles and other dog breeds that are regularly shorn or whose fur is trimmed are particularly affected.
About 1400 dogs from Germany and abroad are registered for the pedigree dog exhibition. Every year the association organizes two international and one national pedigree dog exhibition in Offenburg and Karlsruhe. The edition now is the 33rd Ortenau show.
