At the event’s press conference in Budapest on Monday, President of the Hungarian Kennel Club András Korózs told reporters that over 16 thousand dogs from 57 countries will be arriving for the event, which will be hosted by the HUNGEXPO Conference and Exhibition Centre in Budapest. The largest number of entries have been received by Hungary, with over 3 thousand Hungarian dogs expected to take part. Detailing specific dog breeds, he added that the most popular breed of dog entered into the event is the golden retriever.

The European Dog Show is one of the most important international dog exhibitions, and is held annually. The show is enriched by professional programs and special events organised by breed associations and club shows, including the World Cup of Hungarian National Dog Breeds, which will be held on 30 December. As Mr. Korózs highlighted, 360 dogs have been entered in the World Cup, which is an outstanding number in comparison to recent years.

Government Commissioner Zoltán Kovács recalled that the event, which had been originally planned for May, had to be postponed until the end of December because of the pandemic and for organisational reasons, and accordingly it was decided that the FCI European Dog Show would be the closing event of the “One with Nature” World of Hunting and Nature Exhibition.

Ministerial Commissioner for the Renewal and Implementation of the National Animal Welfare Program Péter Ovádi reminded the press that in November Hungary’s Parliament adopted one of the strictest animal protection acts in Europe. “In the Act that will be coming into force on 1 January 2022, which is a milestone in Hungarian animal welfare, in cooperation with the Hungarian Kennel Club we defined in a manner that is unique in Europe who constitutes an illegal breeder”, Mr. Ovádi pointed out.

The Minister of Agriculture’s Ministerial Commissioner for the Supervision of Priority National Values Zsolt V. Németh told the press that in addition to animal welfare, magisterial and gene preservation professional tasks, one of the office’s most important activities is to draw attention to Hungarian dog breeds. “Since it is also important for future generations to get to know the breeds that have become part of our history, in 2019 the Hungarian Kennel Club launched a major school program to present Hungarian breeds to primary school students”, he explained, adding that the most beautiful representatives of the Hungarian breeds will also be on show at the event.

KDNP parliamentary group leader and member of the Hungaricum Committee István Simicskó praised Hungary’s nine national dog breeds, calling them an irreplaceable national treasure in his speech.

Deputy Rector of the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences Dávid Mezőszentgyörgyi reported on the fact that a two-year cynology (dog studies) course will be beginning at the university from September 2022. “We believe that a university degree is required for someone to be able to breed dogs in a responsible manner”, he stated.

The event will begin on 28 December with an international dog show for all dog breeds, the Grand Prix Winner Cacib Show, after which the most beautiful dogs of the various breed groups will be in the spotlight on 29, 30 and 31 December within the framework of the FCI European Dog Show.

The grand prizes of the FCI European Dog Show are being provided by the Herend Porcelain Manufactory.