Dear friends of the tracking dog sport,
Thank you for Finland’s willingness to host the FCI World Tracking Dog Championships. In order to ensure a smooth process, extensive preparatory work is required, which extends over a long period of time. Ensuring sufficient terrain, preparing the track layers, as well as all logistical and organizational requirements represent an enormous effort, which poses great challenges for the organization team, even in the run-up to the World Championships.
Nose work is one of the most important and most beautiful tasks for our dogs. It is also very nice that the tracking work is not primarily limited to certain breeds, but that it is possible for almost dogs of all breeds to qualify for this world championship. It is always fascinating and not always understandable for us humans what dogs achieve in this work. Often an apparently easy terrain turns out to be difficult for dogs and vice versa. Anyone who practices or has ever practiced this dog sport knows how much training it takes for a dog to pass this two-track test. The length of this trail requires not only a strong will to search, but also good physical condition and condition.
I would like to thank everyone involved in the preparation of this World Cup and its implementation.
I wish the event a good course and all dog handlers with their dogs the desired success.
Many greetings,
Robert Markschläger
President of the FCI Utility Dog Commission