We have just had a weekend that we at the DEMABO kennel will remember for a very long time. It was full of contrasts – from torrents of water and unplanned acrobatic falls to the warm sun and triumphs that reminded us why we do all of this. Why we invest our time, energy, and hearts into our furry pieces of happiness.
For our kennel, breeding Bobtails (Old English Sheepdogs) is first and foremost about joy, health, and respect for the breed standard. We love to measure our dogs against open competition under the guidance of respected international judges. We prefer international shows, where true quality and the dog’s current condition decide the day, regardless of who is at the other end of the leash.
nd that is exactly what our past weekend in Varaždin, Croatia, was like. We set off in full force – including our nine-year-old foundation bitch, Mona, who came with us as VIP moral support, the main mascot of the trip, and an enthusiastic tourist.
☔Saturday: When it rains cats and dogs and the handler underestimates the “slicks”☔
If you have a breed at home with a rich, painstakingly maintained coat, a rainy apocalypse is the absolute last thing you want on a show day! Although the show rings were covered under a giant tent, getting to them required a logistical plan worthy of a general – navigating giant puddles and waterfalls cascading off the tent roof so that the girls wouldn’t look like drowned chickens.
At the international show (CACIB), our girls competed for the ultimate title (BOB – Best of Breed). Our Antea emerged victorious from this battle, defeating her partner Lana (Callandra).
What really warmed our hearts, however, was the judge’s approach. It was incredibly pleasant to hear her detailed critique, which unfortunately is no longer common at CACIB shows these days. The girls are like carbon copies of each other, so it comes down to minor nuances. Each has a slightly different strength, which is why they have been taking turns winning BOB. The judge gave us a wonderful, heartfelt description of both girls and their qualities. On that day, her eye caught Antea, who ultimately won. We heard a beautiful, comprehensive critique, which we highly value and is crucial feedback for us as breeders.
🆘A Harsh Fall and “Mission: Save Lana”🆘
Fortunately, the rain stopped after noon, which was great news for the concurrent Speciality Show for British Breeds. This was held outside on the grass. Wet grass.
Every handler knows that you must run in perfect harmony and lightness with a Bobtail. My running shoes have soles made of a compound similar to the medium-hard compound in Formula 1 – so-called “slicks.” They stick like glue on a dry surface, but as soon as the slightest moisture appears on the track, they turn into perfectly slick sleds.
In one of the sharper turns, I stepped lightly on my heel. It dug into the dirt, tore up a textbook piece of turf, and I went down to the ground in an uncontrollable, highly acrobatic fashion. Fortunately, the ground was soft and forgiving after the heavy rain, so my show suit suffered no fatal damage, and I escaped without any bruises.
Then came the best part of the show. Our beloved Lana immediately evaluated that her handler was on his knees and decided on a lightning-fast rescue mission. She ran up to me, jumped on my shoulders with her front paws, and showered me, kneeling, with dozens of sincere doggy kisses. With this spontaneous performance, she instantly won the hearts of all the spectators watching around the ring. And she clearly won over the judge as well! Facing tough competition from British pastoral breeds, Lana fought her way to an amazing
2nd place in the entire final competition for the best dog of the show (Best in Show 2 – BIS 2)!
As the judge congratulated us, she turned to the winning Smooth Collie with a smile and joked: “You know, with the strong wind, she did have it a bit easier with that coat.” That was the nicest and funniest end to a demanding day.😉
🌞Sunday: Chivalrous Surrender and a Sunny Triumph🌞
On Sunday, the sun finally welcomed us. The morning schedule was hectic; we were up first. The scenario from the previous day repeated itself – gorgeous critiques once again, and another victory for Antea over Lana.
Then we had plenty of time to rest. The girls crashed in our grooming tent and fell fast asleep. Denisa and I did the same – catching some rays, soaking up vitamin D, and enjoying the great show atmosphere.
As the afternoon final competitions approached, I realized something. My beloved wife and co-breeder had beaten me in the ring this weekend by a ratio of 2:1. So, I decided to swallow my male pride and suggested to Deny that she enjoy the Sunday main ring with Antea.
FCI Group 1 (Sheepdogs and Cattle dogs) was judged by the same judge who had judged our breed on Saturday. Deny no longer runs in the ring after her hip surgery, but we knew the judge had praised our girls on Saturday and liked Antea.
The result? Deny handled her run in the ring 🙂flawlessly. Antea showed off her beautiful, admirable long stride, made a huge impression, and we are bringing home a fantastic 3rd place in the entire pastoral group (Best in Group 3 – BIG 3)!
👣🐾A Little Sightseeing 🐾👣
To make sure it wasn’t all just about the show rings, we set off to explore the beauty of historic Varaždin after the program ended. When three beautiful Bobtail girls walk by, it’s a gorgeous sight, and it always creates a big stir in the streets.
On the way to our hotel, we also walked through the picturesque town of Čakovec, which hosted us wonderfully for three nights. It is truly beautiful there, and we promise we will return.
🥇🥈🥉💃🕺🥳 Belgium: When the Heart Beats for the Breed 🥇🥈🥉💃🕺🥳
This highly successful weekend was the best rehearsal for what awaits us next week. We are heading to Belgium for the prestigious EURO OES Show 2026 – a celebration for all Bobtail lovers from all over Europe and the world. Just to give you an idea: there are usually more Bobtails entered here than at the legendary British show, CRUFTS! The competition will be immense, and the prestige even greater.
Unfortunately, our Czech Club is not sponsoring the EURO OES this year, as was customary in previous years. 🤔 We at DEMABO decided to sponsor this beloved event on behalf of Czech breeders, both through a financial donation and paid advertising in the show catalogue.
The Czech footprint in Belgium will not be missing! 😀
In the show catalogue, our kennel will be represented by this favorite autumn photo of our beloved girls, accompanied by a heartfelt wish for a wonderful time together for all Bobtail owners and breeders at the EURO OES in Belgium. ♥️🥰♥️🥰♥️
“Enjoy wonderful moments with your pets and friends at EUROOES 2026 in Belgium.” Best wishes, Denisa and Martin Bohuslav (DEMABO).
After a long time, our nine-year-old veteran and foundation of our breeding, Mona, is traveling to Belgium to compete, and she is incredibly excited to run in the ring again. We are looking forward to it; she truly enjoys running in the ring.
Keep your fingers crossed for us! And if I manage to make another spectacular fall in the ring, rest assured that Lana will be ready to rescue me once again in front of all of Europe!
Yours, Martin, Denisa + the DEMABO pack
