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Looking back on 2020 and forward to 2021

Dear Rottweiler Friends,

Before all else, I sincerely wish that this message reaches you and your family in good health.

I do not have to tell you that 2020 was not and will not be a happy year to look back on.   The COVID-19 virus swarmed the whole world and caused misery in every thinkable way, socially and psychological, social and societal, economic and financial ....

We will bear traces of this on a human level, but also in terms of club life and we should not lose sight of the fact that the pandemic will also have left its mark on our beloved breed.    

The fact that breeding, showing and trialing  was largely impossible because of all sorts of necessary restrictions will indeed have weighed on our social life and taken away the pleasure that those activities bring to us, but also threatens to have a direct impact on the breed itself : not only has there been a decline in the number of births but also a lack of breeding selection.  Let's indeed not forget that shows and working competitions are from a cynologic point of view much more than mere competitions as above all they aim at breeding selection !    

I am however convinced that our love for the breed and our idealism is strong enough to overcome this and has taught us more than enough responsibility to ensure that even if clubs are not able to provide us with the necessary instruments for selection (breeding suitability tests, shows, competitions, ...), breeding is done only with dogs that meet the minimum requirements for this: conformance to the breed standard (physical and mental) and with a good physical and genetic health.    After all, every serious breeder has this responsability towards the breed.

With all Rottweiler lovers, I hope that our clubs will shortly be able to resume their activities, in particular also their breeding suitability tests so all dogs can and will be reliably tested again on their conformation before being used for breeding and that the impact of the pandemic on the future of our breed will be negligible and no more than a hurdle quickly overcome.  

On behalf of the IFR-Board I send you our “Season’s Greetings” and best wishes for the new year !   

We look forward to the organization of our World Show in France (15-16 May) and the IGP + IFH World Championship in Hungary (12-16 October) and I hope to meet you all there in large numbers and especially in the best of health !

On behalf of the IFR-Board,

D. Vandecasteele

IFR-President.