Neira and Viktors
On Saturday, October 5th, a very significant event occurred – the International Guide Dog Competition. Six guide dog owners with their four-legged assistants from Finland, Estonia and Latvia met for a long, responsible day.
All participants, guests and volunteers met in the attractive Torņakalna church, in their large and well-lit rooms. The prettiest decor of the day was the sun and golden fall. It truly was one of the nicest gifts from nature that day. While the busy worker bees – event organizers and volunteers – busily set tables and prepared for the important day, guide dog owners seized the opportunity to enjoy the morning sun and let their four-legged friends romp through the colorful fall leaf-covered ground. To go crazy, enjoy oneself, jump around, so that very soon, “adorned” with special nose bands, the guide dog would be ready to seriously and carefully guide his master through unknown routes.
Neira and Serena before the start
After a moment, having enjoyed their morning coffee and discussing plans for the day’s activities, the first contestants prepared to start the route monitored by a professional trainer, cynologist. During the competition, traversing the unknown route with its landmarks and obstacles, the participants had various success, and that’s why it’s a competition. But the most important thing is that the International Guide Dog Competition is not only a competition, it’s also a test of the guide dog owners and their guide dog collaboration, it is also the opportunity not only for the participants to understand their mistakes, but also obtain truly worthwhile tips from professionals.
Mango
When each competition participant had concluded the route, listened to the trainer’s evaluation and suggestions, the guide dogs were tested for their obedience. In the evening a joint dinner. Heartfelt conversations in the background, laughter, words of thanks, and a lottery with gifts made by participants themselves and volunteers. Later, awards and each country’s representative’s speech about the important achievements in this field and, of course, motivational words for repeat meetings.
The day ended when, heading home at nine o’clock, I found myself knowingly slowing my pace, trying to hold onto this day, reliving it a little bit longer. And so I walked, thankful for this day, for this opportunity, thanking each participant, each furry, four-legged assistant, each event organizer, each volunteer, thankful for the attractive locale and rooms, fall and the day. Because it had been magnificent. And nearing my apartment door, I realized that a faint smile had been on my face the entire walk home.
Thank you for such a meaningful and important yesterday! And… for meeting again in the future.
Anastasia Perelota, October 6th 2019.
All participants
Results of the 2019 guide-dog competition:
1. Pirkko Luusalo with Cenni from Finland
2. Erkki Juntikka with Diego from Finland
3. Gerli Kangur with Juht Matthias from Estonia
4. and 5. places, tied – Andis Briģis with Mango and Viktors Sergejevs with Neiru from Latvia
6. Tatjana Zahharova with Juht Thaleia from Estonia
Overall team rating:
1. Finland
2. Latvia
3. Estonia
The special traveling cup goes to Finland.
We thank Juha and Zaiga, who have not only trained all our association’s dogs, but also supported this competition’s process, also thank all diligent volunteers, they themselves know who they are, Riga Lutheran Congregation for their usual hearty reception and Barfus for the treats they provided to the four-legged participants!
HABALV22
