Bitches in season are allowed to compete at the World Championships under the following conditions:
Bitches in season are allowed to practice in the ring on Thursday afternoon/evening, but not until all other handlers/dogs are done with their training.
Bitches in season are not allowed into Hall J until all other teams are done competing and practicing. We will set up a special area for bitches in season.
Bitches in season will compete last on the day regardless of the official running order and random draw.
The carpet in the ring will be professionally cleaned each night between practice/competition days.
Following the information regarding practice time in the ring posted on 25th of March, we have had a question.
Q: Is food allowed in the ring at that time?
A: Yes, food is allowed! The ring will be professionally cleaned by the hall's cleaning company every night, so food is allowed in the ring on Thursday afternoon.
Please note that music should be checked in with either the Official DJ or the Competition Manager directly before or directly after your allocated practice time in the competition ring on Thursday.
If you have declined the opportunity to use the practice time, then please check in all your team’s Heelwork To Music CDs during the practice time on Thursday afternoon. And your team’s Freestyle Music should be handed in directly after the Heelwork To Music Competition finishes on Friday.
A CD should be handed in for each of your team members and a back up disc for each routine should be taken to ringside prior to entering the ring to compete.
Please remember that the absolute maximum time allowed for a routine is 4 minutes.
A timetable will be prepared for Thursday afternoon, allocating practice times to each team entered into the World Championships. Both the Heelwork To Music and Freestyle Teams will be given 15 minutes per team for practicing in the Competition Ring.
The event will be held on a surface of carpet laid on concrete with a ring approximately 25 x 15 metres. The judges will be positioned centrally on one of the longer sides.
There will be a 15 x 15 metres warm up area in the same hall as the competition ring. No noisy toys or clickers are allowed in the warm up area.
Question: Do the competitiors perform the same routines in the HTM and Freestyle final on Sunday, which they perform in the qualifiers on Friday and Saturday???? Or should they have different routine for the qualifiers and in the final?
Answer: There is nothing in the rules that states that you have to perform a different routine in the Final and I expect most will perform the same routines as they did in they qualifying rounds. If I am lucky enough to reach the Final, then I will be performing the same routine again.
Good Luck to all the Russian dogs and handlers, who are competing at the Russian Championship tomorrow and trying to qualify for the World Championship.
Brigitte van Gestel with Border Collie Twice as nice Twizzle van Benvenida’s Joy (Twizzle) Twizzle is my first Border Collie, he’s absolutely a very talented dog. He won the Dutch Canine Freestyle Championships in 2008 and competed at the International Freestyle Competition at Crufts 2009. I’m very happy that we’ve qualified for the World Canine Freestyle Championships. Grietje, Esther and Marina are the other members of the Dutch team, and I’m sure we’ll have a great time! I want to say a special thank you to all the Dutch freestylers, who donated funds to make it possible for the Dutch team to compete at the World Championships!
Grietje Wagenaar with Border Collie Fjurdyhoeve Floyd (Floris) I’m very proud we’ve qualified and may represent Holland in the Freestyle team during the World Championships. Floris is a young Border Collie, he’s 3 years old. For me he’s a once in a lifetime dog. He has a lot of energy and a funny attitude that fits me very well; working with him is always a big pleasure. Floris won the Dutch Canine Freestyle Championships in 2009. I am really looking forward to meeting and watch all of the other competitors during the World HTM and Freestyle Championships, I wish them all the best, and good luck.
Esther Niemeijer with Shetland Sheepdog Exquizt Mr James From a Beloved Home (Jamie) Jamie is my first Sheltie and also my first Canine Freestyle dog, we started our Dogdance training when he was 2,5 years old. Jamie is 5,5 years old now, but in his heart he’s still a puppy and he can be very naughty! Thankfully, he absolutely loves working with me and we’ve successfully competed in many dog sports, however Freestyle is our favourite activity. Jamie is WCFO Canine Freestyle Champion and won the Dutch Heelwork to Music Championships in 2009. I’m very happy that we’ve qualified for the first FCI World Championships and I’m proud to say that we’ll be competing in HTM as well as in Freestyle. I’m really looking forward to meeting and watching the routines of the rest of the WC competitors! Good luck to everyone and see you all in June!
Reserve for the Freestyle Team Marina Delsink with Belgian Shepherd Tervueren Gwydion van de Hoge Laer (Gwydion) Together with my Tervueren Shepherd male Gwydion I'm the Reserve member of the Dutch Freestyle team. Gwydion is currently competing in the WCFO Intermediate class. He's still a young dog; only 2 years old. He's a clown, he often makes me laugh when he's inventing new moves and tricks. In Freestyle he likes the jumps the most. In addition to Freestyle we do some agility and tracking, but Dog Dance is his main thing. I hope there's no need to perform for us this year because my team members Brigitte, Grietje and Esther are really great!
The Dutch HTM Team:
Brigitte van Gestel with Nova Scotia Dog Tolling Retriever Ruby From Nova’s Power (Ruby) I’m so proud to be part of the Dutch Heelwork to Music team with my 9 year old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. It feels very special that I’ll be competing with Ruby in this fabulous event; the first World Championships Heelwork to Music. Ruby is the first dog that I compete with in Heelwork to Music. She won the Dutch Heelwork to Music Championships in 2008. Despite of her age she’s still very playful and willing to dance with me. I wish all WC competitors good luck and a great time in Denmark!
Esther Niemeijer with Shetland Sheepdog Exquizt Mr James From a Beloved Home (Jamie) Jamie is my first Sheltie and also my first Canine Freestyle dog, we started our Dog Dance training when he was 2,5 years old. Jamie is 5,5 years old now, but in his heart he’s still a puppy and he can be very naughty! Thankfully, he absolutely loves working with me and we’ve successfully competed in many dog sports, however Freestyle is our favourite activity. Jamie is WCFO Canine Freestyle Champion and won the Dutch Heelwork to Music Championships in 2009. I’m very happy that we’ve qualified for the first FCI World Championships and I’m proud to say that we’ll be competing in HTM as well as in Freestyle. I’m really looking forward to meeting and watching the routines of the rest of the WC competitors! Good luck to everyone and see you all in June!
Marina Delsink with Belgian Shepherd Groenendael Cheb de Bruine Buck (Cheb) Together with my 5 year old Groenendael Shepherd male Cheb I'm part of the Dutch Heelwork to Music Team. We only started Dog Dance three years ago because Cheb is a dog who's very easily distracted. Dog Dance really suits him! It's a very challenging sport for both of us. I'm very proud of Cheb; he will never let me down and he’s a very hard worker. Cheb and I are currently competing in the WCFO Advanced Class, both in Freestyle and Heelwork to Music. In 2008 we won the Dutch Heelwork to Music Beginners Class. We also won awards for 'Best Bonded Team' and 'Dog who works the hardest for his handler'. We're going to enjoy every single second of our time at the World Championship in Denmark and I’m looking forward to see you all dance!
Reserve for the HTM Team Martina Branderhorst with White Swiss Shepherd Dog Kito van de Duinhoeve (Kito) Kito is a 3 year old White Swiss Shepherd Dog. He’s very sweet, loyal and versatile. After some basic obedience training we took some Freestyle lessons in 2008, just for fun. But what do you know… we were completely sold after that! Canine Freestyle opened up a new world for us! It offers us so many different possibilities and gives us the opportunity to discover and develop our own personal style. This is a special experience and gives us a lot of pleasure; it’s such an inspiring and motivating way of working with your dog! It has made us a very closely bonded team. Kito and I are currently competing in the WCFO Intermediate Class. We have recently won an award for ‘Most Elegant team’. I’m very honored to be the Reserve team member for the Dutch HTM team that will be going to the World Championships in Denmark!
Thank you to the Dutch team for sending their introductions. We would be grateful if the other teams would do the same. Please send the entire team's photos and text (in English) in one mail to emmy@hazyland.dk
Fingers crossed for the Russian dogs and handlers, who are competing at the Russian Freestyle Championships on the 20th March. The 3 best teams will qualify for The World Championships and get to dance for Russia in Denmark in June.
Q: I don't understand why a helper (without dog) is more expensive than an extra dog incl. handler/helper?????
A: Sorry, but those are the prices, so if you know you will bring a helper all 4 days, you can buy a 'guest dog ticket' for him/her (even if he/she is not bringing a dog). If you are only coming 3 days, it will cost the same whether you buy tickets at the entrance or buy a 'guest dog ticket' online in advance.
We have had a question regarding entrence fee for the World Show/World Championships.
Participants will recieve a 'handler/dog ticket' prior to the competition. That will give them free entrance to the show all 4 days.
If participants (or others) bring an extra dog, which is not entered the competition, they have to buy a 'guest dog ticket'. The price is 30 Euros for all 4 days and it can be bought online here!
Extra handlers/helpers can buy tickets at the entrance for 10 Euros a day or 34 Euros for all 4 days.
Guest dogs are of course allowed to bring their owners, so a 'guest dog ticket' will also give an extra handler/helper entry to the show.
The Happiest people in the world According to several surveys - the Danes are the most pleased people in the world - living in the happiest place on earth.
Denmark is placed on top of Europe. It is a part of Scandinavia with its south border towards Germany.
Native name: Danmark Area: 43.093 km². Population: 5.5 million. Coast line: 7,313 km. Highest point: 173 m. Yding Skovhøj. Biggest island: Sealand 7,031 km². Islands: 450 - 90 inhabited. Capital: Copenhagen/København Currency: Danish Kroner (DKK) Time Zone: UCT+1. Religion: Christian Protestant Church & Evangelical Lutheran - since 1536. Government type: Parliamentary Democracy - Constitutional Monarchy. Head of state: Queen Margrethe II.
The Kingdom of Denmark Denmark is one of the oldest kingdoms in the world and dates back to the first Danish monarch, King "Gorm the Old" (910 -958/King of Denmark 930 - 958), who established his reign in the 10th century. He was succeeded by his son King "Harald Bluetooth" (911 - 987/King of Denmark and Norway 958 - 985), who erected a runic stone in year 965 over his parents burial plot at Jelling in Jutland. The stone has an inscription that praises himself for making all Danes Christians. "The Harald who won the whole of Denmark and Norway and turned the Danes to Christianity."
The Vikings Denmark was the heartland of the great Viking society during the historical Viking Age from around 800 to about 1050 AC. The Viking Age is a very important part of Denmark’s history and culture, which formed the way to build up the Danish kingdom. As a descendant of the Vikings - ethnic Danes are commonly coupled with the terms of being a Viking, coming from the "Barbaric North" with adventurous blood running through their veins.
The Royal Family and Monarchy The Danish Royal Family and Monarchy is a very popular institution in Denmark and is highly supported by the Danes. The Kingdom of Denmark is a constitutional monarchy and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has a constitutional role - which means that the sovereign cannot perform political acts independently – but she is still the head of state.
HRH Prince Henrik of Denmark is the Queen's consort and the royal couple has two sons - Crown Prince Frederik (heir to the Danish throne) and Prince Joachim, Prince of Denmark. Crown Prince Frederik is married to Australian Mary Donaldson from Tasmania (now Mary Elizabeth and Crown Princess of Denmark).
Denmark is an old Democracy Danish democracy is rooted in the Democratic Constitution from 1849, and the Danes have been governed by this well functional democratic Constitution ever since, signed by King Frederik VII on the 5th of June - giving the Danes their personal liberty and democratic rights, which mainly means freedom of speech, freedom of the press and free elections. The Danish Parliament (Folketinget) is the sole organ empowered to legislate, and the supreme power is divided into three independent systems that controls each other namely the legislative, the executive and the judicial powers. Every year the constitution day - Grundlovsdag - is celebrated with many arrangements and meetings.
The National Flag The Danish flag is called “Dannebrog” and is possibly the oldest national flag in the world. According to the myth - the Danish King Valdemar the Victorious (1170-1241 – King 1202-1241), was during his crusade to Estonia caught in a battle and while combating, a revelation happened, as a red flag with a white cross fell down from the sky and landed beside the King. With the red white flag in his hand - King Valdemar won the battle and after this historical event the King commanded the flag to be the Danish national flag.
Flat as a pancake Denmark is flat as a pancake and one of the highest spots rises about 147 metres over sea level. It is called “Himmelbjerget” (Sky Mountain) and is situated in mid Jutland. A little bit more than three quarters of the Danish Kingdom is 100 metres above sea level and most of Denmark’s landscape is cultivated for producing agricultural products. Many forests, pastures and meadows are characteristic features of the Danish landscape together with a very diversified coastline that is dominated by white sandy beaches, marchland and dunes.
Jutland and the Islands The Peninsular of Jutland - Jylland - is joined to central Europe while the rest of Denmark consists of 406 islands of which 90 are inhabited. The largest island is Sealand (Sjælland) - where the Danish capital Copenhagen (København) is situated. Funen (Fyn) and the rocky island of Bornholm are some of the biggest isles in the Danish continent.
Small and big bridges Denmark is linked by small and big bridges to main Scandinavian countries and the rest of the European continent. The Great Belt Bridge construction is the largest suspension bridge of its type in the world with a height as tall as the Eiffel Tower.
Danish is a language - not a throat disease! Danish is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages), a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages. It is spoken by around 6 million people, mainly in Denmark; the language is also used by the 50,000 Danes in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany where it holds the status of minority language. Danish is a mandatory subject in school in the Danish territories of the Faroe Islands (where it is also an official language) and Greenland, as well as the former crown holding of Iceland. There are also Danish language communities in Argentina, the U.S. and Canada.
YouTube video presentation with two Norwegian actors trying to speak the Danish language.
The Danes and their country. The Danes just adore their country, even though they are the most heavily taxed people in the world. They work hard, but happily pay for their welfare system that gives every individual equal right to have free access to the public health care system plus other public services. Most of all the Danes protect and defend their democratic rights as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, gender equality, high quality of life, financial security and social benefits, informal working atmosphere, clean environment, equal educational possibilities, Christian values and much more, which is a part of the cultural heritage that has contributed to build up the Danish kingdom through many generation.
YouTube video presentation with Victor Borge performing popular Jokes & Danish Folk Song Medley. Among the folks songs are "Hist - hvor vejen slår en bugt" - "Der bor en bager" - "Det var en lørdag aften" - "Jeg er Havren. Jeg har bjælder på" - "Den lille Ole med paraplyen" and "Hønsefødder og gulerødder".
We have had a question regarding the HTM rules and would like to share the answer. Maybe others have had the same thoughts.
Q:
Is it true, that if the distance between the handler and the dog becomes more than 2 metres, the team is disqualified?
A:
It will be the judges' decision. They can decide that the dog is out of control, which would be reason to disqualify, but if the dogs is still working with the handler and is under control, I would think that the judges' will just deduct points.
According to the rules these are the reasons for disqualification: The dog is on lead in the ring. The handler has food or a toy in the ring. The handler practises harsh handling. The dog relieves itself in the ring. The dog is out of control in the ring. The dog leaves the ring before the routine is completed.
Any other mistake should result in a deduction in the marks given.
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