The World Dog Show 2025 received positive feedback

Prior to this year, the World Dog Show had previously been held in Finland in 1998 and 2014, earning Finland a good reputation as a show organiser and giving rise to the idea of Helsinki Spirit, meaning international prestige shows held in Finland where everything runs smoothly and the spirit is good.
 

Volunteers received a lot of praise

Nearly a thousand volunteers from different dog social clubs contributed to the organisation of the shows, building and dismantling stages and booths, checking vaccinations, maintaining public order, cleaning, maintaining outdoor areas and the show rings, and working at information desks. Their friendly and professional attitude was widely praised. The exhibitors were particularly pleased with the club members who assisted in the parking garage and the efficient cleaning services.

There were more than 200 ring stewards, who were mainly from Finland, with a few from Estonia and Sweden. The ring rotation and the results service were described as working well. Even though the lack of printed catalogues and the charge for the mobile catalogue aroused annoyance, especially among foreign exhibitors, those who bought the catalogue were satisfied with it.

The stage for the finals stunned with its elegance

The Finals of the World Dog Show 2025 were held in an elegant blue and white setting. The stage created for the Messukeskus Arena was well worth the comparison with the milieu of the world’s largest and most prestigious dog shows. Even though the ring was impressive, it did not overshadow the stars of the show – the dogs that appeared in the ring. Ida Saarilahti and Jaakko Sarmola, the hosts of the main ring, completed their three-day hosting gig with great success , creating a warm and encouraging atmosphere for the Finals. 

Intervention in dog welfare was a hot topic

The Finnish Kennel Club’s welfare advisors advised and guided the exhibitors at the shows. Most Finnish exhibitors are used to the fact that Finnish dog shows tend to emphasise the well-being of dogs. Some of the exhibitors were unfamiliar with this practice and, unfortunately, the welfare advisers also faced difficult situations during the event.

The welfare advisors toured the show halls and aimed to give positive attention to exhibitors who treated their dogs well. The majority of dog owners take the well-being of dogs into account in their activities, but sadly there were also unpleasant encounters. Unfortunately, the welfare advisers were not able to address all of the problems among such a large number of exhibitors, where different dog-keeping cultures clash. For example, intervening in the treatment of a dog’s coat is primarily the responsibility of the dog appearance judge working in the ring.

The majority of the exhibitors treated their dogs well, and I hope that the Finnish view on the good treatment of dogs at dog shows will gradually spread internationally following our event. In Finland, too, there is discussion about how to respond in different situations, and the development of dog welfare adviser activities continues. It is good to remember that when encountering unethical behaviour or dog-keeping, you should primarily intervene yourself. Intervention can mean commenting on the poor behaviour, giving the person guidance, and directing them to adopt more ethical practices.

FCI and WDPA rewarded the Finnish Kennel Club for good work

The International Canine Federation (FCI) praised the Finnish Kennel Club for the organisation of the World Dog Show 2025. Tamás Jakkel, Chair of the FCI Board of Directors, said that the Helsinki show will be remembered as one of the best FCI World Dog Shows in the event's history. Jakkel also praised the professional organisation of the FCI General Assembly held before the show.

He recognised the Finnish Kennel Club by handing over the FCI Memorial Plate to the retired Director Markku Mähönen and the FCI Medal to Sampo Miettinen, Judge Secretary of the World Dog Show 2025.