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São Paulo
Kennel Club
Discovering and rewarding extraordinary quality in Brazil ’ s largest city .
BY MIKE MACBETH
Winner of the National Fila Brasileiro specialty under Pedro Gonzalez Teja was an 18-month-old female , Ch . Pérola das Tabocas Dos Filas . |
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With a metropolitan population of 18 million , São Paulo is not only Brazil ’ s largest city but the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere . São Paulo ’ s Latin motto , Non ducor , duco , means , “ I am not led , I lead .” Vibrant , pulsating with energy and soccer-mad , São Paulo was one of the cities that hosted 2014 FIFA World Cup games . It also holds popular annual events such as the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix and the world ’ s largest gay pride parade . So it is no surprise that São Paulo is also a site of top-notch dog shows .
The Kennel Club of São Paulo is Brazil ’ s largest dog show . It held two national shows and one international show over a three-day weekend in late October . The total entry was just under 800 dogs , as the club also offered 20 specialties . The club has a rule that if there are less than 20 dogs entered , the specialty will be canceled . Six breeds did not reach this limit , but others had significant entries .
The Dachshund Specialty
The day before the show , the invited Dachshund specialist unexpectedly canceled due to illness . Edd Bivin graciously agreed to be the substitute judge . The independent Doxie specialty was scheduled to begin after Best in Show . It required every one of the 69 dogs entered to receive a written critique . Edd was provided with a lengthy and detailed form where one grades every aspect of the dog , which slowed the judging process down considerably . After a full day of judging the all-breed show , Mr . Bivin valiantly completed the assignment shortly before 10 p . m .
The Brazilian Breed Specialties
The Fila Brasileiros had three specialties over two days . Instinctively protective , with an extreme distrust of strangers , this is a breed that one judges from afar — they are not to be touched . Filas have a unique pacing movement . Exhibitors begin by walking them very slowly to demonstrate their catlike stealth , before they gait quickly . The handler shows the dentition , raises the loose body skin to show its extreme elasticity , and measures the length of tail against the hock .
SAO PAULO PHOTO : THIAGO LEITE / SHUTTERSTOCK ; WIN SHOT : EDMILSON REIS
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