On May 25, Ruben and Jazz enthusiastically set off for Dortmund, Germany, to participate in one of the largest dog shows in Germany: the Europasieger and Frühjahrssieger 2024. We had entered our beloved Jazz in the junior class for both days and decided to make it a fantastic weekend, complete with a hotel stay.

Unfortunately, our joy quickly turned to disappointment upon arrival. During the passport check for Jazz, we were denied entry to the show. We couldn’t understand why and asked for clarification. We were informed that her rabies vaccination had expired by two days. This came as a huge shock since we had carefully checked everything in advance and called our vet. They assured us that Jazz’s vaccinations were valid for the next two years. We told the show staff but unfortunately they refused to allow us entry, and we missed her scheduled time.

Feeling deeply disappointed and wronged, we decided to wait on-site until the emergency veterinarian arrived, hoping we could still participate the following day. After a long and nerve-wracking wait, the veterinarian confirmed that Jazz’s vaccination was indeed in order. He advised us to obtain a certificate from our veterinarian as soon as possible, but we knew it would be too late for the show the next day.

The veterinarian sympathized with our situation and gave us an entry pass for the following day. While we were incredibly disappointed to have missed the first show, we were relieved and happy that we could still show her on the second day.

The wait proved worthwhile, as the next day, Jazz received an Excellent 1 rating from Rony Doedijns, FCI All-Round Judge and Director of the Raad van Beheer. She was awarded the title Frühjahrs-Jugendssieger 2024 and, to our great joy, became an International Junior Champion!

This weekend was an emotional rollercoaster, but the result was absolutely worth it. We are incredibly proud of Jazz and everything she has achieved. Thank you to everyone who supported us, and a special thanks to the veterinarian for his help.