The 1st Shar Pei World Congress was accomplished with great success in Lendava of Slovenia.

In this particular event, even if I was invited, much to my regret I couldn’t be present, as the area –where the Congress was held- didn’t have easy approach for me.  More particularly, Lendava is a 4-hour drive from Ljubljana and 2 hours from Gent airport of Austria.

My sadness for loosing this important occasion, was very soon replaced from a glow of pleasure, when the President of the Slovenic Shar Pei Club and one of the major hosts, Mrs. Spela Golob, sent me few days ago the official book of Congress, which is considered to be a small treasure, for all those who really adore/love this breed.

Hence, I present you some of the data of this event, as registered in few of the pages of this book.

During this two-day event, many important people came and spoke relevantly, and especially people from the dogs field, who have helped indeed at the Shar Pei evolution/progress, all over the world.

Among those people that have spoken and sent their wishes to those that couldn’t attend this, were:

All speakers’ significance of their speech was on health and proper breeding, presenting the most important problems they used to face, through these years that are occupied with breeding.

The first Shar Pei dogs are brought from America and Hong Kong, from the well-known to all of us Μatgo Law, who is responsible for this breed “survival”.

During her speech, the president of the Belgian Club, Mrs. Jeaninne Smets, pointed out how important, is the right choice of dogs, considering breeding and that at their club they have set certain reproductive rules i.e. X-rays should be done, dogs with entropy are never allowed to mate or those who have had a lips-surgery and of course to have at least one “very good” at a CAC Show.

Furthermore, she suggested that the dogs should have a general health test, 14 days before breeding. “If these rules are followed”, she underlined, “a significant step would be done regarding the dogs health”.

Ms. Isabella Pizzamiglio, after having a small historical reference on Shar Peis’ of Italy, she emphasized the importance of being all the dog fanciers united, as one by her/himself cannot do many things. Furthermore, she supported that those people who work on this breed since old times, ought to help those who are new and are having their first steps in this field.

For the end, I left Μs. Spela Golob, who fascinated me the most with her morality, diligence and passion.  Even if she counts only 3 years on this, and has only one birth at her credit, she achieved to be the President of the Slovenian Club and simultaneously, to organize a blamelessness Weekend, full of speeches and shows at Lendava.

Μs. Spela Golob, adopts the philosophy that it doesn’t count how many puppies a breeder has at his/her credit, but the quality.

Her effort and work at this Club, worth thousands bravos, as she recorded all the Shar Pei dogs in Slovenia, from the first one to the last one, and she has participated in many exhibitions abroad.

Ending, at the Congress great attention was given at the FCI and the American prototype, and specifically. it was highlighted the fact that FCI should take more seriously this race/breed.

Lila Leventaki