To the great regret of all clubs, this year's annual meeting of the IFEZ had to be held "online", again due to Corona. Participants of all clubs had come together on the computer "by Teams" to discuss the current topics around Eurasier breeding.
The first very important topic was the renewal of the common database, as our previous database administrator is, for health reasons, no longer available.
The "Database Group" reported on their work:
Many different programs have been viewed, tested and evaluated. Our requirements, especially to support methodical Eurasier breeding, are demanding, consequently only two program providers remained. Both will present a detailed program demonstration online in November. After that, hopefully, a decision will be possible.
The second important, at the same time very regrettable, fact was that a founding member of the IFEZ, the Zuchtgemeinschaft für Eurasier e.V., is in dissolution after fierce internal hostility by a rather small group.
The third main topic was the field of Eurasier breeding:
- Detailed information about the topic "gastric tumour" in dogs and especially in the Eurasier. New research and results were reported.
- Elbow dysplasia appears for some to be an urgent problem because it causes much suffering to the dog and owner, and is genetically complex. Unfortunately, not all clubs are testing for ED, but this would be desirable.
- The genomic inbreeding (COI) in the Eurasier is quite high at just under 20%. This can only be detected by DNA tests (EMBARK), a database program is easily overwhelmed by it.
- Further individual topics were discussed, such as breeder certification, puppy exchange between clubs, requests for stud dogs, import and export regulations and much more.
Although there was an intensive and fruitful exchange of ideas online thanks to the good management of IFEZ President John Stegman, all participants hope that we will be able to meet in person again in 2023.
©2022-11 GAc
Translation BMG 01/23
on 31/10-01/11/2020
Since 1996, each year at the end of October, the IFEZ clubs have met to exchange information about breeding and about any necessary measures to keep our beautiful breed the "Eurasier" healthy as well as sound in temperament.
In 2020, everything was different. That meeting was also affected by Corona. We quickly came to the decision to hold the meeting online, so that the exchange of information would not stall.
Three conference modules were created for the weekend. With some variation in the clubs’ participants, the content was competently discussed and worked through with the help of the online platform "MS Teams" by John Stegman, the current IFEZ Chair.
The most important topics covered were:
• Further collection of ideas on the redesign of the joint agreement on cooperation between the clubs
• Our database will be cloud-based, backups, GDPR, hits, etc. was discussed; first concrete information was provided
• The new homepage will now also be made available in English
• Many new insights about breeding and health of our Eurasiers gained (breeding requirements, thyroid problems, popular sire syndrome, inbreeding problems, etc.)
• Information about fees in member clubs, requirements of different kennel clubs etc.
Will we be able to meet in person again in 2021? Let us hope so!
©GAc
translation: B Mordan-Grimm
Brief Summary of the IFEZ Meeting 2019
Beat Kempf, President of Eurasierfreunde Schweiz (EFS), as the current President of the International Federation for Eurasier Breeding (IFEZ), greeted those present at the IFEZ meeting with a short statement on the fundamental intentions of IFEZ.
The initial main part of the conference concerned information and questions about innovations and problems of the IFEZ members:
A second main part of the conference was again devoted to a variety of topics about the Eurasier:
Gisela Aach, IFEZ Secretary
Translation: Brigitte Mordan-Grimm
ECA Eurasier Club Austria
In 2019, our Austrian Eurasier Association ECA celebrated 35 years since its inauguration. The ECA joined IFEZ in 1997. Georg Petermayer, a committee member, created the new database with a breeding evaluation program, which he still successfully supervises today. The IFEZ member associations appreciate the valuable membership of the ECA. We wish the club all the best for the future. To celebrate the event, the ECA organised an annual meeting with a club show in Feldkirchen an der Donau, held on 18/19 May 2019. All Eurasier friends from near and far were cordially invited.
Brief Summary of the IFEZ Meeting 2018
Beat Kempf, Chair of the Eurasierfreunde Switzerland (EFS) and current Chair of IFEZ welcomed the numerous delegates of IFEZ clubs and started the meeting with a short presentation that was both positive and motivating for the successful future of IFEZ. Intensification and modernization of both internal pathways and external presentation are necessary, and would be the main topics of the meeting.
A first main part of the meeting covered the components of "ways into the future of IFEZ":
The second main part of the meeting addressed many topics about the Eurasier:
After going through the usual formalities we had another particular highlight on Sunday.
Dr. med.vet. Eberhard Manz, CEO of Generatio, gave an introduction to the different possibilities of genetic analyses. (Most Eurasier clubs store blood samples at Generatio)
The meeting was framed by many intensive, personal discussions between the active members of the attending clubs, which usually only meet once a year, and otherwise can only communicate by telephone or email.
It was an overall a successful meeting for the good of our beautiful breed.
Gisela Aach, IFEZ Secretary
Translation: Brigitte Mordan-Grimm
Brief Summary of the IFEZ Meeting 2017
In his capacity of current IFEZ President, Professor Dr. Kurt Kotrschal of the Eurasier Club Austria, ECA, welcomed the attendees of the individual clubs at the meeting in Stockerau near Vienna, organized by the ECA. As a special guest, he introduced Professor Dr. Heiko Scholz, President of the Kynologische Zuchtvereinigung, KZG who expressed his interest in the IFEZ work by attending the meeting.
Dr. Kotrschal briefly summarized the itinerary and went over the main points of discussion concerning the database and its possible replacement which were addressed during the year. The discussion about the future of the IFEZ was mentioned as well. Both topics should definitely be discussed in a constructive manner, not only during the meeting but also in the future.
The first part of the meeting concentrated on the application of the Eurasier Club Italiano, ECI, for associated IFEZ membership. After a brief examination of the information submitted by the ECI, confirmation of a successful data exchange by Mr. Georg Petermayer and a short discussion, the ECI was unanimously accepted as Associate Member of the IFEZ.
During the second part of the meeting many different topics pertaining to the Eurasier, the IFEZ database and the future of the IFEZ were addressed:
After all general regulations were addressed, the presidency was transferred from Dr. Kurt Kotrschal to Mr. Beat Kempf, President of the Eurasierfreunde Switzerland, EFS at the end of the meeting. It was a special highlight.
Professor Dr. Kurt Kotrschal, Chairperson of the Wolf Science Center near Vienna held a very interesting and entertaining lecture about the wolf-dog-human relationship.
The meeting was enhanced by all the personal, intensive discussions amongst the representatives of the clubs who, during the course of the year, mostly only get in touch via phone or email. It was an all in all successful and attractive meeting for the well-being of our breed with just one disappointment:
The planned visit of the Wolf Science Center in Ernstbrunn under the supervision of Dr. Kurt Kotrschal had to be cancelled to the disappointment of all. The storm „Herwart“ reached Austria on Sunday morning and all parks in the area were closed as a precaution. Very sad but, a natural misfortune that could not be influenced.
Gisela Aach, IFEZ Secretary
Translation: Ute Molush
Brief Summary of the IFEZ Conference 2016
In his capacity of current IFEZ president, Professor Dr. Kurt Kotrschal, President of the Eurasier Club Austria, welcomed the many representatives of the member clubs of the International Federation of Eurasier Breeding. He stated that it has become a great custom to meet and discuss the Eurasier breed itself, careful breeding strategies and to exchange our experience.
The IFEZ is a godsent. With its extensive database it offers broad possibilities for scientifically based breeding of healthy Eurasiers in all clubs. We can be proud of it. A special welcome was given to the interested representatives of the Czech club who were present for the first time.
During the first part of the meeting several Eurasier breed topics were discussed:
The second part of the meeting consisted of a vivid discussion about the duties and possibilities of the IFEZ in the presence and specifically in the future.
Critical conclusions and possible changes for the future require the hard work of everyone. The IFEZ and its goals must be emphasized even more, it must be marketed as a „seal of excellence“ of Eurasier breeding; this can be reached first and foremost by the strong clubs, secondly through PR measures on the website of the IFEZ, on Facebook and possibly through other media.
The third part of the meeting contained the introduction of new ideas and possibilities for the development of a new format of health data administration. A working group presented a well-prepared project plan for an open online database.
Data exchange is obviously the core of all cooperating IFEZ clubs. Since these thoughts were presented for the first time, a very vivid discussion developed concerning the accessibility of Eurasier data, touching topics like:
Individuals as users; clubs only as users of the database; different access levels; consideration on limitations of users‘ circles; control instruments assuring the accuracy of data and data security; assuring the breeding in accordance with the standard; guided breeding of a still young breed. These were only some of the partically very controversial topics. This discussion will now resume in the individual clubs.
The work on the project itself will continue and will be on the itinerary again next year. No decisions were made.
After all required rules and regulations were met, the end of the meeting was highlighted by a very special and interesting presentation by Professor Dr. Kurt Kotrschal, Chairperson of the Wolf Science Center near Vienna, The deep emotional connection of Humans and Dogs.
The meeting was enhanced by many personal, intensive conversations between representatives of clubs which are mostly limited to phone calls or emails during the year. Throughout the meals, the dog walk and in the evening many topics around the wonderful Eurasier were discussed in depth. It was an all around successful meeting for the benefit of our beautiful breed.
gisela aach, IFEZ-Secretary
IFEZ Annual Meeting 2015
This year, the annual meeting of IFEZ, the International Federation for Eurasier Breeding, was hosted by the Finnish club in Helsinki. It was our 20th annual meeting and was well organized by the President of the Finnish Club, Mrs. Satu Rossow.
These gatherings are the highlight of the working year for IFEZ, as, wherever possible, the individual club representatives (Chair, Data Representative and Heads of Breeding) of member clubs meet up. Many kynological topics concerning the Eurasier are worked on extensively and finalized, as well as new topics raised and put on the Agenda.
Changes in the clubs’ personnel are shared, so that the cooperation between clubs can always be conducted with familiar individuals.
The main topics discussed in 2015:
During the breaks and in the evenings the participants came together in different groups to discuss particularly interesting topics. Everyone is already looking forward to the next meeting in 2016, which will hopefully draw many participants.
Gisela Aach, IFEZ Secretary
Translation: Brigitte Mordan-Grimm; Ute Molush
IFEZ-Meeting 2011 in Arbon, Switzerland
This year the Swiss Eurasier Club IGES invited to the annual meeting of the IFEZ in Switzerland. The weather was beautiful when the representatives of the various IFEZ-Eurasier Clubs met in a small, and dog friendly hotel in Arbon at Lake Bodensee. The combination of sun shine, a colourful forest with autumn leaves, and, in close reach, a wonderful area directly at Lake Bodensee, where the dogs could run free, made it a very pleasant stay for all participants.
At the meeting, everybody met „old friends“ as well as „new faces“ (for the first time, the Norwegian Eurasier Club attended with a delegation consisting of three, their president, vice-president, and IFEZ-representative were present). Alongside with the meeting, many interesting conversations took place concerning our most favourite subject: Eurasiers.
Items of the meeting:
Until late in the evening, those interested in the wide field of breeding were still sitting at their computers and exchanging information. Sunday started with „Eurasier talks“ during breakfast, which were partly continued into the afternoon.
All in all, like in every year, the meeting was filled with a lot of intensive work, with many, very good conversations and discussions all focusing on Eurasiers. Possibly, all participants would have wished for at least 25 to 26 hours a day. In the coming year, the meeting will take place in October, in Stuttgart, Germany.
IFEZ-Meeting 2010, during the last weekend in October
Mr Peter Moellenbruck, President of the Swiss Eurasier Club „IGES“, invited to the 2010 IFEZ meeting in Stuttgart, Germany.
Already on Friday evening, before the actual meeting started, many representatives of the IFEZ-Clubs met to discuss work with the IFEZ data base, the actual heart of the cooperation. The question they dealt with was whether it were necessary to „modernize“ the IFEZ data base, whether new technical possibilities could be inevitable. In future, the Clubs will need to keep this in view, too! Placing data online, a subject that should be first discussed within the board of each Club.
Saturday was the main day of work for the IFEZ club representatives.
Following organizational discussions and agreements, the next item on the agenda was exciting: The Eurasier Society UK, ESUK, and the Norwegian Eurasier Club NEK both introduced their Clubs, their breeding strategy, their Ethics, and then applied for membership as associated members within IFEZ.
For prior examination long before the meeting, they had sent all necessary information, so that after a short discussion among all full members of the IFEZ, Peter Moellenbruck could welcome both clubs as new members. Their applications as associated members of the IFEZ was approved unisono.
Naturally, the main fields of discussion focused on questions about Eurasier health and breeding. In that context, an interim report was given on the status quo of thyroid panel evaluations, which seem to suggest that the normal thyroid values for Eurasiers might rather be in the lower part of the reference range – here, more evaluations are necessary.
Also, once again, very detailed information was exchanged concerning the differing breeding regulations in the various Eurasier clubs, and their National Kennel Clubs. In future, when matings are planned between Eurasiers of two different clubs, the rules of the club of the female should always apply. Of course, the breeder is to be included accordingly.
With great engagement, a lot more questions regarding breeding were discussed, partly until way after dinner, late into the evening.
It was a meeting filled with a lot of work, but, of course, it also helped to get to know each other better, and to exchange experiences.
All Clubs are looking forward to the next meeting in 2011 in Switzerland, in Arbon, at Lake Bodensee, where the Swiss Eurasier Club IGES found a small, dog friendly hotel for the conference.
IFEZ meeting 2009 in Apeldoorn, Netherlands
Mr. John Stegman, the IFEZ president for this office term, and 1. Chairman of the EVN (the Eurasier club in the Netherlands), had invited the representatives of all IFEZ clubs and associations to the Netherlands. A long journey for many, but well worth it!
The atmosphere was warm and very friendly, many conversations and discussions aimed for results, old acquaintances were deepened and new eurasier enthusiasts introduced – as usual, a full program within a very limited time. A week-end can be so short.
Full of hope to promote the IFEZ from a cynological point of view, plans were made, and first steps were taken – until the next conference, study groups are going to look into some especially important subjects, and will develop and process them, for example concerning the health of our Eurasiers, news all around the IFEZ data bank, input and production of essential documents, including public relations.
The Swedish Eurasier club could not yet realize their membership this year because of smaller "problems", however, they plan to join the IFEZ in 2010, probably as a cooperating member. The attendance of the following, interesting guests was a real pleasure: The KZG, Germany, and the Norwegian club NEK had both sent small delegations, as they are interested in the work of the IFEZ.
On Saturday evening, with the handing over of the presidency to Mr. Moellenbruck, the president of the IGES, Switzerland, the official part of the meeting ended. The next conference will probably take place in Germany again.
IFEZ Meeting on September 27, 2007 in Stuttgart
31 delegates and guests from 9 countries attended the meeting in Stuttgart. One delegate from another country asked to be excused.
Decisions:
Conversational topics:
EKW | - | Eurasier Klub Weinheim |
SEK | - | Suomen Eurasier Kerho Finnland |
EVN | - | Eurasier Vereniging Nederland |
ECA | - | Eurasier Club Austria |
ECB | - | Eurasierclub Belgien |
EFS | - | Eurasier Freunde Schweiz |
EKD | - | Eurasier Klubben Dänemark |
USEC | - | United States Eurasier Club |
ECI | - | Eurasier Club Italiano |
SEA | - | Southern Eurasier Association (UK) |