World Dog Show Bologna: The Whole World of Dogs – from underneath

Let's start sweet – Baba, the Bracco puppy

Already a little pro on the glass plate at four months old.

Everything started very softly for me with Baba. Just four months young, a Bracco Italiano, and already so relaxed on the glass as if he'd never done anything else. The Bracco is one of the oldest pointing dogs in Europe – formerly a noble hunting dog, today a real "velcro dog" that loves to stick to its humans like a burr. This mix of puppy chubbiness and large floppy ears, seen from underneath? Irresistible.

Wait, is that a dog?

Let's move on to the candidate that caused the most double-takes. That wasn't a dog made of flesh and blood at all, but of screws and servo motors.

Dog? Robot! From underneath you can see every joint.

It belonged to the booth of a tracker dog and rescue squadron. Such robot dogs help today to search in dangerous or inaccessible terrain – where you wouldn't want to send either a human or a real dog. And honestly: You can already see one or two quirks on it. A dog remains a dog, whether living or a machine.

Kai Ken – my secret favorite

The "Tiger Dog" of Japan – the brindle pattern is especially beautiful from underneath.

The Kai Ken is one of the rarest and most original breeds of Japan, even declared a natural monument in 1934. Its nickname is "Tora Inu", Tiger Dog, because of the brindle pattern that only fully develops over years. I've had almost all Japanese Spitz breeds on the plate by now – Shiba, Kishu, Kai, Shikoku, Akita. Only the Hokkaido is still missing. I had one there, but the little one was too scared. That's completely normal for the Japanese breeds: These original hunting and guard dogs are naturally reserved towards strangers. Not a training mistake, but character.

Over 2,000 years on a glass plate – the Chongqing

Sun Quan, a Chongqing Dog – tongue out, almost naked, a living antique.

Sun Quan belongs to one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. The roots of the Chongqing reach back to the Han Dynasty, so over 2,000 years. In the middle of the 20th century, the breed was almost extinct and is extremely rare to this day. Two things immediately stand out from underneath: the almost naked skin, through which the black shines, and the tongue. Asian breeds like Chow-Chow and Shar-Pei often carry a blue-black tongue – that comes from additional pigment. Puppies are born with a pink tongue, by the way.

Milla's look

Milla, Karelian Bear Dog. She stepped on a treat and just stares at it – too cute to retouch.

With Milla, I exceptionally didn't retouch the treat (which I usually always do) because this look was just too good. The Karelian Bear Dog comes from Finland and lives up to its name: It was bred for big game hunting, today mainly corners elks in Finland – and was historically brave enough to even corner bears and wolves. All the more beautiful how gently Milla lay on the glass plate.

Nordic love – the Lapponian Herder

Jalmari, a Lapponian Herder. I am particularly fond of Nordic dogs.

I love the Nordic breeds, and Jalmari immediately captivated me. The Lapponian Herder was bred by the Sami people in Northern Finland to herd reindeer – with weatherproof coat against cold and wet. Such a handsome boy.

A Viking on the glass plate – the Swedish Vallhund

Nami, a Swedish Vallhund. Small, low – and a real Viking.

Nami is a Swedish Vallhund with a Viking past: Already in the 8th/9th century, this breed drove cattle in Scandinavia. Exciting for all Corgi fans: Vallhund and Corgi are probably related – the Vikings brought the dogs back and forth between Scandinavia and Wales.

Trust from a wolf nature – the Saarloos

Selene, a Saarloos Wolfdog in wolf brown – I didn't even know this color existed before.

Selene surprised me twice. First, I only knew Saarloos Wolfdogs in wolf grey – their warm wolf brown is officially recognized but rarely seen. Second, these dogs, a cross between a German Shepherd and a female wolf, are considered very reserved towards strangers. Selene fully accepted me anyway. That is anything but a matter of course and was really fun.

American Cocker – plush as far as the eye can see

Thenali, American Cocker Spaniel – giant ears, lots of plush, small head.

Thenali is an American Cocker, and from underneath you can really see how much plush hangs on the legs – plus the long, feathered ears and the small, fine head. Did you know that the American Cocker is the smallest dog in the entire hunting dog group?

Noble down to the tips of the ears – the Toy Poodle

Emir, a Toy Poodle – with that look and those ears simply noble.

Emir is a Toy Poodle, the smallest poodle variety, and looks noble from underneath, almost like a painting. Poodles also belong to the most intelligent dogs of all – right in second place in the famous ranking.

The black-on-black challenge – Scottish Terrier

Mia, Scottish Terrier. All in black – and yet you can see the eyes.

Mia is one of four Scottish Terriers I was allowed to photograph – cool dogs! A completely black dog on a dark background is a small challenge in terms of photo technology. All the more curious I was whether you could even see the eyes with the typical strand over the eyes. Spoiler: We saw them. See for yourself.

Two cheering – the Belgian Griffons

Luise and Leopold – as if they had just scored a goal.

Luise and Leopold are small Belgian Griffons (strictly speaking, these are even three closely related breeds, depending on coat and color). I find this distinctive, almost human-looking head super exciting – and from underneath, the two look as if they are cheering.

White as porcelain – the Porcelaine

Orelle, a Porcelaine – white as porcelain, and traveled all the way from Russia.

Orelle is a Porcelaine, one of the oldest French hound breeds, whose traces date back to around 1600. It owes its name to the shiny white coat that reminds of porcelain. During the French Revolution, the breed was almost extinct and was later revived. That Orelle traveled all the way from Russia shows beautifully what this fair is all about: Here, the whole world really comes together.

42 kilos of cuddle bear – the Maremmano-Abruzzese

Jack, Maremmano-Abruzzese – 42 kilos of livestock guardian dog, and totally relaxed.

Jack is a real Italian classic, a Maremmano-Abruzzese – but traveled from Finland. These white livestock guardian dogs have been guarding herds in central Italy for over 2,000 years. With his 42 kilos, Jack is a decent caliber, but the glass plate was no issue at all for the cuddle bear.

Cheerful conclusion – the Corgi

Sugar, a Welsh Corgi Pembroke from Kitzbühel – Corgis are just always fun.

Finally, someone who brings good mood: Sugar, a Welsh Corgi Pembroke, traveled all the way from Kitzbühel. Corgis used to drive cattle by nipping at their heels – and were the favorite breed of Queen Elizabeth II. Sugar supposedly has 14 roommates at home. Maybe I'll go check out the whole gang.

And in the end

Over 31,000 dogs – and yet it is always the same moment that carries me: when the first picture appears on the screen and people see their dog like this for the first time. Half clown, half soulmate. That's exactly why I pack the glass plate, whether at a world exhibition in Bologna or soon in my new studio in Dresden.

Thanks to everyone who lent me their dog for a few seconds on the glass. You made this post possible.

See you soon, somewhere between two exhibitions and my new studio,
yours, Sandy