07/09/2026
Last weekend, we had the opportunity to take part in the International CACIT Field and Water Trial held in memory of József Vasas.
This was the first time I entered Dottie in a working competition. Until now, she had only taken part in the spring and autumn breeding tests in Germany. Although she performed exceptionally well at both, she is still considered a very young dog in the competition world, as she is not even two years old yet.
Our goal was simply to give a good account of ourselves and finish the competition with a first prize. Competitions are different from tests in that every little detail matters, and at the end of the day, the judges have to find differences between the dogs, even when more of them perform at a very high level.
With Dottie, we performed far beyond our expectations. However, what makes me most proud is the fact that I have been able to share this journey with my son, Milán, from the very beginning. Since the day Dottie was born, we have been together at almost every training session, and we were together again throughout this competition.
It is incredible to say that Dottie finished second overall, receiving the CACT and R.CACIT, was awarded Best German Shorthaired Pointer, and also received the Special Award for Best Water Work! Unfortunately, the joy was slightly overshadowed by a more serious paw injury she sustained towards the end of the competition. She now faces a longer period of enforced rest, but she will be fine.
This competition is held every two years. Two years ago, I took part with my older dog, Tora, who also finished second — despite being tied on points, with the final ranking decided due to the age difference — and she also received the Special Award for Best Water Work.
Congratulations to the organisers for putting together such a high-quality event despite the extremely challenging weather conditions in recent weeks. A huge thank you to all the judges for their work, and congratulations to all the competitors!
I couldn’t be prouder of you, Dottie!