Attitude, a beautiful coat, a good character: that and much more was in demand at the greyhound beauty contest in Mammendorf.
Dog owners from all over Germany came with their long-legged, super-slim favorites to take part in the state winner exhibition of the Greyhound Racing Club Bavaria.
Mammendorf - neither humans nor animals let the rainy weather spoil their mood.
Anyone who goes to dog events is prepared for adverse weather conditions.
The participants set up tents for themselves and their four-legged friends around the exhibition ring.
And those who were not being examined put on a dog coat for their animal.
“Greyhounds have no fat and thin hair.
That's why they freeze easily, ”explains Ingrid Kamber from Starnberg.
Her three Whippets Tosca, Timberly and Scarlett appear in a partner look - each of the three dog ladies wears a blue coat with a white heart, which also says something about their character.
The 66-year-old breeder, who has been with greyhounds for almost 50 years, describes the breed as "soulful, cuddly, sweet, clean and calm".
In fact, surprisingly little barking is heard on the site on the day of the exhibition.
In the greyhound world, you wave yourself at you and sniff each other in a friendly way instead of reacting to fellow species with leash tugging and yapping.
When it comes to dealing with people, the animals are “good-natured, friendly and fond of children”, says breeder Kerstin Gröschel enthusiastically about the dogs.
She has specialized in the Russian Borzoi breed, which in the past was only allowed to be bred by tsars and grand dukes.
Dogs were also hunted mercilessly during the Russian Revolution.
“They were considered aristocratic,” said Gröschel.
If a few specimens could not have been smuggled away - who knows if Borzoi would still exist.
The animals are particularly large and have a silky soft long or curly coat, under which they do not shiver as much as their short-haired conspecifics.
Monika Mosch is also not exactly warm in her knee-length lederhosen and traditional jacket.
But the Hamburg woman has consciously dressed in Bavarian chic in order to present “a coherent overall picture” with her dog in the show ring.
This also has a positive effect on the assessment - in addition to everything that is assessed on the animal, including posture, gait pattern front and rear, head, fur, paws, teeth, chest width and depth, tail length and character.
Tina Poth from Frickenhausen near Stuttgart has already done the show with her dogs.
She sits in her tent, the three four-legged friends cuddle on a blanket.
After the exciting weekend, the dogs have a rest day on Monday, says Poth.
"There they are flat."
Not all of the 144 registered participants came to the exhibition, and spectators had to be avoided due to the corona.
Club boss Alexandra Eickholt is nevertheless satisfied with the event, especially since the “State winner's race for the golden muzzle” was on the program on the second day.
The fact that greyhound races can take place again in Mammendorf is relatively new.
"For the 70th anniversary last year, we renovated the racetrack including the rabbit train system so that it could be put back into operation after an eleven-year break," said Eickholt.