Public Statement regarding ISDS decisions for the Belgian entry to the 2008 World Sheepdog Trials, and the recognition of the FSB.

The ISDS has accepted a ranking from the Federatie Schapendrijven België (vzw) for the four Belgian places to the 2008 World Sheepdog Trials. Some prominent handlers are not on this list and this may cause some to question the acceptance of the FSB list. The ISDS wishes to be quite open about the approval and acceptance process and has sought to be fair to all Belgian handlers at each stage.

There has been a small number of groups representing Belgian sheepdog interests over the years. Appreciating who has been in overall control has not been clear and this has presented difficulties for the ISDS as it sought to offer places at earlier world trials. In 2005 there was no official entry from Belgium, although offers had been made, and to compensate for no entry one individual handler was accepted at the last minute.

For 2008, the ISDS did not want to see the Belgian handlers left out again. Invitations were sent to the Belgian organiser for the group currently operating as the Werkgroep Schapendrijven in December 2006. By June 2007 there had been no formal response and the ISDS said it would appoint a volunteer group to undertake the qualification trials if nothing was forthcoming. By July there had still been no response and time was running out for 2007 trials. Therefore, the ISDS formally accepted the offer of the FSB on 10 July 2007 to organise a series of qualification trials. This news was publicized within Belgium.

In the following months the ISDS received applications from individuals requesting that it reconsider this decision. There had apparently been local disagreements and some handlers did not enter these FSB qualification trials. It is very regrettable that they consequently do not appear in the FSB listing and the ISDS wishes this was not the case. However, the FSB has kept its side of the arrangement and conducted the trials as agreed. The Werkgroep Schapendrijven has appealed with its own list of handlers, although the ISDS informed its organiser on 10 July that the FSB had been appointed to the task.

The ISDS Council has now considered the matter and believes it is honourable to keep to agreements made. It is up to Belgian handlers to resolve any local disagreements and work together. The ISDS has no wish to interfere in another nation’s procedures and will always seek to meet the needs of the majority, working sheepdog handler.

The FSB was registered in Belgium in July 2006. In December 2007 an application was made to the Council of the ISDS for recognition as an ISDS Associate. This was granted in January 2008 with the wish that members from Belgium, who are interested in the same objectives as the ISDS, may pull together in a single organization. It is sincerely hoped that all will be able to demonstrate tolerance and understanding for the benefit of all handlers and sheepdogs in Belgium.

International Sheep Dog Society
January 2008
/002352