At the “World Dog Show Zagreb 2024” exhibition – as many as 5 champions from the “Tauro Kennel” kennel

The kennel “Tauro Kennel” belonging to KIKA GROUP, UAB brought home as many as 5 world champions and many other titles this year. Janita Januškauskaitė-Plungė, a breeder with 35 years of experience, founder and manager of KIKA GROUP, UAB, shares how the preparation for exhibitions of this level goes, and shares the most important evaluations.

This year, the “Tauro Kennel” kennel participated in the exhibition with 23 dogs, of which 7 were Curly Bichons and 16 were Pomeranian Spitz.

“Some four-legged animals born in our kennel become the joy of families, while others are assigned to the VIP class and begin to be prepared for exhibitions from the first months of their lives. In order to gain skills, they start their performances with smaller shows, and 6 months before the world show, a decision is made whether they will travel there as well,” explains the breeder.

She continues that all dogs in the kennel are provided with high-quality and complete nutrition, they are cared for using only natural, fur and skin nourishing products. Since at exhibitions, not only the appearance of four-legged animals is important, but also good physical and mental condition, experience in both indoor and outdoor environments, exhibition dogs are constantly looked after by trainers, groomers and veterinarians.

Tauro Kennel dogs won more than one victory at the exhibition: Tauro Pranciskus and Tauro Wetra became adult world champions; Tauro Nisaja – runner-up; Tauro Sandrina earned the title of Vice Youth World Champion; Tauro Kennel JP Ambitio and Tauro Kennel JP Safari – puppy world winners, and Tauro Kennel JP Bagor – puppy world winner.

The pets also won 5 Croatian championship titles: Tauro Kennel JP Safari and Tauro Kennel JP Ambitio – in the puppy group; Tauro Kennel JP Bagor – in the group of puppies; Tauro Davinci and Tauro Wetra – in the adult group.

“At the specialized exhibition of the 9FCI group, Tauro Nisaja became the vice-prettiest winner of the whole exhibition and was chosen as the most beautiful representative of the Curly Bichon breed. Also, the dog became the “Croatian Club Champion 2024″. Tauro Ambitio was declared the most beautiful puppy of the Curly Bichon breed at the specialized exhibition and won the second place among all the most beautiful puppies of the exhibition, while Tauro Bagor was declared the most beautiful puppy of the Curly Bichon breed and won the first place among all the most beautiful puppies of the exhibition”, JJ Plungė is happy about the victories.

She adds that “Tauro Kennel” Curly Bichons won the title of the most beautiful kennel at the “World Dog Show 2023 in Geneva” as early as 2023, and this year Pomeranian Spitz won 3rd place in the world at the show. Today, the kennel has 16 world champions; 12 runners-up; 16 European champions; 46 US Champions and TOP 1 American Pomeranian Bitch 2023.

“This year, before the world exhibition, 4 more exhibitions were held in Zagreb, in which participation can earn the title of champion of that country. Almost all 23 dogs of Tauro Kennel were prize winners at shows, which is a very high rating for me as a breeder. When the same dogs maintain a high standard and win at different exhibitions, with different judges, it not only makes me happy, but also motivates me to go forward and breed dogs further”, asserts JJ Plungė.

She notes that at the major championships, dogs bred in Lithuania and their teams are assisted by the world’s best masters – guides, who help to show the class and quality of the dogs in the best possible way. This year, the team of guides consisted of representatives from Thailand, the USA, Italy and Lithuania: “We are extremely happy that we can work with such masters and achieve impressive results.”

According to JJ Plungė, the “World Dog Show” exhibition is one of the most important events in the world of cynology, and the 5 world winners and 2 vice-champions are the most significant ratings: “They are important not only for the history of the kennel – for at least another 20 years, the winning dogs will be immortalized in the dog’s pedigree, otherwise known as Pedigree.”

“Another special award is the victory in the Breeder competition, where the work of the breeder is evaluated. There are 3-5 dogs bred by the breeder, and this year I can be happy that the kennel “Tauro Kennel” with 5 Pomeranians took 3rd place. We are extremely happy that for the last 7 years the dogs of our kennel have been in the TOP 6 in the kennel competition”, says the long-time breeder.

She adds that not only the achievements of the kennel are important, but also the personal development of each dog.

“Tauro Pranciskus has been reigning on world podiums since the Baby class. 2 years ago, he became the youth class, and this year – already the world champion, he won the 5th group and entered the TOP 10 of the most beautiful dogs, – JJ Plungė names his achievements. “This victory for the Pomeranian Spitz in our kennel is an extremely huge evaluation that will be etched in our history, because to become the best representative of the breed is a dream, to become the winner of the group is already far above it, and to win the entire world championship is absolutely incredible.”

According to JJ Plungė, the Curly Bichon Tauro Nisaja also performed well, having already become world vice-champion twice at the age of two.

The manager of KIKA GROUP, UAB admits that every time her bred dog wins, she cries: “I can confidently admit – I cry, just like I used to cry during children’s competitions, whether they won or not. When the dogs win and I realize that the dream of becoming a world or European champion has come true, I can’t hold back the tears.”

“When the dog went to the World Championship group to fight against the top 10 dogs in the world, I thanked God for the opportunity to breed such dogs, to have such a team, people, facilities to help do this. Dogs that reach this level must have the absolute best care and the highest quality equipment. I am grateful that together with the team we can do so much. I am proud and say a sincere thank you to everyone – both to the rest of the people working in Lithuania, and to the international and our booth teams, who always help”, thanks JJ Plungė.

Today, KIKA GROUP, UAB consists of the KIKA retail and e-commerce network in Lithuania and Estonia, which has more than 120 stores, as well as one of the most modern dry fodder factories in Northern Europe. barber shop and training center “Tauro Grooming Academy” and a branch of the company in the United States of America. Currently, KIKA GROUP, UAB exports its products to more than 60 countries around the world.