Belgian Ring
Encyclopedia
The Belgian Ring/Ring sport is a Protection- or "Police"-dogsport, organized by the "NVBK" (Nationaal Verbond van Belgische Kynologen), "KKUSH" (Koninklijke Kynologische Unie Sint-Hubertus) as well as the "KCB" (Kennel Club Belge). It's the oldest and one of the hardest defense-dogsports in the world and is completely dominated by the Malinois
(Mechelse dog).
Ringsport is also very closely related with the Belgian Police
and Army
Forces because most of the service dogs are bought and trained in the Belgian Ringsport-circuit.
start to use non-trained dogs to help and companion the city guards. At that time, they also used a middle sized, fast and very intelligent dog with all kind of colors and coats, for herding sheep.
This is the start because the Belgian Shepherd is the foundation of Ring sport.
In 1880, some people began to give demonstrations with their Belgian Shepherds. Not for the sport, but to earn some money. It was very simple: attract people to your "Ring" (closed area) and get money out of them.
One of those man, "Edmond Moecheron", called "The father of the Ringsport", was the first man who had success with his demonstrations of "Police dogs" together with his 3 Belgian Shepherds (Dax, Nic & Miss) and his helper (decoy
). Soon he became an attraction on all possible events, newspapers wrote spectacular story's and other people began to copy his shows. He, and many other, gave a lot of demonstrations everywhere in Belgium, Holland, France, etc...
Impressed by the capabilities of the Belgian Shepherds and their trainers, Ernest Van Wezemael, Chief Commissioner of the police in Ghent at that time, formed the first police dog-school, also in Ghent in 1899.
He even wrote a book about the use of police dogs and soon, several countries such as France, England, United States, Brasil, etc... send people to see and learn those training methods, even to buy trained dogs.
The first Ringsport trial took place in Mechelen
, Belgium
in 1903 and is probably the oldest Ringsport trial ever. It wasn't well defined, but each team did what they could the best.
The first "real defined" Ringsport trial was signed in 1908.
The program held in:
There were a total of 90 points to earn.
The first "National Ringsport Championship" was organized by the KCB in Brussels on 21 and 22 June 1913. The first "Belgian Champion" was the famous Groenendael
"Jules du Moulin (LOB 2884)". He was also the champion in 1914. (Since then the program has changed several times but all the exercises are still present in one way or another in the modern trials)
Note: From World War I to 2000, only a Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) won the title with the following 2 exceptions:
The best result for another breed than the Belgian Shepherd, was the second place of the Bouvier des Flandres
"Sicky der Begijntjes (LOB 56425)" in 1950.
In 1926, the KMSH (now part of the KKUSH) organized its own championship for the first time under the name "Grand Prix of Belgium". The first winner was the Malinois bitch "Sadi (LOSH 13537)". Meanwhile, France had his own Ring-program (French Ring) and Holland KNPV.
Note: From 1926 to 2000, always a Malinois won the "Grand Prix of Belgium" with the following 2 exceptions:
The best result for another breed than the Belgian Shepherd was the second place of the German Shepherd
"Swito (LOSH 61915)" in 1935 and the Bouvier des Flandres
"Vuw (LOSH 141222)" obtained also the second place in 1952.
At the end of 1963, after months of incidents (a.o. about the rules of ring competition), a definite split occurred in the world of working dogs of the KMSH. A lot of working clubs of ring decided to become independent under the name of "Nationaal Verbond van Belgische Kynologen" (NVBK). Since then the Malinois "Kiener (LOSH 197867)", who won the "Grand Prix of Belgium" in 1963, takes his place in this new organization and won the first "NVBK-title" in 1964. He also won the NVBK-titel in 1966 and 1967. (Kiener was an ace in ring competition. Born in 1961, he won the "Grand Prix of Belgium" in 1963 before the age of 2!!!)
Note: From 1964 to 2007, only a Malinois won the NVBK-title with no exception. The NVBK uses only Malinois because it's the only breed who can compete for the title in the NVBK-ring as a result of the difficult program. A few people have tried to compete with another breed but they were never successful.
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)
The Belgian Shepherd Dog is a breed of dog, sometimes classified as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog rather than as a separate breed. The Malinois is recognized in the United States under the name Belgian Malinois...
(Mechelse dog).
Ringsport is also very closely related with the Belgian Police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
and Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
Forces because most of the service dogs are bought and trained in the Belgian Ringsport-circuit.
History of the "Belgian Ringsport"
Around 1700, people in BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
start to use non-trained dogs to help and companion the city guards. At that time, they also used a middle sized, fast and very intelligent dog with all kind of colors and coats, for herding sheep.
This is the start because the Belgian Shepherd is the foundation of Ring sport.
In 1880, some people began to give demonstrations with their Belgian Shepherds. Not for the sport, but to earn some money. It was very simple: attract people to your "Ring" (closed area) and get money out of them.
One of those man, "Edmond Moecheron", called "The father of the Ringsport", was the first man who had success with his demonstrations of "Police dogs" together with his 3 Belgian Shepherds (Dax, Nic & Miss) and his helper (decoy
Decoy
A decoy is usually a person, device or event meant as a distraction, to conceal what an individual or a group might be looking for. Decoys have been used for centuries most notably in game hunting, but also in wartime and in the committing or resolving of crimes.-Duck decoy:The term duck decoy may...
). Soon he became an attraction on all possible events, newspapers wrote spectacular story's and other people began to copy his shows. He, and many other, gave a lot of demonstrations everywhere in Belgium, Holland, France, etc...
Impressed by the capabilities of the Belgian Shepherds and their trainers, Ernest Van Wezemael, Chief Commissioner of the police in Ghent at that time, formed the first police dog-school, also in Ghent in 1899.
He even wrote a book about the use of police dogs and soon, several countries such as France, England, United States, Brasil, etc... send people to see and learn those training methods, even to buy trained dogs.
The first Ringsport trial took place in Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in 1903 and is probably the oldest Ringsport trial ever. It wasn't well defined, but each team did what they could the best.
The first "real defined" Ringsport trial was signed in 1908.
The program held in:
- Walk "off leash" near handler: 20pts
- Retrieve an object: 5pts
- Guard object without presence of owner: 5pts
- Jump over obstacles: 10pts
- Jump over a hole or canal: 10pts
- Defense of owner: 15pts
- Attacking helpers (decoys) pointed by owner: 10pts
- Saving an object out of a pool: 15pts
There were a total of 90 points to earn.
The first "National Ringsport Championship" was organized by the KCB in Brussels on 21 and 22 June 1913. The first "Belgian Champion" was the famous Groenendael
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael)
The Belgian Shepherd Dog is recognized by all major kennel clubs. In the United States it is recognized under the name Belgian Sheepdog....
"Jules du Moulin (LOB 2884)". He was also the champion in 1914. (Since then the program has changed several times but all the exercises are still present in one way or another in the modern trials)
Note: From World War I to 2000, only a Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) won the title with the following 2 exceptions:
The best result for another breed than the Belgian Shepherd, was the second place of the Bouvier des Flandres
Bouvier des Flandres
The Bouvier des Flandres is a herding dog breed originating in Flanders. They were originally used for general farm work including cattle droving, sheep herding, and cart pulling, and nowadays as guard dogs and police dogs, as well as being kept as pets. The French name of the breed means,...
"Sicky der Begijntjes (LOB 56425)" in 1950.
In 1926, the KMSH (now part of the KKUSH) organized its own championship for the first time under the name "Grand Prix of Belgium". The first winner was the Malinois bitch "Sadi (LOSH 13537)". Meanwhile, France had his own Ring-program (French Ring) and Holland KNPV.
Note: From 1926 to 2000, always a Malinois won the "Grand Prix of Belgium" with the following 2 exceptions:
The best result for another breed than the Belgian Shepherd was the second place of the German Shepherd
German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog , also known as an Alsatian or just the German Shepherd, is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog, with its origin dating to 1899. As part of the Herding Group, the German Shepherd is a working dog...
"Swito (LOSH 61915)" in 1935 and the Bouvier des Flandres
Bouvier des Flandres
The Bouvier des Flandres is a herding dog breed originating in Flanders. They were originally used for general farm work including cattle droving, sheep herding, and cart pulling, and nowadays as guard dogs and police dogs, as well as being kept as pets. The French name of the breed means,...
"Vuw (LOSH 141222)" obtained also the second place in 1952.
At the end of 1963, after months of incidents (a.o. about the rules of ring competition), a definite split occurred in the world of working dogs of the KMSH. A lot of working clubs of ring decided to become independent under the name of "Nationaal Verbond van Belgische Kynologen" (NVBK). Since then the Malinois "Kiener (LOSH 197867)", who won the "Grand Prix of Belgium" in 1963, takes his place in this new organization and won the first "NVBK-title" in 1964. He also won the NVBK-titel in 1966 and 1967. (Kiener was an ace in ring competition. Born in 1961, he won the "Grand Prix of Belgium" in 1963 before the age of 2!!!)
Note: From 1964 to 2007, only a Malinois won the NVBK-title with no exception. The NVBK uses only Malinois because it's the only breed who can compete for the title in the NVBK-ring as a result of the difficult program. A few people have tried to compete with another breed but they were never successful.
Similar Organizations
- Belgian Ring (NVBK, KMSH and KCB)
- CampagneCampagneCampagne is French for "rural area" or "countryside" and "campaign".Campagne is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Campagne, in the Dordogne department* Campagne, in the Hérault department* Campagne, in the Landes department...
- French Ring
- Dutch KNPV
- Mondio RingMondio RingMondio Ring is a type of dog sport. It is a protection sport that tests the ability of the dog to protect both themselves and their handlers, even through extreme distractions. The sport trials are similar to the work performed by police dogs...
- SchutzhundSchutzhundSchutzhund is a dog sport that was developed in Germany in the early 1900s as a breed suitability test for the German Shepherd Dog. The test would determine if the dog displayed the appropriate traits and characteristics of a proper working German Shepherd Dog...
- K9 Pro SportsK9 Pro Sports- History :K9 Professional/Protection Sports, also known as K9 Pro Sports was founded in 1992. The first Personal Protection and Patrol dog certification trial was held in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Events of the very first trial were highlighted in Dog Sports Magazine. The popularity of these...
- American Street Ring
- Protection Sports Association
- Service Dogs Of AmericaService Dogs Of AmericaService Dogs Of America is a dog sport that was developed in the United States in 2001 to offer training titles which could meet the needs of professionals concerning various types of service dog training such as protection and search and rescue....