VILIAM RUŽIČKA
IFR WCH 2024 JUDGE FOR IFH1 AND LONG DOWN IGP3 

My name is Viliam Ružička and I am 59 years old. I have been involved in cynology since 1976. Our family loves dog sport – my wife as well as my younger daughter took part in competitions, and my older daughter Martina Škriečková has been competing recently, she has participated in the world championships several times. I live in Chocholna near Trenčín and I am the chairman of the dog training club EXCEL Trenčín. I got my first dog, a German Shepherd female without pedigree, from my parents in 1976. I have had dogs of different breeds since that time, I trained them and passed trials according to the Slovak National Rules (SVV), IPO and IGP Rules. I took part in the SVV3 and IGP3 qualifiers and National Championships. My Briard (Berger de Brie) became the most successful dog of the breed in the former Czech and Slovak Federative Republic, we passed SVV3 and IPO3. Together with my Boxer female we won the Slovak National Championship. I took part in the FMBB World Championship 2022 with my Malinois female. Back to present times – I am training two German Shepherd dogs to SVV3 and preparing a Malinois female from my kennel to SVV and IGP trials. I worked as a professional dog handler in the civil service for 25 years. I also had two Rottweilers during those years and their temperament was interesting. I am currently retired and I devote my free time to sport cynology.

Mr. Ružička, have you ever judged the IFR World Championship? What great events have you judged so far?

I have been actively judging since 1982, I started with the SVV Rules and then the IGP. I was a judge for the qualifiers several times for the Slovak National IGP and SVV3 Championships and I also judged the Police and ZVJS (Prison and Court Guard Service) Championships in Slovakia. I appreciate the opportunity to judge the IFH1 category at the IFR World Championship, this will be my first time and I am looking forward to it very much.

Which phase of the IGP do you prefer as a judge?

I love tracking and obedience.

You are going to judge the IFH1 category and also supervise the long down exercise of the IGP3 obedience – you will be quite busy. Do you prepare for judging in any way?

I often judge various trials and competitions. And I also have a chance to see many dogs in training process.

What tracking work do you want to see as a judge? Have you ever written 100 points because there was nothing to deduct, simply a perfect tracking work?

Tracking can be very tricky in some aspects. Performance of the team depends on the current state of tracking terrains, weather and also the handler and his/her dog need at least a bit of good luck. I love to see a dog that works independently not only on the legs of the track, but also when indicating the articles. If a dog works precisely and all requirements are met, it is possible for me to award 100 points even at the World Championship. And yes, I have already awarded this score several times in my judge practice.

What does sport cynology mean to you? Do you have time for other hobbies?

Sport cynology has always been my main hobby. Apart from it, I love my family, it is also my hobby.

What is your opinion on the Rottweilers and their performances regarding the sport cynology? Do you think this breed has made a progress in the last 15 years as working dogs? Where do you think the sport cynology is heading nowadays?

I have judged the RTW breed suitability test four times in Slovakia and so I can see the development of this breed. From my own experience I can say that Rottweilers can achieve excellent results in all the IFR 2024 disciplines. Sport cynology is very punctual, it puts the emphasis on precise execution of each exercise in each phase, and the dog should work willingly with no stress and enjoy the performance together with the handler.

Thank you for the interview, Draha Mašková

Translation: Eva Fiedlerová