Welcome Letter
FCI-IGP World Championship 2025 – Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain)
September 15–21, 2025
Robert Markschläger
President of the FCI Working Dog Commission
Dear Sir or Madam, dear dog handlers and friends of working dog sport!
It is a great pleasure for me that we are visiting Spain for the first time with our World Championship for Utility Dogs. Organizing this World Championship, which is the world’s most important event in Utility dog sport, is a great challenge. We have a very committed team in Spain that has already put a lot of effort into the preparation. I am convinced that we will have a very well organized World Championship.
In addition to the sporting competition, this event also offers the opportunity for an international exchange of experience and the cultivation of friendships and the formation of new friendships among like-minded people.
In addition to the sporting activities, there should also be time to see the sights of the city and the surrounding area. Spain has a lot to offer. Use the days to enjoy the beauty of the region.
Utility dog sport is an ideal field of activity for our working dog breeds. Dogs need species-appropriate activities! Only busy dogs can be happy dogs. Due to the variety of these tests, nose work, harmony between dog and handler and control in a high appetite behavior, they place high demands on the disposition of the dogs and the training by the dog handlers. It is the supreme discipline in dog sports. Utility dog sports are repeatedly subjected to unjustified criticism, especially in Central Europe. This sport is the basis for maintaining and further improving the characteristics of working dogs. We want socially compatible dogs with working dog characteristics that are suitable both as family dogs and as service dogs and rescue dogs.
Preparing a world championship involves a great deal of effort and requires the help of many volunteers. I would like to thank the Spanish Cynological Association and the entire team for preparing and holding this world championship.
I wish the participants who qualified for this world championship in national selections every success. I am convinced that our experienced judges will guarantee that it will be a fair sporting competition.
So I wish everyone a pleasant stay in Spain, which will remain a pleasant memory for a long time.
José Miguel Doval Sánchez
President
Spanish Royal Canine Society
FCI General Committee Member
Dear participants, judges, volunteers, and friends of cynological sports,
On behalf of the Spanish Royal Canine Society (RSCE) and the Organizing Committee, I am delighted to extend our warmest welcome to Vitoria-Gasteiz for the FCI-IGP World Championship 2025.
We are deeply honored to host this internationally renowned event, which brings together the world’s best dog-handler teams in sports training. The FCI-IGP not only tests our dogs’ obedience, intelligence, and courage but also represents a manifestation of the unique relationship between humans and dogs—a bond based on trust, perseverance, respect, and a shared passion.
This championship is more than just a competition; it is a celebration of the future of cynology. Through canine sports, we contribute to the improvement of breeds, promote animal welfare, and strengthen a culture of respect, hard work, and excellence. Your dedication serves as an example for new generations of canine athletes and responsible breeders.
We also invite the general public to join us during these days, to witness firsthand the exciting work of the world’s best teams, and to understand how canine sports are not just about spectacle and technique. They are also an essential tool for a dog’s emotional balance, socialization, health, and integration into society. This is a unique opportunity to see the true value of the working dog in action.
We want to express our most sincere gratitude to everyone who has made this possible:
- To the Organizing Committee, for their tireless effort and commitment to every detail.
- To the Technical Team, whose enthusiasm and dedication are the heart of the championship; every single one of them is an indispensable part.
- To our sponsors, for believing in the importance of our work and supporting the development of canine sports.
- And especially to the City Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Provincial Council of Álava, and Basque Tour (the Basque tourism agency) for their institutional support, collaboration, and shared vision of what this event represents for the city, the community, and international cynology.
To all the teams, we wish you an unforgettable week, full of excitement, camaraderie, and achievements. May this championship inspire you, challenge you, and connect you even more with the noble spirit of the working dog.
With best wishes for success and enjoyment,
José Miguel Doval Sánchez
President
Spanish Royal Canine Society
Maider Etxebarria
Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz
As the Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz, it’s a great pleasure to welcome the 2025 FCI IGP World Championship, which will be held at the Gamarra municipal facilities.
For one week, Vitoria-Gasteiz will be the meeting point for canine athletes from all over the world. It will be a place where excellence, effort, and the shared passion between people and dogs come together—values that truly represent the spirit of our city.
Vitoria-Gasteiz is internationally recognized for its commitment to sustainability, its quality of life, and the respect it has for animals. That’s why I am confident that these days will be much more than a competition and will become an opportunity to share experiences, strengthen bonds, and discover a city that offers expansive parks and green spaces, rich gastronomy, history, tradition, and, above all, the hospitality of its residents.
Thanks to the Royal Canine Society of Spain and the Organizing Committee for making this championship possible. And to all the participating teams and their companions, please enjoy this open and welcoming Vitoria-Gasteiz, where you will always be greeted with open arms.
Maider Etxebarria
Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz
