The most beautiful native dog in Vietnam is about to compete internationally

Vang, the Mong Coc dog that just won first prize in the 2024 Vietnam Native Dog Contest, will travel to the US to compete in June.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Khiem in Hai Phong City, the owner of Vang, said that after winning first prize at the Vietnam Challenge Dog Show 2024 organized by the Vietnam Dog Breeders Association on April 6, Vang is undergoing procedures to attend the international Dog Show in the US. This is the first time the Mong Coc breed has participated in the competition. Previously, Vietnam had Dom and Ven, a Phu Quoc breed, competing.

Vang is a male dog, of the Mong Coc rabbit-tail breed, born in the mountains of Ha Giang in 2021. At 10 months old, he was discovered by a dog lover in Hanoi and introduced to Mr. Nguyen Trong Khiem. With a strong skeleton and cheerful demeanor, from the moment they met, Mr. Khiem determined that Vang met the standards of a show dog.

Gold when still in Ha Giang. Photo: NVCC

According to Mr. Khiem, in addition to the breed standards set by the dog organization, each dog has its own beauty, strengths and weaknesses. The owner will have to find ways to overcome them through training and education. If the dog has a bad running posture, an unstable skeleton or weak physique, then practice running and correct its walking style. If the dog loses concentration, regularly walk it one-on-one, using food as a reward to attract attention.

"As for Vang, he has almost no weaknesses," said Mr. Khiem. Coming to a new owner and a strange environment when he was quite old, Vang became friendly and quickly became close to people. He learned to walk, stand, run, and coordinate with the person holding the leash quickly, accurately, and rhythmically.

Native dogs like Vang are easy to feed because they have been used to common food since they were young. Their daily diet consists of chicken rice combined with dry food and minerals. Three weeks before going to the show, Vang is given beef, minerals, and double the usual amount of calcium, and his hair and nails are trimmed to improve his health and make him more flexible.

Gold competes in the Dog Show in Vung Tau in February 2024. Photo: NVCC

In 2022, after several small competitions, Vang won the Best In Show contest in Hanoi as the most beautiful native dog. "That day was hot and sunny, many dogs and their handlers were tired, but he showed no signs of fatigue, his face was always cheerful. That was Vang's innate advantage," Mr. Khiem recalled.

To date, Vang has won 26 Best In Show awards and countless other awards. "Vang is like a naturally talented player who only needs to be in a relaxed state of mind to compete well and shine," said Mr. Hoang Moc Cuong, Head of the Organizing Committee of Vietnam Challenge Dog Show 2024.

Mr. Cuong explained that in addition to meeting the breed's standards, Vang is better than his competitors in his steadfast spirit, always cheerful and friendly in all circumstances. The foreign judges of the competition highly appreciated this point.

Vnexpress.net