This is a weekend we will remember for quite some time. On 15 and 16 August 2026, we attended the Double CACIB Ludwigshafen at the Friedrich-Ebert-Halle – with temperatures reaching up to 37°C on Saturday.
On Saturday, Miss Marple, Greta and Magnus were with us. On Sunday, Ingo joined our little team as well. With temperatures like these, however, one thing was clear even before the first dog entered the ring: this weekend was not only about results. The well-being of our dogs always came first.
37°C and a close eye on the dogs
We started on Saturday at around 8:30 in the morning. Even then, it was obvious that it was going to be an extremely hot day. Later, temperatures in the region climbed to around 37°C. The ground also told the story of the dry weeks before the show: most of the grass at the venue had burned away, leaving the surface hard and dusty.
Fortunately, the show rings were located beneath large tents, and fresh water was available free of charge throughout the venue. We had set up our own gazebo so that the dogs had a shaded place to retreat between their appearances. Cooling mats, cooling coats, several water bowls and a powerful fan were among the most important pieces of equipment that weekend.
Miss Marple, Greta and Magnus spent most of their time in the shade. We repeatedly dampened their cooling coats, changed their water and watched closely to see how each individual dog was coping with the heat. We kept the distances around the venue as short as possible. The dogs were presented in the ring and then taken straight back to the gazebo. With an English Mastiff in particular, it is important to react early rather than waiting until the heat has already become too much.
For Greta, this exceptionally hot Saturday also became a very special show day. She competed in the Champion Class, was awarded Best of Opposite Sex and, with this result, officially achieved the title of German Champion.
It was an important milestone for Greta and naturally a result that made us particularly happy on such a demanding day.
By around 4 p.m. we were back home. Three tired people and three tired Mastiffs – but everyone was doing well. After a day as hot as this one, that was by far the most important thing.
Four Excellent ratings – and our second German Champion
Sunday was slightly cooler than the day before, but it was still very warm and humid. The heat therefore remained challenging for both people and dogs. By now, however, we had our routine: gazebo, crates, water and cooling equipment were quickly set up. And this time, Ingo was with us as well.
The entry list for the Mastiffs was relatively small: our four dogs were the only representatives of the breed on Sunday. Nevertheless, each dog is judged individually – and we were delighted with the results. All four received the qualification Excellent and each of them took home either an award or a title.
- Greta: Excellent, Best of Breed and the title Rheinland-Pfalz Winner 2026
- Magnus: Excellent, Best of Opposite Sex and the title Rheinland-Pfalz Winner 2026
- Miss Marple: Excellent, Reserve CACIB and German Champion
- Ingo: Excellent and Reserve CACIB
For Miss Marple, Sunday therefore became a very special show day as well. With her result in Ludwigshafen, she too achieved the title of German Champion. After Greta had already completed her German Champion title on Saturday, we were able to finish the weekend with two new German Champions in our pack.
What made us particularly happy was the consistently strong result across all four dogs. Greta was named Best of Breed, while Magnus was Best of Opposite Sex. Miss Marple and Ingo both received Reserve CACIB awards. Together with the Rheinland-Pfalz Winner titles for Greta and Magnus and Miss Marple’s German Champion title, Sunday became the perfect conclusion to an exceptional show weekend.
Encounters that stay with us
Just as valuable as ribbons and certificates were the encounters around the show ring. We met fellow breeders, exchanged ideas and repeatedly found ourselves talking with visitors at our place. That is one of the things we enjoy about dog shows: people can experience the dogs directly, rather than only seeing them in photographs or through a polished online presentation.
We were particularly pleased by how specific many of the questions were. Of course, people asked about size and appearance. But much more often than expected, the questions were about what the breed is actually like to live with: What is everyday life with such a large dog really like? What should owners consider regarding joints and exercise while a Mastiff is growing? And how important are early experiences and good socialisation?
These are exactly the subjects we also cover in our Mastiff Guide. As impressive as a Mastiff may appear at first sight, temperament, development, health, space requirements and responsibility are what really matter for a good life together. It was also helpful that visitors at our place could meet Mastiffs of different ages and colours – including Ingo, who is now seven and a half years old. This gives a much more honest impression of the breed than a single beautiful photograph ever could.
Why visiting a dog show is worthwhile
If you have only ever seen an English Mastiff in photographs or online, visiting a dog show can be well worth it. What happens inside the ring is only a small part of the experience. The moments outside the ring can be even more interesting: How does a dog behave surrounded by many people and other breeds? How easily does it settle and relax? And how different do Mastiffs appear when several of them are standing side by side?
A dog show is, however, also a long day for the dogs. Rest periods and a protected place to retreat are therefore essential. If you would like to meet one of the dogs, it is always best to ask first. Sometimes it is a good moment straight away; at other times, the dog simply needs a break – and both are perfectly fine.
And so the final show at the Ludwigshafen venue came to an end with a weekend that could hardly have gone better in terms of results: Greta and Miss Marple both achieved the title of German Champion, Greta and Magnus became Rheinland-Pfalz Winners 2026, and all four Mastiffs received the qualification Excellent.
We therefore return home with two new German Champions, two Rheinland-Pfalz Winner titles, four Excellent ratings and many good conversations. Beyond the results, what remains is the memory of a weekend filled with organisation, even more water and a very watchful eye on our dogs. Most of all, we are happy that all four of them handled the weekend so well.
More impressions from Ludwigshafen 2026
