Congress lasted for two weeks but most of Europeans couldn't go for such long time so we came at second week. There were following Latinamerican countries: Colombia (Colombian Kennel Association and Rescate K-SAR), Mexico (Civil department), Urugvai (army) and Brasil. The goal of the event was an international demonstration of rescue dog work under the aspect of diversity of breeds for the South American authorities. Of course it should also serve as a platform for the international exchange of experiences. Whole european team led Dr. Wolfgang Zörner (IRO president) what was big honour for all of us: Petra Grah with her German Sheperd Gonscha vom Schelmenturm (Germany), Danka Slabeciusová with her Giant Schnauzer Bricas Vatikán (Slovakia), Miha Valic with his Golden Retriever Uka (Slovenia), Rudolf Klein with the Bernese Mountain Dog Quincey von Wiesmadern (Austria), Patrick Corpataux with his Malinois Salto du Bois-Derriere (Switzerland), Jana Sikulova as translator for Danka and, of course, the judge Walter Hoffmann.

An excellent organisation from IRO allowed to all of the dogs to fly with us in a cabin and stuff from aeroplane were more than great.

We were settled in one monastery in centre of Bogota which serve to provide new generations of priests and also for daily gathering of children from different schools. First night at our arrival, we slept with dogs at private houses of our hosts. Other nights we were at that monastery with the dogs and concerning dogs - it was historical decision that allowed dogs to sleep in the rooms.

On Monday, all participants had the opportunity to practice searching on simulated rubble and to get to know each other for the first time.

On Thursday started the trial, at which the judge was Walter Hoffmann, a judge from Germany. Colombia became IRO member in 2005 and then it also started organizing official trials. Since they still don't have their own national judges, just like us in Croatia, they depend on international IRO judges and that raises the prices of trials. Because of that, they have only one trial per year, and, of course, most of them try to pass it in that period of time. Therefore, the trials lasted continuously from Thursday till Sunday. When someone passed the first level of area search (or rubble search) test, they immediately continued to search trying to pass second level of the same test. It was very exhausting both for handlers and their dogs because each trial has three disciplines: obedience, dexterity and search.

Because in Bogotá new buildings are being built every minute, and the old ones are being demolished, their handlers have lot of opportunity to practice on ''fresh'' rubbles, and so did handlers in this trial. Disaster area was almost 24 hours old, and it was especially interesting because, during the trial, real workers were demolishing the rubble (we don't have that kind of experience at home) thus giving a more realistic atmosphere which is always the main goal in trying to test the SAR dogs. There was also some noise coming from slamming on empty metal barrels which was more annoying factor for handlers than for dogs :-) Although, most of the dogs successfully finished the task, some of them had problems with handling and barking at the decoys. The biggest problem for the most of them was managing the stairs which was the only way to the first floor of the disaster area.

On Wednesday started area search test, first level. Climate conditions in Bogotá are quite different from those in Europe (searching area was on 3000m above the sea level, there are big temperature oscillations, different vegetation,...) so this was a good opportunity for practise with dogs and to evaluate how well they are prepared.

On Thursday, finally came our turn. In dexterity we got 49 points and in obedience 46 points. Area search test, second level, started on Friday. Area was on a private hacienda and it was covered in thick and green vegetation. Dogs were sent to search from the middle of the terrain, 50 meters left and right, and after one meter they were gone in woods, you couldn't see them any more because of dense vegetation. That's where the dogs had to show much of their independence in searching and how reliable they were. Area was 100x300m large, and three decoys needed to be found in 20 minutes.

Gunna had shown an excellent work, searching independently with great speed. She found first decoy within the first minute, and the second decoy only couple of minutes later, moving through the dense vegetation without any problems. Every time I sent her to search, she would start like bullet. She found her third decoy just one or two minutes after the second, and finished her trial. Gunna had shown what a great working dog she is, never hesitating no matter how hard it is. In this trial, she achieved 197 points. After coming back from search, we performed obedience and dexterity for disaster area test which was held the next day. We did obedience with 47 points, and dexterity with 50 points!

At following day was presentation at the FCI Exhibition American-Caribian Exhibition Colombia 2006 in the heart of Bogotá in Polo Country Club. The teams were put together and exercises were rehearsed and tried days before, all by supervisor of Dr. Zorner. The presentation was big success and a great attraction for the visitors of the event. It included obediance, dexterity and searching work with young and more experianced dogs which showed to audiance all levels of training. Me and Gunna also showed some tricks in part of dexterity.

The same night, we all had a farewell meeting. All the good and negative aspects were reviewed, presents were exchanged and the wish to repeat an event like this was expressed. Points from the exams showed that Gunna and me had the best work in area and disaster and had to be the best team at the Congress!