We evaluate the show results of Cimarron Uruguayo dogs in Europe each year, but only a few know the history of Cimarron Uruguayo Europe competition. Today, I decided to write its story. My name is Gabriella Hurtos and the story goes back to 2014 when I took home my first two Cimarron Uruguayo girls – sisters from the same litter. I selected two sisters as I wanted to find our what it looks like to train siblings. I was curious about how the motivation can be utilized in training process. Finally, I wanted to find out the abilities and limits of this breed.

The selected females differed in all aspects – anatomy, working potential, working abilities and most of all the way of thinking. Cora was a living robot fulfilling any of my wishes, doing obedience with the drive of a Malinois. Contrary, Connie was simply – too clever. She simply knew things. She was a dog that could had survived the big killing of dogs in Uruguay in the past. I could not imagine any better dogs by my side. For this, I will be forever grateful to all thanks to whom I could have them.

Helping in the Final Recognition of Cimarrón Uruguayo by the FCI

In 2015, I started attending dog shows with my ladies. It was the time, when I was asked from the Uruguay to collect show data of Cimarrons in Hungary. Similarly at the same time I was asked to help with the evaluation of show results of CU dogs in Europe. That time Cimarrón Uruguyo was recognized by the FCI on a provisional base. The lists of CU present at dog shows had to help in the recognition of our beloved breed on definitive base. So, of course, I was happy to help.

2016 was the year I imported two dogs coming directly from Uruguay. It was a happy moment for me. But at the same time, another member of the admin team faced serious health issues of her own dogs. Due to huge grief caused by loss of three of her dogs in a short period of time, the competition results were not completed for 2016 and not done at all for 2017.

History of Cimarron Uruguayo Europe Competition – My Vision

We could celebrate as Cimarrón Uruguayo was recognized by the FCI on a definitive bases in November 2017. The decision was made during the FCI meeting held in Leipzig within the World Dog Show.

In 2018, I decided to bring this competition back, but in a different way. No yearly changes in pointing systems depending on the “weather” or the “mood” of an admin. No enemy behavior among the admin team or the competitors and NO HARASSMENT, NO BULLYING!

I had a very clear vision. I wanted to create not a competition, where people compete against themselves, envy and quarrel. Much more I dreamt of a celebration of our show dogs. I wanted us all to ENJOY this all. To enjoy dog some shows as a trip with our beloved dogs. To spend nice time together. And then, see not only our results within the whole Europe, but have plenty of Cimarrons in our lists. I truly believed we would be able to see the increasing number of Cimarrons at dog shows in Europe year by year.

Finally, this competition was created not to hunt millions of titles with a dog, but to spend nice time together with the dog and share happiness, joy and the love of the same breed. Evidently, this was only MY “childish” dream…

The Renewed Cimarron Uruguayo Europe Competition

After having presented my idea to the admin team they all liked my idea, so we started working.

• First, the admin team had create and agree a pointing system, which would stay. The pointing system had to take into account the differences in the whole Europe. Thus the competition is fair for all participants. This was not easy as there were huge differences in the titles given in single countries. This appeared in spite of the fact, those dog shows were all under the FCI.
• The rules had to be valid for all.
• All dogs of competitors had to be added. The aim was to have as many Cimarrons as possible in the lists.
• The breeders could decide if their dogs would or would not compete. If we talk about “our dogs” in the case of breeders we also mean all dogs from the given kennel.
• We were ready to make as many categories as needed to have as many winner as possible, so almost all could get a WINNER title and diploma. As I mentioned sooner – the primary idea was so all ENJOY the “competition”. At the beginning we started with the same categories as the KCU used in their own competition.
• In the first couple of years we contacted all breeders as well as Cimarron Uruguayo owners who were at dog shows if they would like to compete. In the majority of cases they remembered the PREVIOUS competition. Nobody, who only attended at 1-2 shows with their dogs wanted to compete as nobody wanted to be the LAST in the list… This point of view was a pity. There were no “last” dogs at all in our lists. They were all winners. They were all our BELOVED Cimarrons, first of all.

New Admin Team Led To Better Atmosphere

During the years, there were some changes – not in the pointing systems, not in the lookout of the competition but in the admin team members. Once, there was an attempt of people who did not attend dog shows at all, to take over the competitions and change the rules as they wished. The admin team changed and the rules stayed the same as before. All continued in the friendly supporting atmosphere. The winners of the given year “retired” in order to let other Cimarrons win next year. This is something the outsiders could not see. I myself did not attend too many dog shows with my own dogs since 2019, to let my puppy owners win.

Irresponsible Breeders as the main Risk for the Cimarrons in Europe

During all these years, we witnessed new kennels appear like mushrooms after rain. This could have been great for this breed if the they were responsible. Unfortunately we witnessed the opposite. They used for breeding any dog they had regardless its background, health, anatomy etc. Any available male (even limping or with teeth issues) was acceptable for them to produce puppies. In the majority of cases they produced 1-2 litters and then they quit. Some were breeding with ill dogs, some with dogs that should have never been used for breeding, in one came the documents were falsified to get the FCI pedigrees for the litter. Many imported new dogs directly from the Uruguay and as the import was too expensive, they used those dog regardless their quality or health results.

Those, who know me, know, the health is number one at my own kennel, while my selection of stud animals is abnormally strict. I evaluate my own Cimarrons the most critically, not only as a breeder, but also as a trainer with working dogs background, as a certified Trick Dog trainer, show handler of my own dogs and as a FCI breed specialist judge. So, seeing that many people in Europe use dogs with HD – C or even HD – D, dogs with missing teeth combined with dogs with multiple teeth, dogs out of FCI standard, etc. for breeding, made me really sad. In fact, none of these issues led the admin team to any changes in Cimarron Uruguayo Europe Competition. Also irresponsible producers of Cimarrons were allowed to send in their show results and their dogs could appear in the lists.

Different Norms and Values

We all are not only Cimarron lovers/owners/breeders, but first of all – people. We all have our norms. But finally, our internal norms and values differed so much we had to react. We had to distance ourselves from those, who started to breed the way, which was absolutely unacceptable by us.

Moreover, they also started to behave contrary to our initial idea of keeping this competition in a friendly and respectful way. During the Christmas Eve 2025 and the following couple of days, the admin team faced harassment initiated by a someone who sooner refused to take part in the competition once and forever. The admin team did not change their decision valid for EVERYBODY. The admin team decided not to get involved into the arrogant quarreling way of communication with these people and keep the competition in a friendly mode exclusively for those responsible breeders who co-operate together within Cimarron Uruguayo Europe. We will no more propagate dogs of irresponsible breeders on our web page and via our social media.