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THE DUTCH BULL TERRIER CLUB

Op een koude januari dag in 1936 werd de Nederlandse Bull Terrier Club geboren, gedragen door de visie van twee bevlogen mannen: dr. C. Langhout en dr. Cohen. Wat begon als een idealistisch initiatief in moeilijke economische tijden, groeide uit tot een toonaangevende rasvereniging met een rijke geschiedenis. Dr. Cohen, arts én ras liefhebber, was onvermoeibaar in zijn missie om de Bull Terrier in Nederland op de kaart te zetten. Hij schreef talloze artikelen en wist met zijn enthousiasme zelfs in crisistijd mensen warm te maken voor het ras. In 1934 haalde hij twee gekleurde Bull Terriers uit Engeland: de rode reu Wugging Wiseacre en de zwart-gestroomde teef Welkom in Holland. Uit hun combinatie werd datzelfde jaar het eerste nest gekleurde Bull Terriers in Nederland geboren, een mijlpaal die de basis legde voor de verdere ontwikkeling van het ras hier.

Langhout en Cohen vormden een gouden duo. Dr. Langhout, eigenaar van kennel Urtica, was niet alleen dierenarts maar ook een scherpzinnige kynoloog. Hij gaf de club structuur en richting, en bleef veertig jaar lang trouw aan zijn rol als voorzitter. Samen zorgden Langhout en Cohen ervoor dat de NBTC al snel erkend werd door de Raad van Beheer. Als eerbetoon leven hun namen voort in de jaarlijkse Dr. Cohen Memorial Show en de Dr. Langhout Bokaal, die tijdens de Clubmatch wordt uitgereikt.

The early years were modest, with a small board and few members. Nevertheless, the club grew steadily. In 1962, a separate members' meeting was held for the first time in a long time, with Mr. F.G. Oude Elferink taking over the secretary position from Dr. Cohen, who had previously combined it with his role as treasurer. Membership rose to 75, and in 1968 the first championship club match took place. Two years later, the first club day was held at the Urtica house, with two hundred visitors and 37 participating Bull Terriers. It was a celebration, and it left everyone wanting more.

The club was booming, but internally, things were starting to unravel. In 1976, the call for renewal was heard. There were rival candidates, discussions, and ultimately, a new board. But the day of the Annual General Meeting took a sad turn: Dr. Cohen, the man who had made the breed famous in the Netherlands, was buried that same day. What he left behind was more than a club. It was a community of people who cherished the Bull Terrier. And you can still feel that today, in the shows, the stories, and especially in the dogs themselves.

NATIONAL COMPETITION

One of the most prestigious events within the Dutch Bull Terrier Club (N.B.T.C.) is the Nations Cup. This special competition was introduced in 2006 in honor of the club's 70th anniversary and has since grown into an international phenomenon that brings together Bull Terrier enthusiasts from all over the world. Teams from various countries participate with carefully selected Bull Terriers, divided into four different classes: males and females under and over two years of age. Three independent judges evaluate the dogs individually, without consulting each other. Based on their assessments, points are awarded to the individual dogs, and the team with the highest total score wins the competition.

The first edition was won with flying colors by the Netherlands, with Belgium as a respectable runner-up. Since then, the competition has grown enormously. Visitors from Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Asia make it a global event. Besides teams from Europe, even countries like the United States, Mexico, Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru send their best dogs. Since their first participation in the third edition, the United Kingdom has delivered an impressive performance, winning the Nations Cup no fewer than twelve times, with two second-place finishes and one third-place finish. The United States and the Netherlands each have one victory to their name and three second-place finishes. Poland has also emerged as a strong contender, with three wins and six second-place finishes. A remarkable achievement came from the Hungarian team in 2011, when they won the competition with a team composed entirely of white Bull Terriers—a rare and memorable victory.

The Nations Cup is more than just a competition. It's a celebration of the beautiful Bull Terrier breed and of international cooperation. Every year, it brings together people who share the same passion, making it a unique and beloved event in the world of purebred dog sports.