GERMANY-DOGS It's a dog's life as pooches join owners at exhibition devoted to man's best friend

Record ID: 146342

  • Title: GERMANY-DOGS It's a dog's life as pooches join owners at exhibition devoted to man's best friend
  • Date: 24th July 2015
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JULY 23, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BERLIN MUSEUM "KUPFERSTICHKABINETT" WITH ADVERT FOR "GONE TO THE DOGS" EXHIBITION PERSON WITH DOG WALKING TOWARDS ENTRANCE OF MUSEUM DOGS IN FRONT OF ENTRANCE DOG IN BAG PEOPLE WITH DOGS WALKING INSIDE MUSEUM SIGN ON DOOR FOR NO DOGS PEOPLE WITH DOGS WALKING INTO EXHIBITION LABRADOR AND OTHER DOG TALKING TO EACH OTHER P
  • Embargoed: 8th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4CAIOYXMXY8LXO2UUPTZP6SQN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Berlin's Kupferstichkabinett, or print room museum, is normally off limits to dogs but this summer, the "Gone to the Dogs!" special exhibition is dedicated to the man's best friend - and on Thursday (July 23) evening owners in the city were invited to bring their pets along.
    "The works on display show how...the dog has served people in a variety of roles, as watchdogs, sheepdogs, hunting dogs, and companion dogs and have been an integral feature of street scenes in cities for centuries," the museum said in a statement.
    Many of the artworks are displayed at the height of a smaller dog's eyes and their owners said they were thrilled about the idea although some rules do apply.
    No dog higher than around 50 centimetres will be admitted due to the relatively small exhibition and only fifteen dogs can visit at a time, according to the museum's regulations.
    At first the museum had planned for four special evenings when dog owners and their pets could come along and enjoy the exhibition.
    But this had to be increased to six dates because so many people registered their interest in an evening out with their pooch.
    The co-curator of the exhibition told Reuters TV that the idea had gone down a treat with both humans and their four-legged friends.
    "I was surprised, it's the first time I've done a tour with dogs in the museum and the dogs were a little bit excited but none of them barked, they were all relaxed. Also the visitors are great people who are really interested in the subject of dogs, it's nice," said Lydia Rosia Dorn.
    "I thought it was a great idea for a museum to be opened also for people with dogs," said Katja Wiesemann who was accompanied by Taco, her Brussels Griffon.
    "It is a very controversial subject which is discussed a lot, 'take the dog or don't take the dog.' Two worlds are always colliding and I thought it was good for the subject that they decided to invite those who are the subjects of the exhibition," said Wiesemann.
    The museum said "the aim of the summer show is to present particularly attractive and popular themes in art and cultural history to visitors during the summer months, the time of long holidays, of travel, when people have time to indulge in culture."
    Matthias Schikorski, owner of beagle "Stanley," said that while he and his dog "normally go for a walk in the park," it was "good to be able to experience something like this with the dog too."
    "I don't know how much he is getting out of it but I think he is enjoying it."
    "Gone to the Dogs!" is open until September 20 and Taco, Stanley and their friends are exempt from an entrance fee.
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