1. How long have you been devoting yourself to agility? With how many dogs and breeds have you already run?
I started doing agility in 2001. But I love this sport since it became famous in Italy, about the early 90's.The first dog I started with, was the dog of my mother, an Airedale Terrier female : Ginger Peppermint "Brandy".
My mother and I had always had rough collie. The first was a dark sable female named Lester: Lester had no pedigree, but She was a special dog. It was my best friend throughout childhood.
When Lester died, We understood that We cannot live without a dog , or better without a collie ! So Almond arrived. She had one year when she came to us. She was a very good dog. She had the pedigree and the breeder wanted a litter from her. So in our house were born 6 puppies. We decided to take 2 pups: Lina and Bear. They did not have the good character of the mother, but they were healthy for over 14 years and we have loved them so much.
When Almond is dead, my dad wanted an Airedale, and so Brandy came to us. Brandy and I are trained in agility very well. She was a strong character, not easy for someone who was used to the collie!
When we were ready to make the races, Brandy has had problems with one front paw. So, for her, no more agility.
Meanwhile, at the end of 2001, I had adopted a cocker spaniel from a kind of shelter. His name was Terence. It was a very nervous dog and with very little hardening. I worked with him for about 7 months in agility, but when I realized that for him it was just stress, I quit. Terence stayed with me until November 2012 (when he died of kidney failure) and has lived as a house dog.
My coach, Daniel, told me that I was unlucky ... But I loved the agility and I have not given up.
I started working with May, a border collie female , tricolor. May lived in a family, but She did not work. I was her dog-sitter. I spent so much time with her. There was a good relationship between us. So I decided to train her. I took her to do agility 2 times a week and then went jogging.
We debuted in the competition in October 2004. And we got the point at the first race (clear run in Agility)! It 'been a great joy!
But my dream was to do agility with my own dog and this dog had to be a rough collie !!!
So, when a friend breeder called me to say She had a puppy suitable for agility, I did not think. And Yuki came into my life. It was January of 2005.
Yuki and I started compete in January 2007 . There were many difficult moments, so many tears, so much frustration. And a lot of joy, a lot of satisfaction. 24 podiums in A2 and the passing in A3 in January 2013.
Yuki has taught me that if you struggle to achieve a goal, your satisfaction is enormous. He taught me the calm and patience. She made me realize that if you work well, maybe not immediately, but sooner or later the results are good. If I'm a good dog trainer , I think if I am a good dog trainer, It's thanks to her.
When Yuki was 5 years old, I decided I wanted to have another collie for life & agility. This time I knew what to look for in my "puppy dreams."
And as you know Elora came from Finland.
Elora debuted in Agility competition in May 2011, at 18 months of age, in beginner class -from 2010 in Italy, we have 4 classes of agility ...-. In three races She passed in A1. With 11 podiums in 12 months of competitions. And 1 podium / points in A2 After 4 competitions in this class.
2. What was the reason for using just Collies, which do not rank among typical agility breeds, for agility ?
This is a very good question! Well, I do not think that there are breed for agility.
For me, agility means fun and make sport with your dog, whatever! Breed or cross breed, slow or fast: it does not matter! Just dog and owner to have fun together! I do not like people who choose a dog as a function of their ambitions in agility / sports competitions. For me, the dog is a life partner, a friend that I carry with me always : for a walk ,in the mountains,at the sea, at the restaurant ...
Sport is just the icing on the cake! I do not know what the situation in the Czech Republic, but in Italy the border collie is more present breed in agility and the more sponsored by the trainers." If you want to do agility, take a border collie". But the border collie (or the malinois) it is not suitable for everyone. So, increasingly, in the competitions , I see dogs nervous, frustrated and aggressive, that during the race unload their frustration by doing what they want. They don't give attention to their handler , which is often quite unable to manage dogs with temperament so high. I do agility with collies because I love this breed. I like it, I'm happy with them. I love their versatility and their discretion. They Can give you everything in training/ competitions and stay quiet at home if there is a need . I don't want a dog for sport . I want a dog . A life companion . With this dog I wanna do many things . Agility is one of these .
The collie is my dog's life. The agility is my sport. That's why I do agility with the collies!
3. We all admire you and Elora while seeing you running. You make an adorable team. The speed of Elory is really fascinating. Has she been in such a condition since the day of her birth or is it especially your credit?
This is also a very good question!
I'd like to say that Elora is like this because of me and nothing else. But I would say something false.
In reality Elora is so. Strong and fast, with a lot of grit and without any fear. When you are training with her and when she makes the competitions, she gives you 150%, she does not spare herself.
I remember the first time that she came to my agility school. She had never seen agility obstacles. Walter and I have started to move the tunnels and she slipped into the tunnel while moving! Crazy!
I always thought that she has the WORK in the DNA and in particular agility.
Then of course, I think I tried to do a good job with her. A lot of socialization. Exercises in concentration, reinforcement on me, gradual and steady approach to work. And then I assigned to my coach Daniel ( He has over 20 years experience as Agility trainer ). Because when you have a dog with lots of potential, you must be sure not to waste it.
It was not an easy path. But I think we now have a good understanding. Excellent in training. We are not yet perfect in the race, for my sake: I am too nervous!
4. What is the difference between the character and attitude to the sport of Yuky and Elora?
First, I must say that between Yuki and Elora is a big difference in the breeding selection.
Yuki comes from show lines Italian and English. Aesthetically,She is the collie who I like . A female not too small, with a nice thick coat but not bulky, nice topline, nice typical head and beautiful movement.
Yuki is fantastic in Galloping launched . She has great push in the back despite his almost nine years: it is always nice to see her run.
Her faults are definitely in character. She 's very wary and shy with strangers. She does not like enclosed spaces and crowded and is frightened by some slippery surfaces.
You can not make her compete in agility indoors if the bottom is synthetic grass.
In addition, she is afraid of loud noises: shots, fireworks and thunder.
All these insecurities and fears, mean that, when she works (both in competition and in training) do not ever let go completely. This limit is for me was very hard to accept. and It was sad to see that She could give 150, but then in the race makes 70 ... But over time I learned to accept this part of her, and as things have improved. Yuki is, to me, a dog "incomplete": She has a high temper that making her versatile and easy to train, but did not hardening ... So it is very hard work with her, if She doesn't feel totally at ease.
Elora born from a true breeding project, with the aim of creating dogs suitable for work.
Elora is not structurally very different from Yuki. But She is physically stronger and equipped. If Yuki is fast running, Elora is much more. Years of Scandinavian selection through the mental test, have made her and her family mentally strong and confident.
At work Elora is a caterpillar. Right now is an injured toe, because She was launched at breakneck speed in the soft tube and took a strong hit near the nail ... Yet She did not want to stop working!
Elora has no problem with people and with the environments: She is always safe and at ease. When in a state of great excitement because She wants to train or compete, barks a lot.
This is perhaps its biggest flaw.
5. Why did you choose Collie from Finladn? How did you find out about this kind of Collies, which are bred especially for exhibition shows these days?
When I decided to take another collie, I tried for about two years in Europe, breeding with dogs safe, without fear, suitable for sports.I never thought that collie was just a dog for show. In some European countries it is. But not everywhere, fortunately.
At first I studied the German working lines. I really like their dogs.Then I found some kennels in Finland. I saw the video of their dogs to work and during mental test. And I've made my choice.
I think that, if we changed the question, that is, if individuals begin to ask for active dogs, lively, suitable for the sport, it would change the criterion of breeding. Or at least I hope so.
6. What is your opinion on the quality of collies in agility in the world? Do you have general knowledge about it?
As I said, I think the collie can be a very good working dog.I've seen videos of collies active in agility from Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the Czech republic, Hungary, of Russia, collies Americans by the United States and even someone have been bred here in Italy with really good qualities ...But, what I think is that miss a real breeding project about working collies.
Only in some cases, the collies that I have seen work in agility are part of working lines.
For most specimens are owned by true lovers of Collies and Agility, who have done their best to work in the sport with their collies. Often, studying the lines of these dogs, there were no other individuals involved in the work in their pedigree.
That's why I say that there is no breeding project.
If you want to have a border or a malinois to do agility, you know for sure who ask for. But if you do this research about the collie, the road is much more difficult.
In Italy for example , ther's not a working collie kennel . If you search with attention , you can find a collie like my Yuki , but you must be very lucky .
Scandinavian breeding rules have prevented a true separation between working collie and show collie. To become a champion, the dog must have obtained the results in field trials ( or Obedience or Agility) or have passed the mental test.
That's why I believe that their dogs are so good.
7. What is your main goal in agility?
Now my goal is got another 2 points in. A2 and take Elora in Agility 3 ! ;)) Of course I would like to get in A3 with her, and if that happens, maybe participate in the selection for the European Open of Agility ...
But maybe I'm daydreaming!
8. What is your role in agility in Italy? Has somebody ever tried to persuade you to get a border-collie?
I hope not to disappoint you too much, but I do not have a "role" in the 'agility in Italy.
I'm an agonist, but I'm not fixed with racing. I compete usually 1 or 2 times a month.
I have my own school of agility, little one, from 6 years and I carry with me to the races some students who I follow from a few years with very good results.
We love to do agility and even go to the races, but the competition is not our main goal. For us it is more important to be with our dogs and have fun with them.
My agility school is like me: a little unusual! Of about 20 dogs, trained by me, which are already competitive, I only have 2 border collies! : D
Yes, in the past has happened. In The first school I attended, where I was in training with Brandy (Airedale terrier), the team leader said, "Now, if you really want to do agility and become a good dog trainer, you have to take a SERIOUS dog, a border". :(((
And many years ago, also my coach, Daniele had tried to convince me to take an Australian shepherd instead of the rough collie. But now he is very proud of me, Yuki, and especially of Elora!
9. Are there any agility idols for you? Do you know any prominent Czech agility teams?
Yes, of course. There are some agility athletes that I admire.
Here in Italy, above all, I like the competitors that not lead only border collies.
My coach Daniel Bertino (IMCA INDIVIDUAL WINNER 2005 with his Kelpie),
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZbC0faNJOg
Nicola Giraudi (WAC in 2011 with His Jack Russell),
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjGgGbGeFJ4
some others Agility
Italian team members (Marzia Quinzio , Veronique Toniolo and Massimo Bascialla With Their Shelties).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we76voINndc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMQWQU6Ctck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V80YX5Y-KdE
Vittorio Papavero and his belgian sheepdogs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzXiYhrjMy8
Among Italian athletes who have border collies I really like Irene Unkauf.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6Ggcbl_DaM
From abroad I really like Jenny Damm , Lisa Frick , Janita Leinonen and Jakko Suoknuuti, Seppo Savikko , Susan Garrett , Silvia Trkman.
From Czech , I like Martina Klimesova and Tereza Kràlovà.
And I really really admire over all , Tiina Hasu , Elora's breeder , for her fantastic results with rough collies : 5 Finland Champion handled and breeded by her . AMAZING !!! :))