The interview with Ilaria opens the doors to the world of female agility dog. In his twenty years of dogs, of agility, of competitions, of tears of joy and disappointment, he tells us about his experience made above all of 6-legged love.
Hi Ilaria, how did you discover the agility dog?
In April 1997 from a magazine, although I was actually looking for something for my hyperkinetic 6 month old Labrador to do, as I was even having a hard time taking her on a leash!
Considering it a good activity, I enrolled in a course in Pavia, held by one of the best known trainers of the moment. It was a full immersion week and I went home ready to change my life with Nikita! So we started attending a center regularly and everything started from there.
What kind of dogs do you practice this activity with?
It all started with my Labrador, then I experienced the thrill of "formula one" with my Border collie Lynn, the unforgettable companion of a thousand adventures, and today I think I have found my favorite breed ... the black dwarf bum .
With 8-year-old male Fonzie, 4-year-old Happydays with whom I will face the European championships this year, and 7-month-old Morticia, I experience the world of agility every day!
Do you think there is a more predisposed breed or type of dog?
Any dog can do it agility, I basically do not recommend it to animals over 25 kg because of the impacts that, although controlled, in the long run, on too high a weight, could damage a physical structure not suitable for certain efforts.
Obviously there are many predisposed breeds, but the ones that adapt more intellectually also are the shepherd breeds.
Do you think dogs have fun?
Dogs have fun, to the extent that the owner, in slang called conductor, has fun and interacts without pretensions. The trick is to expect nothing special. Dogs cannot be deceived, they do not lie and if they feel you mendacious they do not give themselves.
Do you have any advice for those who want to undertake this practice with their 4-legged family?
Before starting this activity, it would be useful to inform yourself and attend a serious center with competent instructors. These centers are now everywhere, and it is important to attend them because dog agility is not a discipline where do-it-yourself works! Another advice I can give is to put your heart into it and have fun ... only in this way will the magic come true, that of agility, a 6-legged concert.
Photo: Ilaria Giubellini
