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How did you start with poodles? - When you start to breed poodles? What other breeds you breed also and why?
I had my first poodle (a black miniature) when I was 13, and my first standard I was 18, with this dog I imported from Germany I won a lot in Italy and abroad. Breeding him with a bitch with English line I had my first Samarcanda litter in 1983.
When I met my husband I started show and breed Airedale terriers ,what we still do now. Few people they know that in the past I bred some litters of Neapolitan Mastiffs and smooth fox terrier making many champions
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Did you ever had a feeling you would like to start breeding other poodle varieties?
As I told when I was a young girl I had a miniature, but as I started to have several standards, I thought was hard and unsafe to have smaller dog in a pack with several bigger dogs , because all my Standard live free in my house all together . With the terrier we think the same, we stopped with the fox terrier because with many Airedales we cold have a lot of troubles with the smaller breeds.
I have seen during many years that standard poodles they can live all together boys and girls and I never had problems.
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Can you tell a bit bout your first poodle?
My first , the miniature was a pet , I was a teenagers and had great fun with him teaching him a lot of different plays , he was like a circus dog . As I wonted a show dog I imported from Germany my first black standard" Black Bajazzo von der Weissen Bircke"
He was a dog with a lot of temperament, very sweet but also a great guardian , he was really a joker, as the meaning of his German name it is, he had a great fun in the ring and I can remember once ,after the winning of a BIS he was running free in the ring barking to all the world "watch at me !!!" . After that time he was always standing serious while the judgment , but has he understand it was finished he started to bark trying to run away free in the ring to collect applause.
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How did you pick your kennel name and why?
I have my kennel name Samarcanda since 1983 in Italy , then from some years I have in Spain the kennel name Es Samarcanda.
Samarcanda is the name of a beautiful Italian song of the 70's , talking about an old legend, of a horse . Horses being my second love , in fact at home we have Friesian horses too.
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How many dogs you have now at your place and ?
In my home I have 15 standard poodles from one year up to eleven, 3 boys an 12 girls , in black, white , brown and silver. On add several other of my dogs live with some friends or related of me, as my sister Sonia has two boys with her. I do this because , as I can give a good home, with a lot of love, to my dogs , I wont they be the loved child of someone slipping on a soft sofa.
Poodles are not dogs to keep in a garden , we can do that with terrier that they don't need so much physical contact with the owner .
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How many generations of dogs did you breed?
I breed with different lines, but some one of my poodles have behind on the mother line 6th generation of Samarcanda born in my house
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Do you keep stud males at your place? Do you use your own bread stud males or you refer to use other kennels stud males?
As I told , I have stud males in my home and with my friends, but several time I moved up and down in Europe with my bitches ,or I imported fresh or frozen semen from Europe and USA to breed with some interesting studs.
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How do you feed your dogs?
From many years I give to my dogs dry feed of good quality , using the right one for every age.
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What do you think about genetic problems of our days breeding? How you test your dogs?
To control the genetical problems is very important, but it must not be an obsession in the mind of a breeder, the extreme search of the disease fashion at the moment, can carry breeders to close the genes pool and this can open the door to new bigger problems in the future.
In Italy is for the standard poodle is not required any special test , but anyway I test my breeding dogs for HIPS before using them-
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Who groom and show your dogs?
I did it myself from many years, being a professional groomer, and international judge of grooming competition, but during the time many friends that are groomers too, having my poodles, help me keeping them in condition and bathing and grooming their dogs before the shows.
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Do you think that grooming and handling is a key component of success in the ring? Is it not a secret that for our breed it s one of the most significant issues.
Probably poodle is the most spectacular show breed, entering in the ring , a typical good poodle must catch the eye , because his structure, his movement, his style and also for his "flashing dress" . Of course a good handling and a good feeling with the dog can give him more value, but a lot of coat and a super handling can not turn a second -rate dog in a great champion.
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In what countries did you judge poodles before?
Being a judge from few year, because I spent all my life showing, I am very proud because in a short time I collected several invitations from many European country and from USA
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As a judge what do you assess in poodles more? On what minuses of dogs you can close your eyes?
I love arrogance and style in a poodle, in my opinion the movement is very important in such a show breed.
I don't like shy dogs, with the tail down, it can happen just to a puppy at the first shows, but such a happy breed must always show his happiness to be in a human company.
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For last years fix spray is forbidden in Russia, what is your attitude to this?
Coming from a country where is not forbidden and visiting very often USA , I really don't understand this kind of rules that some country adopt. Using good products, and washing the dog after the show my poodles in more of 25 years never had problems.
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Do you actively involved in any work at Italian Poodle Club?
In Italy we have a big Club including all the breeds of the 9th. Group. I am the one who represent the poodle in the breeding committee of the club, this committee take care of the health , the genetic and the breeding of our breed.
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If you could change anything d Poodle Standard what it would be?
In my opinion the limit of size in going up for the standards and going down for the toys are too strict , it is a pity penalize a small toy or a big standard ,if well balanced and of good proportions.
On add I can't understand why penalize a curly tail if undocked, in a dog with a good tail set. Everyone who has experience breeding from long time undocked tails, knows how hard it is select straight tails well set up .
The funny is that the standard of the poodle is written from France , where they dock and don't have any experience with undocked tails.
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Does you judge opinion always goes along with you breeders opinion?
Not always the winning dog can be the one I would use in my breeding program,. You must know the defects of your bitches and choose the right stud, on add is very important the pedigree of the dog you wont use and to know what he is producing.
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Can you name any poodle ( not your breeding) that you would name as an exemplary dog?
It’s not so easy choose only one dog , because many poodles impressed me for different things, considering the movement I can say : Am.Ch. Graphic Poltergeist, Multi ch. Topscore Contradiction, Am. Ch. Smash J.P. Platina King, Am.Ch. Cotian Style and Splash.
For the type: ch. Avatar Concord, Am.ch. Lake Cove That’s my boy, Am.ch. JC Pioneer Kaiser,Am. Ch. Smash JP Win a Victory , Multi ch. Milamarte Bonaparte
For the beautiful head: Multi ch. Racketeer Exquisit Sinner, Am. Ch. Alekai Mikimoto on Fifth, Multi ch. Topscore Easy Money, Am. Ch. Serekunda Pearl
