Page 18 - Great Dane Magazine issue 5 , 2022

Interview with a judge

ests as well, in fact she loves playing the piano that the breeder considered a waste. At the age
and acting in an amateur company that makes of 2 he was already an Italian beauty champi-
musicals. on, and undefeated in the exhibitions. Sansone
was a true champion, with characteristics and
My profession is a veterinarian: I decided as a had the type and construction that were really
child that healing animals would be my future rare to see at that time. But it was is not for
and so it was, without ever having an aftert- this reason that he conquered me completely,
hought and with great satisfaction. I graduated but for his wonderful character, for the extraor-
from the University of Milan many years ago with dinary balance and above all for the formidable
a degree thesis on the inheritance of the coat intelligence that he showed every day. I was a
colour of the Great Danes, a new and unexplored child and he was my inseparable companion, we
topic at the time. A large part of my work is dedi- grew up together and I can say that this dog has
cated to supporting breeders of many different literally marked the path of my life.
breeds, but with the same passion, I take care of
the dogs hospitalised in the municipal kennel of Why did you choose to become a judge and
my city, abandoned dogs that need help from when did you start your judging career? Was it
all points of view, in fact my commitment with difficult to qualify to become a judge and how
Animal Rights began when I was young. long did it take?
Becoming a judge just seemed like a natural
We have been breeding harlequin and black Gre- choice. I started attending the shows at the age
at Danes for over 40 years now and have produ- of 10, as ring secretary and interpreter in count-
ced a few puppies overall, but many Champions. less shows, my father judged practically every
However, I am much prouder about the health Sunday. Discussing about purebred dogs, cinolo-
and longevity of my dogs than on their success gy, breeding and type characteristics were ever-
on shows. Chihuahuas have been added to the yday conversations for me. I decided to become
family for 20 years, it might seem a paradox, but a judge because I thought I had the preparation,
in character they look a lot like Great Danes. knowledge and experience necessary to play the
real role that the judge must assume: carrying
When did your love of dogs begin ? How did out the zootechnical verification of the subjects
you get introduced to theGreat Dane? intended for breeding to safeguard and improve
The love for dogs was born with me, I have no the breed of my heart. At that moment, in Italy,
memories that doesn't include dogs, I can't even the minimum age to start the process to beco-
think about life without dogs! In fact, I could say me a judge was 25. I applied, I took theoretical
that I cannot think about life without the pre- and practical exams and in just over a year I rea-
sence of other animals such as horses or hawks, ched the goal I had set for myself. Only several
but dogs have a predominant position, probably years later I decided to take the exams for other
because I share every moment of my life with
them.

I remember very well how I decided that "my" I take the role of
dog had to be a harlequin Great Dane: I was a judging very seriously,
little girl and I was memorised when admiring
the picture of a beautiful bitch by Madame Me- because the judge must
rat, reproduced in one of the many dog books
we have in my house. The elegance, the majesty, point the dogs that are closest
the pride that that subject expressed made me
fall in love with the breed. At that time, I had ne- to the breed standard, therefore
ver seen a Great Dane personally, but its infinite
beauty and what I read about the character of those who presumably will
the breed, left me no doubt: it was the dog for
me. It took me a while to convince my mother be able to improve the
(the only one with common sense in the family!) breed
to welcome such a giant into the house, but in
July 1970, Sansone del Leone Stellato arrived. My
father went to get the dog and chose a subject

18 Great Dane Magazine | Issue 5-2022