DOG NEWS INTERVIEW

My passion for dogs began at a very young age, I don't remember a day in my life without a dog. My father gave me my first Dobermann in 1973. He was a male, black with tan markings, called “Atila Von Argus”. Without a doubt, that gift marked my life, beginning a relationship that is difficult to explain. In those years the Breed had not yet reached the height that it would later achieve. I started training him and dedicated all my free time to improve myself and learn how to improve his incredible conditions. Every Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning we trained in a group of ovejeristas, which met at the agronomy faculty. It was very striking to see a Dobermann working among so many German Shepherds. Without me knowing it, my friend Mr. Aldo Gonzalez (renowned Judge and breeder of the German Sheepdog Breed) enrolled me in a training competition organized by the Dobermann Club Argentino. Thanks to him I had my first contact with the Club and from there a passion for the Dobermann Breed that is difficult to explain would begin. "Attila" turned out to be a fantastic dog with whom I shared numerous years of competitions and exhibitions. He won the Ranking of his category and numerous trophies that I still proudly hold.

In 1977, the DCA organized a training course given by Mr. Domingo Ramón Passarini. I remember that many well-known trainers and breeders of that time signed up. It lasted several months and finally we had to take a written and a practical exam. The Dobermann Club resolved that those who passed it would be appointed Judges and that's how I passed the exams without waiting or looking for it. Since 1978 I have judged training tests without interruption. I remained linked to training and raising, together with Mr. Roberto Maggiolo, Baden Baden King, which in 2006 was the first Dobermann to approve the Schutzhund III in Argentina. I have also bred Baden Baden Kala No. 1 in the Dobermann Club Argentino Training Ranking Category CAB 1999 and No. 1 in the Training Ranking of the Argentine Cynological Federation Category CAB 2000.

As the years went by, my interest in structure and beauty competitions increased. I had already won another training ranking with another fantastic specimen called "Ali Khan del Doblado Grande" owned by Mr. Ricardo Iribarren, with whom I still have a great friendship today. I remember that "Ali Khan" was an imposing dog and that he was the only dog in the history of the Dobermann Breed, in Argentina, to win both Ranking's in the same year. He was amazing as he had just competed and won a Specialty Show and later competed in training. In those years the exams were carried out after the structure ones. Through Ricardo, a great friendship was forged with Ricardo and Arminda Cavalli, owners of the “Mandinga” kennel. It was a time of much competition and rivalry between great breeders where one could recognize which kennel a specimen belonged to just by looking at it. Without a doubt, "Mandinga" was part of the great history of the Breed.

In 1986 I passed the exam and was appointed as a DCA Specialist Judge. It was a very important stage in my growth as a breeder. For 10 years I bred jointly with Arminda under the name of the “Mandinga” Kennel. Later, when she retired from the dog activity, I began to breed with the name "Baden Baden".

1982 was a significant year because "Mandinga's Farah Roja" was born. "Farah" was one of those outstanding specimens that mark a stage within the breed. She was an incredible winner of the Ranking of Structure and the first Top Twenty organized by the DCA. She winner of numerous Specialized and Best In Show she was the mother and grandmother of champions. "Farah" was the first Dobermann in Argentina to travel to the USA to receive service and get pregnant when this represented a challenge. I was already a veterinary student and the determination of the optimal moment for the service was totally different. Progesterone measurement and vaginoscopy did not yet exist.

My first experience as a leader was in 1985 as secretary in the second Presidency of Mr. Ricardo Iribarren. I am a lifelong member of DCA. I have held numerous positions as a leader but without a doubt, having been elected President of the Argentine Dobermann Club between 1996 and 1998 represented a great challenge and responsibility. I was the youngest President in DCA history. The member of the Dobermann Club is different from that of other Institutions. He is extremely demanding, respectful of the Statutes and develops an active participation. The Institution organizes Specialized on all the dates of the Exhibition calendar, it also has a calendar of Work exhibitions with a very competitive ranking. It organizes its great annual exhibition called "National", the Top Twenty, its famous Annual Dinner, with delivery of the Ranking trophies, "Complete Dentition" exams, Control of Coxo-femoral Dysplasia, Functional Training Test, Dobermann Express (official DCA magazine), Breeders Guide, courses, Microchips, ... all this represents a huge job. They were two very intense years and I was lucky to be accompanied by a group of excellent leaders who marked a stage that was pleasantly recognized by the members. For 6 years (1995 - 2000) I was part of the Council of Judges of the FCA and participated in the training of numerous judges. Since 2001 I have been National Director of the FCA Genealogical Registry, a position that honors me for its responsibility. I have written numerous articles related to the breed and canophilia in general. I am the author of the Illustrated Manual of the Dobermann Breed and the Illustrated Manual of Cynology of the Argentine Cynological Federation.

The Dobermann Breed is going through a special stage in its upbringing. Although the number of annual births has decreased, the quality of its specimens is very good. Dobermann's are currently being raised by those who truly love the Breed. Commercial breeders migrated to other, more lucrative breeds. In the last three years, the FCA Ranking of all Breeds has been won by a Dobermann twice, and in the remaining time he came second. This year at Westminster the Breed and the group were won by a Dobermann of Argentine father and mother. For two consecutive years, in the maximum exhibition in the USA, the DPCA National, the best puppy of all that exhibition is the son of an Argentine dog. This year, for the second time, an Argentine Doberman appears in the Top Twenty of the USA. Thus we could cite other important achievements that have led the Dobermann born in Argentina to unparalleled international recognition. As a wake-up call, it is also worth mentioning that breeders in general should breed more and make a greater effort to incorporate some bloodlines of recognized quality. It is possible that in the not too distant future we will be able to count on an interesting level of wombs and lack a supply of recognized quality stallions to be used.

I have always had Dobermanns and it is the only breed I own and breed.

I never doubted that I would be a Veterinary Doctor, from a very young age I knew that I wanted to be one. All my life is linked to animals. I am a Veterinary Doctor and I dedicate myself to small animals specialized in canine reproduction. However, I also have a great passion for the polo horses that I also have and breed.

I live in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the town of Vicente López, which is located north of the city. I don't have a kennel but a house where I have and raise my Dobermanns. I live with my wife, Cristina, who is also a Veterinary Doctor with whom I share my passion for Dobermanns and my two children, Ignacio and Mariana. We have few dogs that rarely exceed 6 adult Dobermanns. We make few breedings with an average of one or two litters per year, always seeking to improve. We don't have kennels and only a breeding room with a playground for when the puppies are older. The dogs stop inside my house being continuously observed and helped. Only after 25 days do they go to the breeding room. The dogs grow up in a family environment and good coexistence with my children. I don't usually keep males. I usually wait for a female from the breeding that I have made. With each baby something is learned with the hope of always improving. We try to select as many homes as possible where our Baden Baden will live. I always go to the shows and I continuously present dogs mainly in the specialized shows.

I have been with Dobermanns for more than 30 years and I keep very nice memories and emotions. My beginnings were very nice with work skills that represented a lot of effort and dedication, then came my passion for breeding, which represented a great challenge. For years I presented my own Dobermanns in both Work and Structure shows. I have won specialized, Best In Show, work tests, rankings and Top Twenty with horses that I have presented. Currently I no longer do it. I have had large Dobermanns that exceeded my expectations. Many Baden Baden closed their championships even in countries as far away as India, Malaysia, Japan and the United States. I keep great memories of - Gr. Ch. Arg. Ch. Urug. Ch. Parag. Ch. Latin. Mandinga's Farah Roja, which represents that lineage of great dogs that every breeder wishes they had once bred; - Ch. Arg. Baden Baden Cash three consecutive years Best stallion in Argentina; - Baden Baden Caira Best Matrix in Argentina and dam of six champions including “Ornella”, - Am Ch. Baden Baden Ornella Multiple BISS and Group Winning in the USA, Best Of Opposite Sex in the National DPCA 2003 and 2007 USA, winner in USA of 41 Best Of Breed and 4 Best In Show, 5 Group 1 sts. – 5 Group 2nds – 3 Group 4ths., 5th Ranking 2003 DPCA – USA, Top Twenty Contender 2004 USA. - Am Ch. Baden Baden Tootsie Multi. BOB Winner - USA, BISS Puppy FCA 40th Anniversary 2003.

I don't want to miss this opportunity to congratulate Dog News for this fantastic initiative to interview and meet breeders from South America. Thank you so much.