Sport Dog Manifesto
On November 13, the conference entitled "The 4 Ss of sporting dog breeding" took place in the Auditorium of the Palazzo delle Federazioni. organized by Fidasc. A meeting closely linked to the press conference last September - during which the Sport Dog Manifesto was presented - and which illustrates the progress of the work along the road that leads to the affirmation of the dog as an athlete in all respects. Dog sports activity constitutes one of the founding pillars of the Federation, which has always attributed great importance to sports in which man is supported by his four-legged companion. Today Fidasc, with firmness, authority and conviction, is carrying out a work of enormous importance, in order to make the dog recognize its rightful role as an athlete, like the horse. A truly important role that embraces practically every dog sporting activity which, to date, includes 26 specialties ranging from hunting dogs without "shooting" to agility; from dog sledding (sled dogs) to civil protection sports; from sheepdog (shepherd dogs) to dog dance.
Four fundamental words
The title “The 4 Ss of sporting dog breeding” refers to four fundamental words in this process: Selection (intended not in genetic terms, but relating to the characteristics of the various disciplines); Sport, giving importance to the competitive aspect, aimed at improving the sporting and psychophysical abilities of humans and dogs; Health, understood as physical, psychological and social well-being; Entertainment, closely linked to sport and understood as a sporting performance, which can also be a way of describing a world to those who are not yet part of it. Speakers at the conference were the Hon. Andrea Abodi, Minister for Sport and Youth; the champion Manuela Di Centa; the Deputy Vice President of CONI Silvia Salis; Maria Spena of the Board of Directors of “Sport e Salute spa”; the President of ENCI Dino Muto; the President of FISE Marco Di Paola; Massimo Perla, FIDASC agility coordinator and veterinary doctors Gianluigi Giovagnoli and Filippo Maria Martini, as members of the Cane Athlete Scientific Committee.
Reports of great interest
The works, moderated by Francesco Brescia, federal representative for sporting dog breeding and author of the volume "Manifesto of sporting dog breeding: a new frontier of the human-dog relationship", were opened by President Felice Buglione who, after introducing and thanking those present, expressed his great satisfaction for the work carried out so far and for the enthusiasm with which the entire team is carrying forward this "revolution" in the world of sporting dog breeding. Following this, all the authoritative guests at the conference spoke with reports of great social, sporting and technical interest and, in particular, Minister Abodi, also a passionate dog lover, in his final speech wanted to underline the emotional and family aspects that now they bind millions of families to their canine member who, unfortunately, has a terribly short life but who is increasingly an integral part of the family unit. At the same time, the Minister confirmed the great attention that CONI has paid and will continue to give to the activities of Fidasc, especially with regards to sporting dog breeding (source: FIDASC).