MONDIORING
Beautiful sport, but also hard both for handlers and the dogs themselves. For spectators it is amusing and fascinating. Apparently, at first glimpse, it may result in a less technical activity than an IPO programme, but practicing it you realize that it is not at all so. Stopping commands during the defence phases have to be carried out by the dog within a second following the command, attacks last 10 seconds each and in warding an object, where the dog has to work without owner, it is put psychologically under pressure by the assistant, who cannot be defined as its enemy but rather the antagonist. Mondioring was born with no serious intention from two people, famous old names of the European cynological world: Swiss, French, Belgian and Dutch. Each one, with their own ring programme in their own nations, decided to meet for a demonstration of their own work in order to hold a happy day with dogs an get to know all different disciplines. So several nations adhered, even Italy with the IPO working. I will not mention names not to forget anyone, but those important people were definitely there: because its success, they decided to make a ring work programme together involving all best parts from various already existing programmes. So the first "Mondioring" was born. First because programmes are developed in years: handlers and dogs require each time small corrections to the rules. The first Italian participants to a Mondioring competition have been Mr. Danilo Travers with Nero' de Daval, Belgian Shepherd Malinois, and Mr. Roberto Donnini with Brian la Maschera di Ferro, Belgian Shepherd Malinois. It was 1990 in Belgium at one of the first world championships, reaching the first and second places in category I. It was a small step forward, which meant a lot for the Italian cynological world close to the ring sports, because spurred others to approach this sport. Unfortunately, today, we lack of premises and real political incentives to start this wonderful discipline. However, we already have the honour to account for a renown FCI judge, Mr. Antonio Bosco, and two well known assistants, Mr. Luca Carli and Mr. Christian Mattiuzzi (if, in the meantime, somebody else has passed the examination, I hope they would pardon me for not mentioning them). The latter one is also in the list of those who may be involved in championships and he has been already requested and sportily carried out his assigned duties in the world championship 2002. As regards the Mondioring rules, the programme is divided in three phases: obedience, jumps and biting. Within each phase each exercise is carried out according to the a number sequence drawn before the competition. The difficulties and number of exercises progressively increase according to the three levels. I am not to bore you with the details of each rule but I will just indicate or recall the most interesting ones, in my opinion, for they involve commitment, complexity and public enjoyment, often supported by décors and costumes from the most classical to the most original ones. As regards the obedience part, for instance, the bringing-back exercise requires the dog to get an object selected by the judge (unlike the classical wooden stick used in SCH.H. and IPO), and this is carried out only on a flat surface. The three positions (seating, ground, standing) are performed once for level 1 and twice for levels 2 and 3, placing the dog behind a line or a point, which cannot be trespassed and from which the handler has to stay at 5, 10 or 15 metres, according to the competition level. For the jumping phase, three trials are defined: a) high jump (with three different heights, 1m. / 1.10m. / 1.20m. according to the category); b) climbing a fence of 2.30 m. maximum height; c) long jump (3.00 / 3.50 / 4.00 m.). The biting part is perhaps the most exciting moment for the participants including the assistants and the public. The front attacks may have obstacles between the dog and the assistant (straw bails, barrels etc…) – The assistant is allowed threats, hindrance, opposition (within certain fairness tenets!) and the use of instruments (fringed bamboo stick, water bucket etc…) for the so-called "barrage" (barrier). For the " assistant search " the dog inspects the ring on command until it discovers the assistant hiding place, signalling his presence by barking until the handler reaches the place. At this point the assistant has to attempt to escape from the dog delaying as much as possible its bite, which will cease this action, standing still when receiving the ceasing command ordered by the handler. The couple dog/handler loses a point for each metre of movement before being intercepted. In conclusion, the guarding of an object; the dog works within an area limited by two concentric circles, of 2 and 5 metres. The assistant has to enter them trying to subtract the object from the dog, without being stopped, using the usual instruments in three attempts. This exercise requires two assistants. I know I cannot describe in depth such a complex programme with a simple introductory article. Therefore, I invite anybody with useful news for a good development or a better understanding of the programme, or better, the results of a competition, in order to have others to gather to the so-called "mordùs" who do so much for the future of the Mondioring.
Danilo Travers
By concession of:
Your Cart is currently empty.
