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| Here I am | |
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My name is Nicoletta Gatti and, despite my surname
(in italian, "gatti" means "cats") I've always been charmed by dogs. Thanks to my parents, who adopted the first German Shepherd when I was 6 months old, I've literally grown up with (should I say "been raised by") dogs: gorgeous GDS who used to live in the yard and loved the whole family. I remember I used to "steal" newborn pups from their doghouse, under their mother's tolerant eyes; harass them while they were eating; taking them to exhausting trekking in the mountain... and I've never had any problem with any of them. This led me to think that I "knew how to handle dogs", that I "knew everything about dogs" and that I was "a good doggie person". How wrong I was (and how lucky I have been). When the last couple of GSDs died and I decided to get another breed, my choice lighted on a 3 months old Maremmano-Abruzzese female pup, who I adopted from a shepherd, located in the middle of Abruzzo mountains (where the last italian wolves still wander about and where Livestock Guarding Dogs... well, let's say they take their job very seriously). Of course at that time I didn't realize what I was doing: Thelma, the chosen pup, was living with 500 sheep and 15 other LGDs and collies. As soon as she saw me (the first human being!), terrified, she bit me hard on my hand. Since then, she "educated me" and radically changed my life. Thanks to her, I found out that, despite a whole life spent with dogs, I knew nothing about these wonderful creatures, ignored their language, their needs, their normal and abnormal behaviour. I started realizing that the joy and satisfaction you feel when you find a way to communicate with another species is simply invaluable. Completely taken by this new experience, I seriously started to study dog behaviour and the "tunnel" began! I graduated at Turid Rugaas' year long dog-trainer course, followed seminars held by some of the best researchers and trainers, such as Sheila Harper, Anne Lill Kvam, Roberto Marchesini, Gudrun Feltmann... deepening my understanding and knowledge on the way. But once you've started, how can you stop? That's why I also subscribed to a 4 years program at James O'Heare's Cynology College where I've learnt (and am going to learn) more about natural dog behavior, learning theory, training processes, behaviour problems, behaviour modification and consulting, biology of behavior and cognitive ethology. And now? Well, since I left my job, my goal is to share my present knowledge and education with any dog owner who would like to deepen the bonding with his/her furry friend; help them find a common language and enjoy a long-lasting, deep, and satisfying relationship, hoping to make them (both) experience the same extraordinary life change I underwent when I "discovered" the real dog world. For this reason, I translate specialized articles and books, organize international seminars and follow closely the rehabilitation of dogs with behavioral problems. |
 My activities... ...translation of specialized articles and books, organization of international seminars with world-famous researches and trainers, rehabilitation of behaviourally disturbed dogs
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