Interview: Anastasia Derkach
Do you train your dogs separately for military work and for sports? Can a dog complete IGP (International Utility Dog Test) and be used in the military?
Yes, every dog has its own specialization. But every dog must be trained. Obedience is therefore paramount, both at home and at work. Some aspects of dog sports overlap with service requirements. It all depends on the individual goals for the dog. If the goal is a podium finish at the IGP World Championships, then you have to work with the dog every day, ideally without mistakes, to get closer to that goal step by step. That's long and hard work.
In service, a dog doesn't have to perform certain things the way it does in sports. The focus is absolute, exercises are fast, and no one asks for a sparkle in its eyes. But regardless of the task, whether searching for missing persons or explosives, the demands are such that the stakes are high. And one mistake can cost me or someone else my life. If you demanded everything from a dog, meaning everything it would have to demonstrate in both sports and service, you'd end up with mediocrity. In sports, mediocrity results in point deductions. In service, a mistake can be fatal. Our (service) dogs all have basic training in IGP, arguably the most demanding sport standard. During IGP training, we can clearly see a dog's strengths and weaknesses. And we need to know these for breeding purposes. But there are two very different things: being the best and having basic training.
In your opinion, what is the most important factor for achieving high results – genetics, the individual characteristics of the dog, or training?
All of these factors contribute to a high result. Personally, I place genetics at the top of this pyramid. But genetics is a potential that a person must be able to work with.
What do you look for when choosing a puppy for sport or military use? If you could choose any dog, would you use the same one for both, or different ones?
A good dog is a good dog to me. I would choose the same dog for both. A GOOD dog that is successful in IGP sport can handle any service. But not every dog that successfully performs its task in service can also be successful in IGP.
Do you believe that dog sports enthusiasts and service dog handlers can learn something from each other? K9-and-Sports aims to support cooperation and exchange between the service and sport dog worlds.
Of course, exchanging experiences is always beneficial. There used to be much more of it, including competitions for police dog handlers and dog sports enthusiasts. One should always learn from the best. Are there statistics on police dog handlers? Who evaluates the quality of their work? Where can their work be seen? At the very least, it would be good to have joint workshops on the dog's work in specific areas, such as tracking and scent work. This would allow dog sports enthusiasts and police dog handlers to exchange information about the techniques they use in training.
How many dogs used by the police or military in Ukraine come from private breeders? At what age do they acquire their dogs? Do they have their own breeding program, or did they have one in the past?
I can't comment on the police. I don't work in that sector. The Ukrainian military doesn't have its own breeding program. So all the dogs come from private breeders.
A completely different question: how do you feed your dogs?
Until they are about four months old, they are fed frequently. After that, my basic training is based on their food drive. My dogs then eat during training or while they are working with me. I don't have a fixed schedule for that. Before my child was born, my daily life was completely unpredictable. I could be called out at any time. For a long time, it was very difficult. I hardly had any time to sleep because I preferred to train with the dog instead.
What was it like to be in the lead at a World Cup? Were you nervous? And if so, did that rub off on Blicka?
It was somewhat different, but given the war, my perspective on some things had changed. If you saw the video of the protection work, you probably noticed that I forgot the procedure. That was, of course, due to a lack of training, my nerves, and many other things. Before the tracking, I locked Blicka in the car and left my key inside. I had to break the window so she wouldn't suffocate. It was very hot. That affected me emotionally, of course. I heard a siren wail and didn't understand what was happening. But I wasn't nervous about the points themselves. And afterward, I was more than satisfied with Blicka's work. Not entirely with my own. But we're a team, and if one of us makes a mistake, the other one compensates.
Is Blicka a very special dog, or could you be just as successful with a different dog? In your opinion, how much of the success is due to genetics and how much to training?
Blicka is truly special. I don't know any other dog who gives so much, despite a lack of training. She's a true all-rounder: a sporting and service dog, a nanny for my child, and simply a pet. I've always done everything I could to work with her, even under difficult circumstances. But she has far exceeded my expectations.
Whether I can achieve high sporting success with another dog, I unfortunately won't know for quite some time. Sadly, my young German Shepherd has passed away. She was a completely different type of dog. But my training methods worked for her too. Genetics is one option, one perspective. Unlocking that potential is the art and the role of the handler.
Which discipline and exercise do you like best?
Obedience! For me, obedience is the most complex and demands the greatest commitment from the handler. Obedience reveals the relationship between dog and handler. You can see if there's trust. Of course, you can also see this in exercises A and C, but there, instincts play a more dominant role. I don't have a particular favorite exercise. I simply enjoy interacting with my dog. It's truly magical when you can present the perfect training exercise.
What do you think of tracking? It asks for a search behavior that doesn't correspond to reality.
I'm not a scientist and can only share my personal experiences working with dogs. Perhaps I'm wrong. But it's true: tracking in IGP (International Utility Dog Trials) isn't natural behavior for the dog. I've never seen a service or hunting dog constantly searching with its nose to the ground, meticulously following every single step. But that's precisely the tracking technique prescribed by the regulations. I treat tracking as part of obedience training, where I teach the dog a specific behavior, a specific technique: to follow the track with pinpoint accuracy and indicate the articles.
Do you prepare your dog for training? Do you have a ritual or do you warm up your dogs?
I always warm up. If I'm in a hurry, then at least briefly. And rituals... As I said, life is too unpredictable. I started each race alone with Blicka. No training partner or even a team was there to get me to the starting line and give me tips. But I was prepared for that. I structured my training so that I'm never dependent on another person.
Do you play with your dogs?
I don't actually play much with adult dogs. Training is our game. My training sessions are always designed so that my dogs love them and want to train. Outside of training, we simply spend time together: we go for walks in the woods, ride bikes, swim...
Thank you so much for your time, Vika, and also for your support of K9andSports!
