INTERVJU / INTERVIEW
How does mediating be- tween an owner and their new pet function? “It sometimes seems to me that I’m always awaited by most of my work with people rather than with dogs. The character of the dog is the way it is. There is not much varia- tion here, and most of his reactions are actually a mirror of your behav- iour. The education of new owners implies an entire range of psycho- logical mechanisms that primarily serve to bring balance to the mem- bers of the family that’s adopting a dog, and only them as a commu- nity with the dog. Imagine a dog in a dysfunctional family. Howev- er, in a huge number of cases, from my experience, the dog is the factor that unifies even the most chaotic of communities. Although they are only able to bark and show us their love and desires with their loyalty and tenderness, it appears as though their language is understood by all people around the world. And that is what’s noblest with dogs.” What’s the biggest mistake made by new dog owners? “Most new owners make the same mistake. They give too much thought to the bed in which their dogs will sleep, the toys they will play with, coats, shoes and other completely secondary things. The most important thing is to start training and educating the dog im- mediately, in order for them to learn the basic norms of behaviour and adapt to their new home as early as possible. All owners who make this initial mistake end up in a situ- ation after a few months where the dog, through the fault of the owner, starts gnawing on shoes and furni- ture, defecating where it shouldn't and simply doesn't fit into the rosy image created by the new owner about what his pet will be like. It is rare to find those who are capable of staying on the surface in such situations, so training and teach- ing the rules is the most impor- tant lesson for every new owner.” How can we avoid giving up on a dog that we’ve just adopted?
Junior this July, who passed away at the age of 15. “This is the hardest part in life. Especially when you love someone and that someone has created such a great impact in the world. I know that Junior's body died, but I be- lieve that his spirit, heart and mem- ories will never go away, but the end of his body is the beginning of a new era.” But life goes on, and with it comes new projects. What does the show Better Man Better Dog bring us? “There is nothing new here and that’s what’s most beautiful about it. My life mission for decades has been to find a balance in the rela- tionship between dog owners and their pets. That was also my main motivation when I was thinking about this show. The fact is that on streets worldwide – from Mex- ico, through Los Angeles to Serbia – thousands of dogs are fighting for their lives on a daily basis. I know that this topic is particularly rele- vant in the Balkans, just as I know that many people are trying to give these dogs a chance at life. The aim of my show is to help them do so in the right way. The desire for a noble deed is not enough. Some- times good intentions turn into a real hell, and it is precisely the an- imals who suffer the most.” What’s the most useful ad- vice for any new owner wanting to adopt a dog? “When adopting a dog, the most important thing is not to rush. Many of those who rush with this decision subconsciously have the thought - if I don’t succeed, it’s an animal and I can always bring it back. And that is the worst thing you can do, and it speaks the most about what kind of person you are and what your real motives are. Be- fore you give a dog a home, first consider why you are doing it - for him or for yourself. What is the real reason for your deed? Many people only really get to know themselves through the raising of a dog. Peo- ple are the ones who change. Dogs are always the same.”
“Communication is the most important aspect of everything. A lot of love and understanding are required. Many people view this process of getting used to each other through the size of the dog, through the breed it belongs to, how old it is. During my career, and even in this show, I’ve worked with thousands of dogs and found a common language with each of them. Regardless of their tempera- ment, age or size. I’ve spent my life with two wonderful pit bulls, and walked with Labradors, Retrievers, Terriers of all kinds, Poodles, Ba- senjis, Rottweilers. That’s like grow- ing accustomed to people in our world on the basis of whether they come from Mexico, Jamaica, Chile, America or Serbia. I suppose the most important thing is who these people are, not where they come from. My advice for any new owner is to get to know your dog through walking. That’s how you learn the most about your pet. And he best gets to know you and your habits. Walks are the best way to educate both the dog and the owner.”
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