ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Contact information:
Alexa Capra email info@gentleteam.it alexacapra@gmail.com www.gentleteam.it
Daniele Robotti email info@robotti.itwww.robotti.it
SKILLADIN Snc di Capra Alexa e Robotti Daniele www.skilladin.com

THE WEBSITE OF DOG BEHAVIOR WWW.ETHOGRAMDOGBEHAVIOUR.COM

Alexa Capra

(Publications, Research and Videos)

Research Activity and Teaching

Alexa carries out research on inter- and intra-species aggression in dogs, in collaboration with Prof. Valsecchi of the University of Parma's degree program in Biology.
In 2010 she was a speaker at the second edition of the Canine Science Forum, in Vienna, where she gave an oral presentation entitled, "Flight, foe, fight! Aggressive interactions between dogs" (A. Capra, S. Barnard, P. Valsecchi).
In 2008 she was a speaker at the first edition of the Canine Science Forum, in Budapest, where she gave an oral presentation entitled, "Are pit bulls different? Behavioural evaluation within a rehabilitation program for ex-fighting dogs (A. Capra, L. Marazzini, M. Albertini).
She has served as adjunct thesis advisor for 4 students (Lisa Corradi, Beatrice Pinet, Silvia Gotta, Alice Farinetti) conducting research for 4 experimental theses in the University of Turin's post-graduate degree program in Evolution of Human and Animal Behaviour), and as adjunct thesis advisor for Dr. Laura Marazzini for research conducted on ethograms and evaluation scales for use in behavioural evaluations, at the Veterinary College of the University of Milan.
Since July 2003, she has participated in scientific research on the rehabilitation and re-homing of ex-fighting dogs (pit bulls), as head of the rehabilitation program. Since July 2004, she has served as coordinator and sole director of the rehabilitation program run by ENPA, the Italian National Institute for Animal Welfare and Protection.
She is a professor in the master's degree program in Dog Training at the University of Pisa Veterinary College.
She has taught in various degree programs throughout Italy, including that of the post-graduate degree in Evolution of Animal and Human Behaviour at the University of Turin's Biology Department (2009).
In 2009, she was an invited speaker for the University of Florence's degree program in Animal Welfare, where she gave a seminar on behavioural evaluation tests, ethograms and evaluation scales (March 8, Parco Natura Viva, Verona).
In 2008, she was an invited speaker for the University of Parma's PhD program in Biology, where she held a seminar on behavioural evaluation tests, ethograms and the evaluation of aggression in dogs.
She was also an invited speaker at the conference "Think like a dog: recent studies on the dog and dog-human relationships" (Pensare da Cani: studi recenti sul cane e il suo rapporto con l'uomo) sponsored by Province of Milan's Bureau of Animal Rights (Milano, 2008)
She has taught courses organized by various Italian associations, including the Italian Schäferhunde club (SAS), the Italian Border Collie Club, the Italian Doberman Club, the Italian Newfoundland Club, the Italian Kennel Club (ENCI) and ANPAS, Italy's largest volunteer service association.
She was an invited speaker at the 3-day workshop on social communication and conference on serious intra-specific aggression in dogs in Kraków (Poland, 2010).

Publications

Alexa Capra has written and published numerous books on companion animals, including the following titles about dogs, published in Italian by Calderini: in 2009, "La comunicazione del cane: come interpretare segnali, comportamenti e interazioni" (Canine communication: how to interpret signals, behaviours and interactions), and "Compagni di viaggio" (Companions on Our Life's Journey); in 2007 "La comunicazione sociale del cane" (Canine Social Communication); in 2000, "Cani fantasia, cani fantastici" (Marvelous Mutts); in 2002, "Guida pratica all'educazione gentile del cane" (A Practical Guide to Gentle Dog Training); in 2003, "Il mio Rottweiler" (Your Rottweiler), "Il mio Labrador" (Your Labrador).
Other publications include "Guida pratica al comportamento del cane" (Understanding Dog Behaviour), "Guida pratica al comportamento del gatto" (Understanding Cat Behaviour) and "Guida pratica al comportamento del cavallo" (Understanding Equine Behaviour)(published by DeAgostini in 1998, 1999, 2000), "Guida compact Gatti" (The Compact Guide to Understanding Cats) and "Minicompact Gatti" (Cats: A Mini-Manual), published by DeAgostini in 2000 and 2001.
Alexa has been a guest of the Swiss radio station "Radio Svizzera Italiana" as expert on dog and cat behaviour and positive training methods, and has collaborated with the Swiss television program Falò as expert on dog behaviour.
For several years she contributed to the Italian magazine for pet lovers Argos, and since 1998 she has collaborated with Quattrozampe, an Italian magazine for pet owners. She has published articles in a wide range of Italian magazines and newspapers including Specchio (a magazine insert with La Stampa newspaper), Io Donna (a weekly magazine insert with Il Corriere della Sera newspaper), La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, the magazines Cani, Work Dog and Famiglia Cristiana, and the Belgian Shepherd breed club bulletin Il Foglio del Pastore Belga, as well as in foreign magazines, including Dogs Today, Vos Chiens, Pegasus and Arabian Horse World.
Since 1993 she has had an ongoing collaboration with the leading Italian magazines dealing with companion animals, contributing articles on animal behaviour, ethology, evolution, training, breeds and human-pet relationships.

Dog training and sports

Today, Alexa runs the "Gentle Team" dog training facility near Alessandria, Italy, with the aim of studying and sharing information on dog behaviour, dog-person relationships, evaluation of dog behaviour and modification of problem behaviours, and making the most of individual aptitudes and breed-specific traits.
Since 2004, she has been a ring steward in Obedience competitions, and was ring steward at the September 2004 European Championships.
She was instructor in the refresher/continuing education course held on November 23, 2003 for puppy class instructors organized by Verein Pro Junghund and recognized by the Swiss SKG.
She was instructor in the training course organized for ENPA volunteers in the province of Turin. (May/June 2004).
She was the first Italian to gain certification at Cap3 level in the Competency Assessment Program, an internationally recognised certification of competence in clicker training (May 2004, examiner Kay Laurence).
Since 1996 she has run her own dog training center, where she promotes positive training methods. In 2000 she founded the 'Gentle Team' organisation, and introduced clicker training in all of her courses, from puppy classes and basic training of life skills to advanced training for competition in sports and rehabilitation and in her workshops.
In 1993 she began her work as a trainer, introducing the first puppy classes held in the provinces of Asti and Alessandria.
She trained and handled her Border collie Bran in Obedience level 1 e 2 competitions, qualifying for competition in the Agility 3 class. She has served as trainer for numerous dogs competing in IPO and Obedience.
She trained and handled a Malinois bitch born in Italy in Mondio Ring competitions, winning competitions in France, Belgium and Switzerland, and was chosen as team member of the first official Italian team to participate in the Mondio Ring World Championships in 2000, where she placed 4th in the Class 2 competition.
In 2001 she began competing in Obedience, in Class 1 with her Malinois Jan, and in Class 3 with Malinois Matisse.
With her Malinois Matisse she obtained the Ring 1 title in French ring sport, winning the official trial organised in Italy on July 12, 1998 at Pinerolo, with a score of 182.5 / 200.
She trained and handled her Malinois Jan in IPO1 , IPO2 and IPO3 classes.
In 1990 she began her experience in the dog training world, as handler of Lakeland terrier Rudy in Italian agility competitions.

Daniele Robotti

(Photography, editing and production)

Daniele is a photographer who specialises in photographing companion animals for breeders and magazines. His photos have been published in many of the major publications regarding dogs and horseback riding, both in Italy and abroad, including: Quattrozampe, Amici di Casa, Argos, Cavallo Magazine, Il Mio Cavallo, Cavalli e Cavalieri, Dogs Today, Pegasus, Arabian Horse World.
His work regarding pets has also been published in a wide range of the country's top mainstream publications, including : Focus, Specchio della Stampa, Gardenia, Oggi, Sport Week, Verde Oggi. Daniele has participated in numerous projects for publications by various publishing houses, including: DeAgostini, Calderini - Il Sole 24 Ore, Kosmos, Mondadori, Edagricole.
Since 1994, his work has focused on documenting the behaviour of pets, and their relationship with people.
He is the author (as regards the illustrations), as well as the editor and webmaster of the webzine www.canicheinsegnano.it which is entirely dedicated to behaviour, training and life with dogs, and is webmaster for the Gentle Team web site.
His photography website can be found at www.robotti.it.

Elizabeth Ferguson

(translation)

Elizabeth Ferguson is a Foreign Languages Instructor at the University of Urbino, Italy, where she teaches translation. She also works as a freelance translator and as a family and agility dog trainer and "thus enthusiastically participated in this groundbreaking project, after having attended outstanding trainer courses taught by Alexa Capra, and falling in love with Daniele Robotti's photographs of dogs and their people."
Email betsypontellini@yahoo.com