Amazing Andrea
Tell about yourself as a working dog person
My name is Andrea Leidl, I live in Budapest (Hungary). I’ve always loved dogs and their intelligence always amazes me. Beauty and construction are important but ability to work is primary for me in everyday life.
Apart from being a mum and my daily jobs as Senior IT Expert in SAP system and Business Partner at International Community Solar Power Program, in my spare time :), I am a
• dog trainer for sport (Hungarian German Shepherd Club, 2004) and family dogs (The Mirror Method 2012),
• hobby and Asian/creative groomer,
• habilitation dog trainer (pet therapy) (2015) and presenter for healthy/mentally or physically challenged children/adults
• show ring secretary (2003),
• specialised translator for seminars/breeders/shows/dog books (2004),
• international Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI) (2018).
• I also design and test dog-related websites (for private breeders and the Hungarian Kennel Club’s online entry system in 2013).
I also believe that education and voluntary work in the dog world are of highest importance.
I am also encouraging breeders and dog owners to perform breed specific health tests and consider them while planning a breeding.
What languages do you speak and which translation work(s) made you happy?
I speak Hungarian (mother tongue), English (advanced level exam specialised in economic sciences), French (advanced level exam specialised in international marketing and trade), Spanish (advanced level exam specialised in economic sciences), and speak some Russian, German and Italian.
I like all sorts of translations because I feel I create the link between the two (more) parties and they can understand each other, share their thoughts.
At grooming seminars and workshops I not only can help others by the translation, but I can also learn:
I had the privilege to translate at the first IGA (International Grooming Association) seminar and exam, organised by Beatrix Megyesi. The event was opened by singer Adrienn Szekeres. Anna Bardysheva showed miniature poodle puppy clip, Sathit Suratphiphit master held creative seminar. Anna is a master groomer, teaches at international seminars and wins competitions (there was one where she entered in three categories and won them all). Sathit started his still active Starwood school in 2000 in Thailand: he is the first groomer in the world who initiated the layer cut technique and spray of dog fur for various creative shapes, he was invited to the New York Fashion Week. I learnt a lot, it was worth staying until 21.30 pm. Congratulations to all participants and winners.
IGA International Grooming Association seminar, Budapest (H)
As grooming seminars and competitions, I also translated at the Artero X-Perience Tour with Lluisa Royo (E) (Spanish to Hungarian) and Corinna Verschuren (B) (English to Hungarian) organised by Stefan Siman.
Arteto X-Perience Tour, Budapest (H)
I translated the illustrated Great Dane (Deutscher Dogge) breed standard from French to Hungarian, helping the Hungarian breeders, owners and judges to have better eyes on the breed, and we are since in very good relationship with the author, president of the French Great Dane Club, and also in daily contact with the president of the Hungarian club (Danubius Dog Club)
Deutsche Dogge illustrated breed standard
Currently I am working on translating a child and dog related book by writer and dog breeder/trainer/working judge Katalin Joo ‘The Source of Happiness: the Dog’.
Katalin Joó: The Source of Happiness: the Dog (138 pages)
In the pic your dog is herding. How did you start its training and how have you brought it forward from that?
Sheep herding is not a city-based everyday activity but when you have a herding breed, you try to make your dog happy and to find the activity for which these dogs were selected for centuries. Nowadays not all sheepdogs still actually have the herding instinct but to my greatest pleasure my rough collie Millie showed clear interest and an inner sense towards the sheep when we first met them at her age of 11 months.
Herding competition with 45 Hungarian racka sheep, Pomáz (H)
How have you found the herds to train?
I immediately knew that a new gate opened for both of us in a totally different ambiance: blue skies, green field and calm gazing sheep. I was then actively looking for sheep herding opportunities which I first found in the South of the country as a herding camp, then we regularly took sheep herding lessons from a professional judge and coach at about 30 minutes drive from our home. thank you Barbara Kiss, I am always grateful for your professional and personal sense of teaching.
Herding became a great leisure activity for me. We are outside with my family, we learn something new together with my dog and it might even be successful! We spent every single weekend in the field and I must say I had to learn, really, my dog was a born herder. Together we developed a lot and now she is the first rough collie in Hungary who passed the FCI HWT Herding Working Test – we passed the test with unknown judge, unknown sheep on an unknown territory, which is important for me for an objective judgement. We continued our herding career with herding competitions (multiple 1st places) and finally she was #4 herding dog nationwide that year. We gained experience with different flocks, different sheep breeds (merino, racka etc.).
Training (balance) with merino sheep, HTC Herding Training Center, Vasad (H)
What kind of differences have you found between dogs in herding?
Not all dogs are the same: some get the game at first sight, some might need more time. It’s vitally important that all participants should feel good and safe during each session (coach, owner, dog and the sheep). There are different exercises when we can teach our dog gradually. The main objective is having fun and spending time when challenging our dog both physically and mentally!
Tell stories about situations of herding trainings or tests
Many people keep asking me what is sheep herding and how to start it then progress with it: so I dedicated a full section to this on my dog’s website, explaining the herding basics, the good quality of dog, sheep, area, with my illustrations, also HWT Herding Working Test requirements and competition fields. It is very very inspiring for me that based on this and my support, now we have other rough collies who passed the test and non-collies who herd on a regular basis.
Herding competition field, Pomáz (H)
Do you participate at other dog-related activities as well?
Yes, we do other dog sports and activities as well, we participate at seminars and workshops also. Examples:
• (Conformation) Showing,
• Tricks,
• Agility,
• Frisbee,
• Swimming,
• Truffle search – Millie has truffle search exam!,
• Puller sport,
• Obedience and Rally Obedience,
• Excursions with friends,
• etc.
Puller sport workshop and seminar with the inventors Serg Shkot and Varvara Petrenko (UA)
My dog keeps me active and happy
Sunset at the biggest lake of Central Europe: Balaton
After apport from water (lake Balaton)
How can you manage your time between your family and dog?
Whenever there is a dog-related activity, I bring my family along – so I don’t have to share the time I spend. My daughter Rebeka really enjoys playing with the dog and they participate at dog-and-child show competitions or handling. She’s very good at dog communication and body language.
Agility with my daughter
Very first show in Junior class: BIS with my daughter
Do you have other pets as well?
We also have
• a rescued birman-like cat that I call ‘Beauty of Venice Sapphire’,
• an angora-like dwarf rabbit ‘Mousse’,
• a rescued Djungarian dwarf hamster ‘Misty’ (was left on the tram in a closed box with his littermates),
• a caught and kept mouse ‘Papillon’
Sapphire, the rescued cat (click for Facebook album)
Mousse, the rabbit (click for Facebook album)
What are your plans?
I would like to keep spending my time with my family and dog – but for this we would need green areas and clean air etc. Environmental protection is very important for me: for yeas, I participate at a global community solar power plant program. Should you be interested in saving the planet and making money, contact me.
Save the planet and make money – contact me
What is your current favourite photo of your dog?
What made you proud lately?
As first dog in Hungary, first rough collie in Europe, and #4 rough collie worldwide, Millie fulfilled the requirements of TDCH Trick Dog Champion acknowledged by the American Kennel Club, so her official name currently is
BH, HWT, Truffle search exam, NTD, ITD, ATD, ETD, TDCH, HJCH, HCH, SRBCH
Rineweld Heart Of Goodness ‘Millie’
If you also want to Do More With Your Dog © by Kyra Sundance, join my online Facebook team HUNbelievable Spark Team (in 4 languages: English, French, Spanish or Hungarian) so your dog can be a Novice (NTD), Intermediate (ITD), Advanced (ATD) or Expert (ETD) trick dog, or Trick Dog Champion (TDCH), and use the titles with your dog’s name, just like your beauty championships or working titles!
HUNbelievable Spark Team click to join
