08/21/2024
I was given the opportunity for a brief interview as I prepare for the FCI Mondioring World Championship with my malinois, Goose!
👱🏻♀️Amy Kiser
🇺🇸 USA
🐶 Goose des Loups du Lac
What inspired you to start training in Mondioring, and what does it mean to you to compete at the world championship level?
My best friend in high school was getting into dog sports so I started looking into sports too. Around that same time I saw my co-worker training her malinois for mondioring. I started asking her questions about it and she invited me to her mondioring club. The first time I watched them training an object guard had me completely hooked! To now be competing at the world championship 8 years later is like a dream, it doesn’t feel real. I couldn’t be more excited! I’m so grateful for our amazing club, all of the people who inspired me and helped us get here, and my husband/decoy Zack Kiser for seeing the potential in me and coaching me up to this point!
Can you describe the most challenging aspect of preparing for this competition and how you overcame it?
Goose is a very consistent and forgiving dog, so it’s easy for me to become complacent in our training. Attending world championships and having friends who are also competing at FCI this year has really inspired me to be more active and creative in our training! Our club member, Sparky (competing in Cat 2 with Archie), has been a huge inspiration for me; seeing him think outside the box with Archie’s training has made me excited to do the same!
How do you build and maintain a strong bond with your dog, and how does that relationship impact your performance in Mondioring?
Connecting with Goose didn’t come naturally to me at first (he cared far more about the decoys than me😂). Playing with him and finding new ways to interact with him on the field (even without a toy) was huge for us! Knowing I can get him excited about me through play, pets, and wrestling even when a decoy is present has been really positive! Having that connection with him has made me more secure in our relationship so I’m less stressed and can laugh it off when we make mistakes; I can give him a hug and remind myself in those moments that all we can do is go home and train for it. I’m a better handler and he’s more in tune with me because of that!
What are your goals for this championship, and how do you plan to achieve them?
This is our first time competing internationally at category 3, there are some big and far more experienced teams we’re up against- while I would love to make the podium, Goose and I are young, that’s a big ask! My goal is to enjoy our time on the field, not fail any exercises, and earn another qualifying score in our book! If we can do that, I’ll be happy with wherever it leaves us placement wise! My plan is to train often, make sure he’s successful and clear headed in training, and have fun while we prepare!
How do you think Mondioring contributes to the broader understanding and appreciation of working dogs and canine sports?
I think mondioring shows what these powerful dogs are capable of achieving, how well we are able to communicate with them through thoughtful training, and how strong the bond can become between handler and dog when you make these achievements! I see more and more pet owners in the U.S. gaining interest in dog sports and I believe that’s due to the level of team work between dog and handler being easy to see and it’s inspiring.
