Quickfire questions with Alarico Sberlati

It is easy to celebrate the good moments, but it is more important to find solutions together during difficult times.

Alarico is an exceptional talent. He started with search and rescue dog work at the age of 14 in a small club in the Italian town of Legnano. 15 years later, he is one of the best in the world. At the 28. IRO World Championship a few weeks ago, he and his dog Rocket won their fourth World Championship title. We caught up with Alarico and asked him some quickfire questions.

What fascinates me about search and rescue dog work is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to training a dog. Every dog is different, depending on breed, age and training level. I therefore have to adapt to each dog individually in order to get the best out of it.

What I love most is training in the rubble. It is a very technical discipline where the art lies in finding a balance of opposites: Dogs have to work independently, but at the same time respond reliably to commands. They have to learn to pick up the smallest scent, track it and indicate it from a distance or directly at the specific exit point (microlocation).

My best moment as a search and rescue dog handler has been the entire year so far. 2024 has certainly been the best season of my life. Honestly, I still have to process everything that has happened. Winning the FMBB*, FCI** and IRO World Championships is something special. It will be hard to replicate this success. All three titles mean a lot to me.

For me, teamwork means working with other people's dogs as if they were my own. Collaborating in a working group to find solutions to problems and errors. It's easy to celebrate the good moments, but it is more important to find solutions together in difficult times.

I would tell my younger self that no one gives you anything: work hard to achieve your goal! Don't get discouraged and be humble enough to learn from everyone and see the positive in every situation! 

*FMBB = Fédération Mondiale du Berger Belge
**FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale