Your little pug Pedro is a celebrity in Corsano where your live, is that right?
He sure is! Everyone knows Pedro: where he goes when it’s hot in the summer – to the supermarket, where there’s air conditioning – or what he does when he disappears from home for hours. He is the neighbourhood dog par excellence! They actually wrote an article about him and his life in “Voce di Corsano” which sure isn’t the Corriere della Sera but quite a “spot on” for a smelly little pug like ours.

Speaking of smelly… anything you want to share?
Well, we got used to it. Pedro is a dog that gives off bad smells. Actually it stinks! It stinks from the mouth, from the skin, from the butt. Pedro is a shameless fart! He makes tremendous shots without any embarrassment. Imagine what it’s like when we have guests, excusing ourselves continuously: No, no, no, it’s the dog!

What’s Pedro’s role in the Winspeare home?
He is the glue in the family, no doubt about it. My wife Celeste happens to loose her patience, with both Andrea, the second son, and Arcangela, our 12-year-old, both lazybones. Pedro holds us all together. Sooner or later we all turn to Pedro to seek calm because he seems to be the only one who understands everyone! He is awesome, that’s what he is.

What are you most attached to?
I actually never thought of getting a pug. To me, they’re too much of an Austrian auntie’s dog! I definitely wanted a dog with a muzzle. But my wife convinced me: Look at those crazy eyes…! Pedro actually spends hours looking at you with his eyes of a little gorilla, watery, gentle, dog eyes – but then again no: Pugs have these dark, deep, pleading eyes. Of the many dogs I’ve had in my life there was never one that looked at me the way Pedro does. It suggests happiness! And now that I’m telling you about it he looks at me, yawning, thinking “…and what is he saying about me..?” He spends hours looking at you in contemplation. Above all Celeste, but also me, when I feed him. He’s always around, as close as can be. Falls asleep on our feet when we sit and have coffee. He can’t stand being far away from us.

Any advice for people who would like to get a dog but cannot make up their minds?
A dog like any animal can be challenging. You have to go to the vet, you have to feed him, you have to go for walks, you have to educate him. But a dog gives you a hundred times more than it requires! Meanwhile it is a great lesson in generosity because a dog never expects anything in return. He gives all his love for free. You can not feed him much, treat him badly, the dog will always remain by your side.

Why did you choose Beagles?
Tell me what kind of dog you have and I’ll tell you who you are! Beagles are extremely curious and constantly drawn to everything new. At first glance, they may appear to adore the comforts of home life, but they can also get extremely energetic and demanding. Beagles come across as calm and balanced, but they are also stubborn. All of this is true for me too – that’s why we’re such a perfect match.
Beagles are also a sweet childhood memory: I used to spend long summers with my aunt and uncle, Attilio and Erika, in Liverpool, English countryside, playing with rabbits, horses and hounds 24 hours a day and taking the family dogs (mostly Beagles) for never ending nature walks.

Why are there four? How do you keep them quiet?
The Beagle is a pack dog so I was aware from the beginning that my life would change and that there might be difficulties here and there. I had done my homework; read everything I could find about their character, their strengths and weaknesses. A Beagle’s voice is very harmonious, the British call it “singing Beagle”, yet it’s something to get used to.
I got them one by one. Elodie was the first, I used to live in Turin at the time, had nothing but a small apartment and a balcony. When the second, Olivier, arrived, I had just moved back to Lecce, my home town. I found an historic palazzo in the old part of the town, which I now renovate step by step. We’ve got a massive rooftop terrace with sunny spaces and shady corners where the dogs spend their day while I’m working. Room enough for another two, I thought, so I got Yvonne and Antoine who arrived just recently in the family.

On a scale of 1 to 10 of importance in your life: Where do you see your Beagles?
They are complementary and an integral part of my life. I’m a different and better person since they’ve been around. The dogs are part of the family.

What’s so special about the bond between dogs and humans?
Dogs are affectionate and faithful friends. Humans need to live with them for a biochemical reason: They help increase the production of Oxytocine, a neurotransmitter known as the love hormone that promotes human relationships. When I am in my dogs’ company I’m always happy.

What annoys you about your dogs?
Bringing a dog into your life is an act of faith and extreme responsibility. Furthermore, it is an important commitment. There have been, there are and there always will be difficult moments, when you risk to loose your patience. The good news is: Every walk is a new oppurtunity. A dog needs to go out a couple of times every day, not only because he needs to do his business, but because the walk strengthens our relationship and improves everybody’s mood.

Any advice for living with dogs?
I studied to become an ENCI dog trainer before I got my dogs which was just as important for me as it is for them. The dog depends exclusively on us and we have to take care of it. I always recommend simple tricks to follow in order to make the binomial grow in him: Away from home means FUN, at home means REST. Here are my “tricks” for correct management:

1. Everyone in their place: Each member of the family needs his own room. The dog has to have its kennel where he can rest without being disturbed. Important: Never place it near the front door or where people or other animals might pass by.
2. Behavioral hierarchy: We are a family. Wherever we go we’ll move together and each individual needs to cooperate to achieve the common goal. Everyone needs to respect the rules to avoid stress.
3. Rules need to be respected. Anyone who owns a dog must know the law that protects their rights and regulates obligations. You have to leave the house with a leash, a collapsible bowl for water, a soft muzzle to be used when necessary, and bags for collecting excrements. Not to forget: Dogs have their own “identity card”: With the application of a microchip, the dog is registered in the Regional Canine Registry. Remember to communicate changes of domicile and ownership.

Why are you AMAZING?
In the words of my favorite Italian poet Alda Merini, “I have always been judged as ‘strange’ or ‘different’, but you know what? I’ve always loved it! I couldn’t bear to be seen like the rest of the world”. This is what I am and what unites me to my motherland Puglia.