Would you like to present yourself?
I am Paola Vernetti, certainly older than I think but as my Grandma used to say “Women and poets are ageless”. I’ve worked in all sorts of businesses: I used to be a model, then worked in a  showroom in Milan for some time, until I ended up in the village of Cascina Pellegrina, Novi Ligure (AL), where I started to work in my husband Gabriele’s company related to air conditioning. Lola is our fourth labrador (two of them sadly died far too early) and we’re really fond of her. Actually she’s like a daughter to us.  

Whats so special about Lola?  
A thousand things! Lola has the biggest room in both our hearts. She is very good, extremely behaved and shows absolutely no trace of aggression. Getting older we  got closer obviously, that turned into some sort of symbiosis now that she’s more mature. We share and enjoy certain habits and rituals that no one else would understand. And none of us, especially her!, can stand being apart for too long. So in case one of us moves she won’t settle as long as he or she returns to the “pack”.

What are Lola’s greatest passions?
Cuddles, food, jumping into the water and saving “dad”, who’s perfectly capable to swim alone but enjoys the fun. Whoever approaches her, pronouncing kind and gentle words, will be rewarded with little Lola, belly up and waving her tail, asking for cuddles. When she was a puppy she used to “chew” on pebbles which wasn’t funny at all! Fortunately she learned not to, growing up.

Anything you say or do to understand each other more easily?
We understand each other through looks and simple gestures. There’s mutual respect for each other’s moods, no need to say anything, she would understand or vice versa. If nothing “works” which rarely happens, “cookies” is her magic word that makes everything possible. 

Who would she be if not a dog? 
My best friend who understands me without words. 

Why exactly do you love her?
I love her because she is good with cats and all sort of animals, always obedient and cheerful. I love her because she’s funny when she walks. I love her because when she doesn’t want to do something she pretends not to hear – and certainly gets away with it! I love her too much. She is unique to both of us, like a daughter.

The cutest things she does, what are they? 
Well, she has this funny way of relaxing with her belly on the floor and the legs behind her, spread out like a frog. Too cute! To ask for our attention she’d go and grab a piece of our stuff, preferably a shoe. And it works! One of us would jump up and chase after her. The always gets it her way. After dinner and some TV she decides it’s bedtime: She would grab her bone and her favourite stuffed dog and make us understand that it’s time to go to sleep. One more, less funny but remarkable thing: She uses the stairs only if she feels like it. If she doesn’t, we have to pick her up and carry her wherever she needs to go. 

Do you ever leave her alone? 
Until a few years ago, pre Covid, we regularly went on holiday overseas or went to see places where they wouldn’t accept dogs. My dad used to look after Lola in the meantime. Last time we left her was for a winter holiday in the mountains. When we got back after ten days she was super anxious for too long, maybe because she is getting old? That’s when we decided we wouldn’t leave her behind any more.

What are your favourite things to do together? 
I love taking her for her evening walk around the farmhouse before dinner which is part of one of our daily rituals. And I love to caress her gently when she lies next to me. And I love doing gymnastics with her by my side! 

Any thoughts or suggestions that come to your mind? 
Needless to say, my perfect world would be with Lola by my side for the rest of our lives. Since that’s very unlikely, unfortunately, we enjoy every moment as if it was the greatest adventure, the most precious time we’ve ever had. So my advice for those who are thinking about taking an animal in: Don’t decide lightheartedly, since it’s a commitment that lasts a long time. But if you’re certain about what you’re doing be sure they’ll pay back with the purest joy you can possibly imagine.

PS: Paola’s second life is her agency for locations to rent for photo productions in Cascina Pellegrina. Check this (and many other fabulous things she does) out on @cascinapellegrina

Tell us about yourself, Annalaura. You just came back from an early Summer holiday in Puglia, right?
That’s true. Of course my trusted travel companion Biagio was with me. Time to go wild, after many winter months inside, week after week in the office. Finally time to to wander and travel, being in nature! We’re both very active, love the outdoors. I never sit still, I play tennis and work out with a personal trainer, I do yoga to dedicate time to myself.

Where did you meet? How did you connect? 
I had my last dog about 20 years ago, an Irish Setter, Jack. Work and various commitments made it impossible to have another one for a long time, let alone a puppy. During Covid, smart-working in my home office, I started to get used to the idea again, also thanks to a company that has a pet policy and allows you to bring your dog to the office as long as you have a conduct license. So I actually started to look for a suitable one, doing some research about breeds, availability etc. Then, surprisingly, a breeder I had contacted some time ago had a tiny newborn available. All he did was send me a picture of Biagio as a baby, asking nothing but: “Are you ready?” So to me it seemed as if Biagio had chosen me instead of the other way round. It seemed a perfect gift to myself for my 40iest birthday.

What’s so amazing about Biagio?
He is absolutely unique and irreplaceable, the best choice I’ve made in years! Biagio has a great personality and a face with a thousand expressions. He is extremely affectionate and as sharp as a razor.

How would you describe your relationship? 
We are there for one another, in all sort of ways. I try to give him the best dog life possible. Of course he likes cuddles and kisses a lot, but I’m not the “dog in the purse” kind of person. What I do instead is make his personality shine, indulge him in his passions and attitudes and help him overcome his insecurities and fears.
We trust each other, we go for walks in the meadows every day and Biagio is free to run – which is a show for itself! But he’d always check on me after a bit.
I take him out soft hunting: single sessions in which he can run after the lure, having fun like crazy. Running to catch a frisbee is another great passion of his. Then in the evening, after playing a bit with his stuffed animals and bones (he’s tireless) he asks my permission to get on the sofa and falls asleep on my lap. That’s one of my favorite moments. Not to mention his guilty pleasure, a spoonful of coconut oil for “dessert” in the evening. As soon as I say “Cocco” he licks his mustache. Makes me smile every time!

How does Biagio cope with Milan city life?
Perfectly. I take Biagio wherever I go because I can. He’d get into the car without any fuss, sits down in his car seat like a human being. In the office he would say Hi to everyone, being a real gentleman.

How do you “understand” each other? Do you have a secret code? 
We talk to each other a lot in verses, but even more with our eyes.

What makes him listen no matter what? 
No need. Biagio is very obedient. He’s not very confident so he’s the one who follows me.

Why do you love him?
There is no reason, he simply stole my heart!

Is there anything that annoys you about him? 
Only when he barks every now and then while he’s alone. They say “crisis of abandonment”. Abandonment of what? Little rascal!

What are your favourite things to do with him?
Being outdoors and running during the day, and on the sofa under the covers at night.

Two Abruzzese Sheepdogs – that’s not for everyone…
And they were three! Unfortunately we lost one to cancer. His name was Ago, our very first dog in the family. Someone had told us about a litter close to our home, just out of Martina Franca in Puglia. We showed up, immediately decided to take one of them home and instantly fell in love with our little big Ago. A great dog, beautiful, strong, to good to be true! Sadly, he got sick and died of Leukemia within months. Just enough time to educate our second Abruzzese Sheepdog, a female that we called Tea. When Ago got worse and died, my husband and I suffered with him and grieved for him as if it was a child. Unbelievable how close we had become, how hard it was to let him go. We eventually found another male and called him Ugo. So even if it’s not three but only two of them now, we’re as close as any family can be. The dogs live outside,  yet they are like kids for us. We’ve created a perfect harmony, understanding each other without words. I actually think the dogs are getting more and more similar to us, but that’s what they say about dogs and masters, don’t they? 

What’s so amazing/special about your dogs?
They are extraordinary in every way! We are family, no more no less. And we love spending time together, being outdoors together, go hiking, playing, fighting with them on the floor like children, for hours. And they consider us their parents, calling us, barking, howling… as if we were two of them.

What did they teach you that nobody else would?
They taught us to be good. Because a dog would never leave you no matter what. He is always there, by your side, come rain or come shine. Looking at you, looking after you, caring about you. They want to be like us and we want to be like them, we learn from them.  

Is there anything that annoys you about them? 
Not at all. Humans can be annoying sometimes! But dogs? At least OUR dogs are just sweet, always. Even though it’s a breed that’s known to be very territorial and highly protective. 

What are your favourite things to do with them?
Playing and having fun. Only when it’s time to eat, they forget everything. As if they celebrated every single feast. Pure instinct. 

Are your dogs part of the household? Do they sleep in your bed?
No way. Our dogs are too big to keep them inside. They’ve got their outdoor space, their dog beds, and the entire estate to run and have fun. They seem to be more than happy with it. 

Any advice you would like to give to someone who wants to get a dog but can’t decide?
Go and get one, immediately. Because he will change your life and will make you happy. A dog helps you to be yourself, to forget about your sorrows. You’ll find that negativity disappears. It doesn’t take much: Just look him in the eyes and you’ll see his soul. 

PS: If you’d like to learn more about flower designer Michele Zaurino, check out his Instagram account @michele_zaurino

Where did you meet? How did you connect?
I was keen to have a toy poodle delivered on my youngest daughter’s birthday. Since the date was important, yet specific, I went through desperate measures to purchase him online, eventually to discover it was a scam. Tsunami arrived by train, there was a charge of 300 Dollars to have him delivered, in addition to the fortune that I had paid in advance. The man who delivered Tsunami didn’t look very healthy, he carried adult dog food with this puppy that was not even the size of my hand. I made several attempts to track down the person who sold it to me, but he had disappeared. The person who had brought me the puppy had no contact either. A mystery.
With all the birthday hype, I didn’t realize something was wrong until I had alone time with Tsunami, the next morning. Soon I discovered the puppy that I bought online that was supposed to have pedigree papers, had instead arrived with fleas, cardia, almost lifeless. I worried he wouldn’t make it. The real problem was that I had no information on what he had been eating. It took a good week to nurse him to better health, I had to do all the vaccines and of course he was without a microchip. Eventually I did find the scammer, but I highly suspect he smuggles hundreds of dogs from who knows where, Romania or Albania, and I didn’t want to take the time or energy to pursue it in court. Meanwhile, we had all fallen in love with Tsunami. 

What’s so amazing/special about your dog?
Tsunami is very, very particular. Once I got him back to health, he wouldn’t play as a puppy or chew on anything in the house, rather he would sit and stare at my every move, never taking his eyes off of me as I moved around the house. He was memorizing my every move. He still has that serial killer persona to this day. Obviously I’m teasing. Tsunami is a joy to have in our family, he loves us very much. He is a wonderful swimmer and loves sailing. He acts like a sailor himself, a pirate defending his ship. He is working when he is sailing, it’s his happy place. 
Tsunami understands both English and Italian. He can be very protective and possessive, there are certain aspects of his character that root from his early abandonment from the mother. He does bite, but it’s a work in progress, he knows how to be a good boy, too. 
Tsunami has an excellent nose. Before conducting the DNA test, I would’ve bet that he was a truffle dog. Early on I would hide white truffles in the house and he would find them, eventually we go outdoors and look for truffles with success. He loves those kind of mind games, challenging his nose. 

What’s your dog’s role in the family?
He’s the baby boy in a family of three girls.

If your dog was a person – who would he be?
Albert Einstein 

Why do you love him?
He’s perfect in every single way, I love Tsunami for his loyalty to our family. His trust. He has been there for me during some hard times –
I will always be in debt to Tsunami. 

What did he teach you that nobody else would?
He taught me telepathic communication. He doesn’t talk, but we communicate all the time. 

Is there anything that annoys you about him?
If I leave for 10 minutes, he goes nuts when I come back as if I left him for 10 days. 

What are your favourite things to do with him?
Sailing 

Is your dog part of the household 100 %?
Absolutely, he sleeps in my bed, always next to me. 

Any advice you would like to give to someone who wants to get a dog but can’t decide?
Don’t buy a dog online.

Pictures: Kirstie McConnell for https://classicoportraits.com/expats, Calling Italy Home

My compliments, You look perfectly fit! Thanks to Mimma…?
Well, I’m doing my best! I’ve been trying to calm down her incredibly playful character. You can see some results but… Mimma just cannot hold herself back when she’s happy (which she always is!) and since she’s not exactly a Chihuahua, I’m trying hard to keep her from dragging me away. Mimma is a very sociable dog, she wants to say Hi to everyone, play with everyone (even with the cats but they don’t always understand her), wants to run, swim and, above all, roll in everything she finds that’s stinky or yucky in some way. Bad luck for me but a great business for the city’s ​​dog ​​toilets.

Tell me about your life.
Mimma and I spend a lot of time together and try to make the most of it. We love hiking. Well, hiking is not quite right: As soon as she sees a meadow,
a beach or any other open space, she starts running happily all over the place. Mimma is a very active dog and loves to explore and dig big holes when we go on excursions. While we walk she repeatedly comes close to touch me with her nose, as if to make sure that Mom is still there. Once we went for a walk to the lakes of Alimini, near Otranto. She couldn’t resist throwing herself into the water to chase three ducks swimming carelessly in the middle of the lake. Another day, close to the beautiful and scenic Acquaviva Bay in Marittima, she accidentally fell into a well full of dirty water. She eventually got out again and shook herself wildly, getting everyone around her wet and dirty. Yet she’s easily forgiven because she is so sweet! I simply wouldn’t know what to do without our occasional excursions, no matter where and when. Seeing her run freely (especially in the snow!) makes me very happy.

You live in a city (Lecce, Italy), not exactly the best place to let dogs run free. How do you cope?
Yes, that’s a a problem, especially for larger dogs like Mimma. Where do we go run, play with a ball, hide and seek? The city park unfortunately opens too late, therefore we cannot go every morning. That park has a dog area which unfortunately is below expectations: small, dirty, full of fleas, mosquitoes and who knows what else. Not exactly the best place to take her. But unfortunately there’s very few alternatives. South of Rome there don’t seem to be any more walking areas for dogs. It’s a mess for people and dogs like us.

Do you share Mimma with someone or is it just You and her?
There’s also Michele, my fiancé, who invited me to come live with him and welcomed the two of us with great patience. He would never admit it but he got very attached to Mimma, too. When he comes home from work he’d whistle the legendary jingle (the Jurassic Park soundtrack) and Mimma looses it! She usually waits for him at the exact same hour, wagging her tail and waiting for him to cuddle her, give her the cookie (their ritual), calming down only when he gets out of his shoes.

Any other things you share?
There is Yoga, which I used to do before she arrived and which we practise “together” now. Let me put it this way: I try to do yoga and she thinks I wanna play, so she runs around me and under me like crazy. We both love these moments! We have also embarked on a path that will enable us to practice what used to be called Pet Therapy and is now AAI (Animal Assisted Interventions): an initiative where a specially-trained dog and professional handler work together, in conjunction with a human services professional (eg therapist, social care practitioner, teacher or healthcare provider), to promote improvements in the physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive functioning of a person. In order to help them build self esteem, overcome anxiety, interact with others, change certain patterns of behaviour and many more. It’s interesting and challenging for both of us! And I hope it’ll help me to make people in need participate in what I enjoy every day.

What’s the most special thing about dogs for you personally?
They understand us so much more than we understand them, mainly because we have lost the connection to nature. Yet, there is so much beauty in the relationship between dogs and humans. Quiri teaches us, especially me, a lot every day. Patience, above all things! And when she unterstands we’re having our difficulties with patience she’s even more patient, unbelievable. In fact if she were a person she would be my wife Erika, the two of them are similar in many ways.

What kind of relationship did you establish?
I guess it’s the usual dog-man kind of relationship. There’s moments when we notice we’re exaggerating, that’s when she becomes too human, takes advantage of our weakness, asks to play with the ball too often, wants treats between meals, go out when she wants etc. But then again, she’s at the center of our lives, takes full part in everything we do. So why not spoil her a bit…?

You chose an Lagotto Romagnolo for a reason?
Well, it has many extraordinary characteristics. They are officially recognized for the search for truffles! A very ancient breed, defined by experts as a rustic dog. In former times it was used as a hunting retriever, then they discovered their extraordinary sense of smell. These characteristics make it a dog that is always ready to play, never aggressive and very obedient, a friend of children and respectful of the house. Like all dogs, the first months were a bit of a challenge. This breed can get even more demanding than others. We took Quiri on endless walks in the woods, every single day, because they need contact with nature like air to breathe.

Anything you particularly like doing with her?
We’re doing almost everything together! Quiri is always by our side. Just recently we took her on a trip through Europe, everyone loved it. Outside we enjoy playing ball. Or we keep her and her nose busy, hiding objects in the house that she has to find and bring back. Erika is taking her to agility training lessons twice a week. They’ll soon be competing with others, that’ll be interesting.

One thing: Is she allowed on your bed?
No she isn’t. There’s a couple of no-go zones in the house and she respects that. She sure sleeps in the same room, but in her own bed.

PS: Dino Frittoli and his wife Erika were shooting portrait pictures at famous Putignano Carnival in Puglia, when I asked them for the interview (www.dinofrittoli.com). Sure their Laghotto Quiri was there, too.