While a lot is said about shelties’ domain in Midi category, a less glamorous breed comes with strength in trials all around Europe, specially in France: that’s the Pyrennean Sheepdog, an old breed in the continent developed to do sheepwork in mountainous regions. If the nestling choice is essential for conductor's agility success, Sylvain Jacquemin had much luck when he chose Mira and took her home: his interest on agility arose when he took his pet for obedience classes.

 

With five years old, the bitch has an enviable curriculum. Besides the several titles won in France, in their premiere in World Championship, Sylvain and Mira, at that time with two years old, enchanted Dortmund and helped France to win 1^st place in the mini category for teams. In The following year, they got the 4a. place in teams in Helsinki and, in Porto 2001, they showed that they don’t work very well just for the team: they won 2^nd place in mini individual competition, with half a second of difference for the champion, russian Elena Klokova and her poodle Diamond.

How to have success with a Pyrenean Sheepdog?

It is necessary to work a lot, above all because Pyrenean Sheepdog is an excellent working dog that demands much attention, of being well canalized. I took a lot of time to find the correct way to work with her.

Is Mira your first agility dog?

Yes. I started obedience classes with her three years ago, under breeder orientation, who warned me that Pyrenean Sheepdogs have strong temperament. I was very well guided in a canine education club, I was very confident about the people that guided me and then we progressed a lot, mostly for Mira being an exceptional dog.

How do you evaluate your conduction?

What more interests me in the relationship handler-dog is the explosion. I love to go for speed, handling very close, run with her, encouraging her extremely and that is my way of handling. Mira does her work very well and I try to do mine well too.

How long have you being joining French team?

Porto was my third time. I was pre-selected for Dortmund in 1999, Helsinque in 2000 and Porto in 2001.

How was your first World Championship?

I keep great memories. It was my first big international competition and everything was extraordinary: the supporters, the environment, the people  and mostly our result. The French team was very good. Personally, I had the chance of be ashamed of small things - which I have already corrected – concerning how to handle important moments. I was the first contestant to enter in the first trial (jumping) and the pressure comes no matter how much you are ready. Then you are the last one to compete the next day and that was pretty complicated for me, I didn't know how to manage the situation. I didn't become individual champion mini in that occasion because of my fault. I had a real chance of win, but I didn't know to take advantage of it. It lacked a little of experience.

Does your physical preparation have an important role?

I quit smoking, have played squash for a year with my friend Olivier Adyns, also from French team, but unhappily he got hurt and had to stop. I need to practice an active sport, physical, fast, to help in my performance in track. I realized that with Mira, even she is not the fastest dog in the world, is necessary that we are in syntony and make her have a good back push usually makes the difference. She loves that and also is fond of me, she wants to take part of the joke thoroughly and she gives the maximum of herself. I am physical in my conduction because I love that, I enjoy being close to my bitch and running.

Do you practice another canine sports with Mira?

I don't have many opportunities. Sometimes I take her to work with sheeps, although my professional commitments usually don’t allow that. Mira is a working dog in the straight meaning of the word.

Do you intend to handle a border collie?

Good question. I have discovered border collie with Lagune, my girlfriend's dog. It is a dog that, when it is necessary to go, goes; when needs calm, is quiet. It is a breed that pleases me very much and, later, I think I am going to accept this challenge.

Is your girlfriend an agilityst?

Yes, Nathalie was already pre-selected with Lagune for French team and every year participates of national finals. It is an excellent dog that needs to be handled up to 110% to win. Having in mind the competition in her category, Nathalie really needs a bit more of physical work, but she has a kind of relationship with her dog that all handler would like to have. She handles softly, without sudden, concise actions, in a very feminine way and works well. With me, he certainly isn't faster, but is more pushed. Nathalie showed me a way to manage the routine with the dog and about it I am very thankful.

Know how to manage stress is primordial?

I realized that is hiperprimordial, since it was my problem in Dortmund World Championship. I walked in the course with my heart beating so fast that I lost many of my resources. Mira has felt it very deeply and it has put her also under pressure. In these cases, we are in the razor thread and can go as well as badly. The big progress that I have achieved last years consists in know how to work all of the elements, thanks to the experience and confidence.

Gilles Thiriet said that the mental capacity counts on 70% in his pre-selection. What do you think about?

He is right, because we have already good dogs. We can rival without problems with the dogs of the other countries as in speed like in technical skills. However, the mental preparation is the French team’s small difference. Gilles places us under pressure on his way. We never are good; we are medium and need always do better and think that is the way we are progressing.