SANJIKA'S SPINONI
SANJIKA'S SPINONI
Whilst our love for the breed began in the UK, we have over many years bettered our learning and understanding from the country of origin. Conversations in broken Italian and English have enabled us to forge lifelong friendships with people we hold in very high regard. We would like to thank our friends old and new for the experiences, hospitality and the chance to see our breed in the hands of those most passionate.
Nearly 20 years ago, “The Griffins” made the journey down to Umbria, Italy to meet and collect a new addition to the family. With limited language, mum had communicated by email but once we had arrived at the foot of mount Subasio, we met a man who became a friend for life; a knowledgeable, kind-hearted, true Spinonisti. Ezio Pagliarini - del Subasio “to know and love Spinoni”. Cesare del Subasio came home with us to spend 12 good years at Sanjika HQ.
From him and our homebred Sanjika Spirit of Taz (Sorrel) we gained the beautiful Sanjika Nyika. A match made in heaven for what came next...
Our friendship with Ezio continued and through email we shared our thoughts on the Spinoni and were educated and found many similarities in how we understood The Spinone. Mum had seen Ferentum Brutus, studied the pedigree with the view to pair him with Sorrel and spoke with Ezio who also liked the dog. Originally we booked a white and orange male from the planned litter from F. Brutus (pictured below) and Asia del Subasio. This all changed when Dad and I went to visit the litter and I was met by a brown roan boy and I knew that he was the only dog we would be taking home. Ezio was thrilled, as he had the same opinion.
I cannot thank Ezio enough for imparting his knowledge over the cups of coffee in his beautiful garden; talking everything Spinoni.
Nemo del Subasio at Sanjika was a one in a million dog; one who has changed the movement of Spinoni in the UK, where the strength and drive of his offspring can be identified clearly. Not forgetting he was also Dad’s most reliable “picking-up” dog! The climax of Nemo’s show career came when he won Best Opposite Sex and Best Veteran at the World Show in 2015.
We were honoured when Nyika and Nemo’s son, Jalawe, was paired with Elisabetta del Subasio; cementing friendship and Spinoni ideals. From this mating, Ezio kept a brown roan bitch; Nikita. I am confident that Ezio’s last Spinoni is one to treasure.
In order to continue del Subasio lines with his valued friends, he announced his final breeding plans. After collecting me from the airport, we dropped in for coffee with Ezio, where he proudly exhibited what I can only describe as “a hunting machine”. The grin on Dad’s face was priceless... a Kairos son would be his next challenge. Varenne del Subasio at Sanjika was graded excellent in a trial that December and at the spring Derby provided an outstanding performance!!
Due to Kairos being out of the country when Nikita was ready to be paired; an alternative was found in Leone di Capella Reale (now Italian Champion!) As they were living in Italy at the time, mum and dad went to visit the litter and history was repeating itself, although this time we had the honour of Sanjika and del Subasio in harmony - an opportunity not to be missed! Wolf del Subasio at Sanjika was already a very special dog for us, knowing the emotion behind him, but his quality has been acknowledged in his unbeaten show career in Junior at 16 months of age. Most incredibly for me, winning Best Male at the CiSp 70th raduno. No words can sum up the emotion felt by my family for our valued friendship with Ezio, his family and his Spinoni. He is a testament to the breed and integral in my learning of Lo Spinone.
Ferentum Brutus, pictured left, was the first male we used in Italy from the Ferentum Kennel (Luca Massimino). Thank you to Leonardo Antonielli, a stalwart of the Spinoni in Italy and still winning top awards today with some excellent dogs. We are grateful for the lines we were able to incorpate into our breeding. Ferentum Virgilio, pictured right, was used on Sanjika Amalfi to produce Sanjika Ilona, who is the mother of our first Italian Champion, It Ch Sanjika Nyasa.
Davidensis Arno, pictured, is the father of Davidensis Silver at Sanjika. When Sally first saw Arno she was very keen to see if we could have one of his offspring. After some time of waiting, we were contacted to say that there was a male puppy available for us. Thank you to Marcello Davide for entrusting us with Silver 'Our Sentinel' - father of our first Italian Champion Sanjika Nyasa.
Ego del Buonvento pictured here as a top award winner at the Trofeo Massimino in 2011 with breeder and owner Ottavio Mencio. We used him on Sanjika Amarena which produced Sanjika Iva & Ivano.
Baldo del Buonvento, litter sister to Brenda who we saw at Pian di Spino in 2014. Here winning the young award at Trofeo Massimino in 2011, later used on It Ch Sanjika Nyasa to produce It Ch Sanjika Scirocco and Sanjika SanSiro.
We had seen Leone di Capella Reale in Lajatico at the trials after the CISp Raduno 2017 where he showed excellent working ability. Thank you to Salvatore Luciano for allowing us to use him on Sanjika Kokola to further improve the working aspect of the Sanjika Kennel. He is also the father of Wolf del Subsasio.
Biagio Spinone del Mucrone came to join us as a 50th birthday present for Sally. The del Mucrone head is infamous in Spinoni and we were blessed to have such a quality. He is father to our It Ch Sanjika Mayoka. Thank you to Salvatore La Spada and Nadia Guerrini for your trust in us.