THE PT BULL BIBLE DATABASE PRESENTS THIS >>>EXCLUSIVE<<< INTERVIEW WITH....
It is a special privilege to interview you, thank you for taking the time to do so, while many will indeed be familiar with you, for others it will be an introduction to one of the true dogmen pioneers outside of North America.
A) Hello, it is my pleasure to do this Interview.
Can you tell me when and where you were born sir and what that region was like during this time period ?
A) I was born in the 60es of the past century in the industrial harbour city in Croatia, part of the Yugoslavia, the country which not exist anymore. It was socialistic country and living in it as a young boy was safe. We didn't had much, all were working class, but we had enough to live deacent life. Our stores didn't had so much of this corporative food as we have today, but our food was healthy homegrown back then, all of it. Today we are like asshole of the west, in our shelves we can find every crap fake food product of questionable quallity to buy for cheap price, being pore nation with many uninformed people looking just as cheapest can be, thats what many eat today. It is not untouched and beautiful country as once was.
As a young boy growing up in an area known for among other things, it's hardship, what were some of those early life's lessons that would come to shape you into manhood ?
A) Well, growing up here was very different then the west back then. You need to be ready and to know to do many things to survive, always to learn new ways, to fight every day for your own existance. It was every day fight...funny thing is that today, it is much worse to live than it was then, much harder. We didn't had any homeless person in old days, none, it was social country...today we see lots of our elders living in the streets and searching for food in garbage dumpsters. Young people not have work, we all had a work in the past. Times changed drasticly for us.
Guess my lession was – life is hard, stay game and stay focused at all times and nothing last forever.
Can you tell us how it was that you first became introduced to the sporting dog world and what your initial impressions were ?
A) I was young in my early twenties and I was caught by Pit Bull Fever. The breed was first time introduced here back in 1984, with first gamebred APBT imported from Holland, it was Ganja's Black Magic. After that popularity of the breed grow huge and out of proportions. You could see them dogs hanging on the hides and does work on every corner of our cities or villages, it was really huge thing back then, true Pit Bull Fever.
I saw few first fights ever here and that was it, I was hooked big time. All I wanted to get to best fighting stock and to compete against the best. With time, I did just that.
I did purchased many, breed many, imported few from States, selected hard and matched allot.
Was there a large sporting dog scene there at this time ?
A) Not at first. We started from the scratch with some folks involved in fights, then it spreads more and more. Finaly, everyone who owned APBT back then was involved in dog fights and the scene grow big within few years, especially during and after the war time, 90es. We didn't need to travel far to find an opponent, they were everywhere. You must know that our knowledge was also very low at the beginnings and we had to learn it all hard way, trials and errors. It is not shame today to say that I first, then everyone else ruined fair share of good ones due to our lack of knowledge and experience. It was hard to get any good books or keeps, it was time before the Internet. I was SDJ subscriber for the world news, I had spent thousands of dollars each month on phone bills, calling USA dogmen trying to grab some of the knowledge from those willing to share. I had priviledge to talk to many known US dog people, some of them were really nice people, not alive today. Best friendship if I may call it that way, I had to late Ozzie Stevens, he helped me allot with the keep and understanding it, he was great guy to talk with. Always ready to tell stories, R.I.P. Oscar.
For many dogmen within North America there has always been the time honoured method of having a mentor and working under an experienced dogman as his yardboy, gradually cutting his teeth as we say. Was this your path as well, did someone mentor you ?
A) No, developing of the game in the USA was over hundred years, several generations of people involved in the sport...to us it just come one day as something never seen before. We all started by ourselves from the scratch, nobody to lead us through. We were pioneers here, first ones who started conditioning dogs without having real clue about basic things – like proper pit-weight, pre-keep, feeding, etc.... our first dogs did fights very fat and way above their proper pit weight back in the days. With time, we started to get better and better, to know more, to have experience, to get more informations. Today there are quite few top conditioners here, knowing their job to the max.Competition is top notch, very hard to beat folks with lots of experience now. Also with the beginning of the Internet, knowledge did spread much faster and to the larger audience.
So when was it that you came into your own as a dogman and where did you get your first dogs and how were they bred ?
A) I purchased couple not important APBT pups before I got into real contacts with other pioneer dogmen here who had real gamebreed stock and actually my first real pit dog I purchased was the best one I got. It was early 90es, back then I was impressed by Zezevica Knls' (Ch) Penny, she was 1W at the time and I was interested in pups off her. She didn't had pups, but I heard her belly sister Azra, also 1W, had pups at the time. So I called Mr Ruppe who owned her and the litter, I was interested to buy pair of pups. So few days after I was on the road to Mr Ruppe home and arrived there late night. It was dark, couldn't see nothing, so he said he will bring their mom Azra in his house to see her under the lights, and in the morning I will see pups. I will never forget moment when I laid my eyes on Azra for the first time, she was beautiful bulldog type bitch, spectacular character and color pattern...it was love on 1st sight. In the morning I wasn't interested in the pups at all, I wanted their mother Azra. The price went sky high as Mr Ruppe didn't want to sell her, but finaly we made agreement and I took her home and the rest is now history. She became Champion and ROM bitch, still leading in our ROM list. She was my first and best dog ever. Her sire was pure Eli breed dog, US import, while her mother was daughter of Gr Ch Buck ROM, breed by Mr Payne, also from US.
While line breeding and inbreeding are widely considered the backbone in many North American dogman's breeding program to maintain a line or cross I know you have always been a real advocate for BEST TO BEST breeding's in your own program. Can you spend a little time and share your thoughts regarding the subject of breeding ?
A) Well, it was best option for several reasons. We didn't had any of our own generations of purebreed dogs to know enough about ancestors of shown dogs here, some may arrived with fake pedigrees was also posibility, also there wasn't so many of proven pure and family breed dogs around at that time. I did believed only to what I seen in the square. Thats how I did breed my Azra bitch, with best match dogs I saw in the square, and thats how she earned ROM title, 6 points, dam of one Gr Ch and 4 Champs. Even today I like to practise „best to best“ breedings but always having in mind ancestors of chosen animals. At same time I do breed family dogs, line breeding and some inbreedings too. To keep the blood clean and mainly for brood, it is Vili blood as it is very rare in purebred form this days. For the box I believe in crossed dogs to be best & healthiest to do the thing done.
There has always been a very divided consensus on the breeding of COLD DOGS, is it safe to assume you are opposed to that concept ?
A) I did breed few cold bitches in my career with great results. If the cold bitch is from good family, good parents, if that family is not high in % of cold dogs, then I would use her if I need that blood. One example is when I breed my cold bitch Tracy Lords, she was Jeep/Ch Termite blood, to my RBJ breed dog Charlie. From that breeding came out Gr Ch Mario 5W. I must say I never used cold male, I don't know why...probably because I mainly use winners as male studs, never had in mind to play with cold ones. But my guess it can work same as with bitches, if the bitch is chosen well for the cold stud.
You have never been kennel blind and never to proud to seek out to breed your top bitches to outside studs. Can you name some of the special dogs you have bred to over the years as well as their records ?
A) Yes, I was seeking for best performers to breed to my winning bitches, the bloodline behind wasn't important, but performance of chosen dog and his ancestors. Among others, I did breed my Ch Azra to two all time greats, Davor's Vili ROM and Atila Knls' Gr Ch Dendy 7W. These two not need much of introduction, Vili created his own family alive even today, Gr Ch Dendy was one of a kind dog, one in the million, he beat 2 Champs and 2 Gr Champs on his way to 7W. I had deal to breed to a Legendary Boban's Ch Yankee ROM too, but unfortunately due to war between our countries, that breding never hapened.
Even today I do breedings that way, today I use two great pit performers as my studs – Ex Gr Ch Beka POR 6W 1GL, BIS and Dog of the year Ch Loki 4W.
Thats the way I like to breed in my yard, winners produce winners, that is what I firmly believe.
Off course, I know not all best multi winners will be best producers too, but many of them will, especialy when there are generations of winners in the back. I respect their wins and if I use them, they sure are good performers from proven background with high percentage to be able to produce good stock.
I simply not believe in „breed to produce“ dogs who never seen a box kind of studs.
Over the many years you have been active in the sporting dog world you have been met with much success, can you name the various dogs you have owned that you feel were your best and their records ?
A) I really had quite a few good ones which are in my heart for ever. First is off course my first love Ch Azra ROM, she was hot and screaming kind of bitch, smart and game to the bone. I owned two deadgame dogs, but I mean true deadgame dogs who really left their life right there without one thought to leave the contest, one is Rios 2W 1L GIS, and other is bitch Munjara, she lost scrathing back till the end against Ch Dina 4W. Munjara was from Gr Ch Dendy x Ch Azra litter. Then I had marvelous Tom Cat dog, he lived only 24 months, but he was 2x Best in Show winner, 1W and 1D. My Ch Yuma was stifle eater, one of best I had pleasure to feed. Ch Bloody Mary 4W 1GL was one of most tallented and fastest bitches, short wins, lost unlucky hers Gr Chship match vs Ch Pepica, but C'est la Vie. I need more time to remember more of my own good dogs...oh yes, Gr Ch Troy and Gr Ch Mario, both breed by me and born in my yard. Sure there are quite few more deserving to be on the list...
Now I know this may not be fair to ask but just the same...if I asked you to pick just one dog that you had bred, owned and shown yourself that you consider to be your all time best dog, which dog would it be and could you share a little about that dog please ?
A) If I have to pick just one, it would be my Ch Azra ROM; my first and strongest love. I am not her breeder, but I made her name known and she made mine. We both together entered brave to this gamedog world. Simply she was once in lifetime bitch in all aspects. I will always be loyal to her and she have special place in my heart. She was great house dog, very smart pit dog with superb finish and above all she was tremendeous producing bitch. We have a Pet Cemetery in our town, 3rd oldest Pet Cemetery of whole Europe, thats where I purchased parcell for her, and thats where she rest for ever.
Sticking with the same BEST OF theme, what was the best match you have witnessed and why ?
A) I seen really alot, but one of best was my Tom Cat 1W vs Vinny Romeo & Bodyguard Knls' Monkey Tail 1W. It was classic match between destroyer and deadgame dog, it ended draw at 2:20 and both dogs died right after, both completed amazing bunch of scratches. Monkey Tail was brother of Viera Bros' Ch Harvey and he beat in Italy one dog which I sold there,he was 2W. I brough Tom Cat fat and overweighted, he did dominated all the way but wasn't ready for such a long contest in hot south of italy. Monkey Tail was on his feets only when he was scratching, oh man and the way he was scratching was spectacular, I can't name him anything else but true deadgame animal. He died right after from injuries. Tom Cat died later that night, his spleen bursted or something inside of him. RIP, both great warriors. Contest was at Show, Tom Cat got BIS Trophy again, Monkey Tail won GIS trophy. It was great fight with bad end, I will always respect both of these dogs, classic match.
For many years dog were exported from the U.S. to countries all over the world. Because of the long and rich history of the sport in the U.S. it has been considered by many to be the mecca of the sporting dog world. However in the past 5 or 6 years we are seeing more and more dofs being imported from other countries in the U.S. as well as the rest of North America. What are you overall thoughts on this ?
A) I think today APBT is well spread everywhere, in every corner of the world and each country today already have their own legends and top dogs. In the past it was only USA where we could get game breed dogs, today the world is globalised, so its the game. Good animals travel in each direction. Yes, some people in the US purchased dogs from abroad, but still here folks import from US. It is different than before, good dogs can be found anywhere today, thats the fact. The game is risen to a global level and nothing can stop it now.
What dogs as of present day do you consider the best that you know of ?
A) As for whole family of dogs, its not secret that my prefered family or blood is Vili blood, our own Croatian homebreed family. Strong genetics which may accomplish any line which need it. Look what Vili blood did in Ecuador when they crossed it into their own domestic stuff, they created a strong new family in very short period of time.
Today I own two great pit performers, Ex Gr Ch Beka POR, 6W 1GL, BIS and Ch Loki 4W GIS DOY, they both come from different families and I mixing it into the Vili strain and between themself, I'm trying to create something new and solid for future.
As of other peoples families and dogs, I can't comment it, not fair...but sure there are quite few of good ones around, no doubts about that.
Beka pedigree
https://pedigree.gamedogs.cz/details.php?id=67077
Loki pedigree
https://pedigree.gamedogs.cz/details.php?id=113036
Outside of you of the box you have also become a very active author and have written a number of books that have sold very well world wide. Share the name of each book you have written and how anyone reading this can order one ?
A) My best selling book is „Dogman's Handbook“ which is done in colaboration with many good and known people from dog world, they helped me to collect whole huge data needed to create such a detailed book. Whole book is about conditioning, big size book with 650 pages and hard covers. Over 50 keeps inside along with all other needed top articles about feeding, supplements, steroids, aftercare...I think I covered it the most in that book, very proud of it and the customers loves it allot. It seems I did great job collecting huge data, but once again I did it with help of many dogmen involved.
Beside that book, I have written „Best of the Best“ book in 2001, book about Croatian Champs and ROM dogs, then „Balkan Gamedogs“ trillogy back in 2006, tri books, total around 1000 pages together and inside is whole history about our dogs from the beginnings, and my last book is „Vili Heritage“ from last year, 2016. I think it is first book straight about one family of dogs, 300 pages book printed in limited number.
I don't have all of my books available today, but I have „Dogman's Handbook“ and „Balkan Gamedogs – Book One“, if anyone interested in info and how to order it, contact me to my email: zinetti1969@gmail.com
Have you been surprised with how well your books have sold from a global standpoint ?
A) All my books are printed in small editions and they are sold well, very pleast with that. It means that audience likes what I writte and that I did good job, even with my dodgy english, it made me proud.
Do you have any plans for another book anytime soon ?
A) I don't think so. I published 2 books in last couple years, I need a rest from all the paperwork. My big wish was to do a book like „Dogman's Handbook“ which really can be of huge help for anyone with our breed, I planned it for over a decade and collected keeps and good stuff from top folks for many years. I wish I had such a book in my beginnings. Really huge knowledge from various top notch people from the game is inside, that book I consider real contribution to the global game. Now when book is finally done and selling great since published, I feel like my job is done, now its time to sit easy and enjoy other things which I may left aside being so busy with making these books.
On a global front, why do you feel that the sporting dog world is as popular as it is despite being an underground sport and in some countries, heavy convictions being given from law enforcement ?
A) I know it first hand buddy. I was arrested 3 times in my career for dogfighting activity, and one time I was convicted on court. My country have hard laws against dog fighting aswell, from 2006. It is not as in golden ages of the sport here, more danger now, more underground.
„Keep your tail high and your head low.“ Thats my moto of today.
So you have been a successful dogman, a successful author, any other stone you have yet to turn over that you have been itching to do ?
A) Not really, having dogs and being part of the history in making is good enough for me, there is still lots of work to do, still interesting and intense. Soon I will became grandfather as my daughter is pregnant, so I will enjoy with that child part of the future time I guess, having good family time. Will teach him to love gamedogs...maybe future dogman in him LOL
What advice would you give to a novice seeking advice to get his start within the world of sporting dogs ?
A) I think that would be : „Believe only to your eyes and never be completely satisfied with what you have!“ ... It worked for me through years and it should work for any other in the game. Best advice I can give. It forcing me always to seek for perfection. Stop listening everyone as only few speaks the truth, it will just confuse you – thats where „believe to your eyes“ comes in.
Last question now. When the sun has set, how would you like to be remembered by the fraternity ?
A) Just as - ONE OF US! One of the good guys who dedicated his life to our breed, the brother. Thats it.
