Team Italy
Sara Balestra & Iris Liv Family (Liv)
Team
Experience with FCI Rally Obedience
My experience in FCI rallying is very recent and started in early 2026 .
What I love most about FCI Rally Obedience
What I love most about the FCI rally is the variability of the routes which always make it stimulating for the dog and the handler to tackle the race routes .
Best Result achieved with my Dog
The best result achieved was in the qualifiers for the national team.
Other Dog Sports I do
With Liv, in addition to rally obedience, I practiced obedience.
Especially looking forward to
I can't wait to meet and observe all the other contestants and their dogs.
My experience in FCI rallying is very recent and started in early 2026 .
What I love most about FCI Rally Obedience
What I love most about the FCI rally is the variability of the routes which always make it stimulating for the dog and the handler to tackle the race routes .
Best Result achieved with my Dog
The best result achieved was in the qualifiers for the national team.
Other Dog Sports I do
With Liv, in addition to rally obedience, I practiced obedience.
Especially looking forward to
I can't wait to meet and observe all the other contestants and their dogs.
Simone Marchiori & Indipendence Day (Isy)
Team
Experience with FCI Rally Obedience
I have been doing Rally Obedience for about one year. A short but intense journey that has taken me all the way to the Italian National Team.
What I love most about FCI Rally Obedience
The relationship between dog and handler: communication, trust and teamwork. In the ring, Isy and I have to work as a true team.
Best Result achieved with my Dog
Being selected to represent Italy at the 2026 FCI Rally Obedience World Championship. After only one year in Rally, it is a very special achievement for us.
Other Dog Sports I do
Isy and I also do Retrieving, another activity that we really enjoy doing together.
Especially looking forward to
Entering the ring with Isy representing Italy, experiencing the atmosphere of the World Championship and competing alongside teams from many different countries. We want to enjoy every moment and give it our best.
I have been doing Rally Obedience for about one year. A short but intense journey that has taken me all the way to the Italian National Team.
What I love most about FCI Rally Obedience
The relationship between dog and handler: communication, trust and teamwork. In the ring, Isy and I have to work as a true team.
Best Result achieved with my Dog
Being selected to represent Italy at the 2026 FCI Rally Obedience World Championship. After only one year in Rally, it is a very special achievement for us.
Other Dog Sports I do
Isy and I also do Retrieving, another activity that we really enjoy doing together.
Especially looking forward to
Entering the ring with Isy representing Italy, experiencing the atmosphere of the World Championship and competing alongside teams from many different countries. We want to enjoy every moment and give it our best.
Alice Borghi & Black Pearl to Shark Zanzibar (Sky)
Team
Experience with FCI Rally Obedience
Since February 2026 .
What I love most about FCI Rally Obedience
The complicity that is created with the dog, in seeking precision while maintaining good motivation.
Best Result achieved with my Dog
We are in the highest category of Italian rally circuit.
Other Dog Sports I do
We practice obedience where we compete in class 3.
Especially looking forward to
I can't wait to try an international circuit.
Since February 2026 .
What I love most about FCI Rally Obedience
The complicity that is created with the dog, in seeking precision while maintaining good motivation.
Best Result achieved with my Dog
We are in the highest category of Italian rally circuit.
Other Dog Sports I do
We practice obedience where we compete in class 3.
Especially looking forward to
I can't wait to try an international circuit.
Sara Balestra & Gingerbell Gimmy Choo (Ada)
Team
Experience with FCI Rally Obedience
My experience in FCI rallying is very recent and started in early 2026
What I love most about FCI Rally Obedience
The best thing about the fci rally with Ada is the possibility of improving understanding through communication during the courses.
Best Result achieved with my Dog
The best result achieved was in the qualifiers for the national team.
Other Dog Sports I do
With Ada, in addition to rally obedience, I practice obedience and nosework.
Especially looking forward to
I'm looking forward to live an unforgettable moment with my dog at WC.
My experience in FCI rallying is very recent and started in early 2026
What I love most about FCI Rally Obedience
The best thing about the fci rally with Ada is the possibility of improving understanding through communication during the courses.
Best Result achieved with my Dog
The best result achieved was in the qualifiers for the national team.
Other Dog Sports I do
With Ada, in addition to rally obedience, I practice obedience and nosework.
Especially looking forward to
I'm looking forward to live an unforgettable moment with my dog at WC.
Sara Fabbri & Golden Oaks Brave Merida (Merida)
Team and Team Leader
Experience with FCI Rally Obedience
I have studied FCI rules since 2024 and started practice in February 2026 when we finally got our national rules.
What I love most about FCI Rally Obedience
I love that every course is a new challenge for me and the dog and speaking and have the possibility to help him is really important to built a strong collaborative bond.
Best Result achieved with my Dog
In Italy we have only had two official competitions so our best result was to achive our place in the national team this year.
Other Dog Sports I do
We practiced obedience until Class 2.
Especially looking forward to
I can't wait to see and learn as much as possible from all the best teams in the world.
I have studied FCI rules since 2024 and started practice in February 2026 when we finally got our national rules.
What I love most about FCI Rally Obedience
I love that every course is a new challenge for me and the dog and speaking and have the possibility to help him is really important to built a strong collaborative bond.
Best Result achieved with my Dog
In Italy we have only had two official competitions so our best result was to achive our place in the national team this year.
Other Dog Sports I do
We practiced obedience until Class 2.
Especially looking forward to
I can't wait to see and learn as much as possible from all the best teams in the world.
Andrea Turra and Sangria fom Haus Shwalbe (Sangria)
Reserve
Experience with FCI Rally Obedience
I started learning about this discipline in August 2025 by doing an internship with Michaela Starke and then started training with Sangria; and in May of this year I did my first race.
What I love most about FCI Rally Obedience
I find the right hand conduct particularly stimulating. I also really like the variety of exercises and the variety of paths that can be built; I also find it gratifying for the dog that I have the opportunity to express my emotions by encouraging him throughout the process, also helping him with body signals.
Best Result achieved with my Dog
The result mile I got was 84/100 (I think 😅)
Other Dog Sports I do
With Sangria I also practice a little Obedience and sporadically we enjoy setting up the exercises of the Swedish Natural Trials.
Especially looking forward to
I look forward to admiring the binomials of other nationalities and trying to learn from those who practice this discipline at the highest levels
I started learning about this discipline in August 2025 by doing an internship with Michaela Starke and then started training with Sangria; and in May of this year I did my first race.
What I love most about FCI Rally Obedience
I find the right hand conduct particularly stimulating. I also really like the variety of exercises and the variety of paths that can be built; I also find it gratifying for the dog that I have the opportunity to express my emotions by encouraging him throughout the process, also helping him with body signals.
Best Result achieved with my Dog
The result mile I got was 84/100 (I think 😅)
Other Dog Sports I do
With Sangria I also practice a little Obedience and sporadically we enjoy setting up the exercises of the Swedish Natural Trials.
Especially looking forward to
I look forward to admiring the binomials of other nationalities and trying to learn from those who practice this discipline at the highest levels