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Competitive Obedience

Sport Training

FCI Obedience UK Dog Sport Training

FCI Obedience

When I left Italy in 2014, I left behind many things I loved.

One of the biggest was FCI Obedience.

I started training and competing in FCI Obedience in 2007, at a time when I was actively looking for a sport that suited both me and my first Border Collie, Abigail. Sheep herding wasn’t an option for us. Abigail wasn’t bred from working sheepdog lines, and it quickly became clear that this wasn’t where she would thrive.

What she did thrive on was learning and doing things with me!

That’s when we found competitive obedience.

Abigail took me into FCI Obedience when she was just two years old. Together, we progressed all the way to Class 3. Eventually, I had to retire her from competition, as the physical requirements of training at that level became too demanding due to her hip dysplasia. But by then, FCI Obedience had already shaped the way I trained, taught, and worked with dogs.

During those years, I had the privilege of working with several Italian and international trainers, learning different approaches, systems, and ways of building precision, motivation, and partnership in training.

Later on, Moss became my second obedience dog. With him, I competed in Beginner and Class 1 before moving to the UK in 2014.

Border Collie FCI Obedience Training

Moving to the UK and keeping FCI Obedience alive

When I moved to the UK, I tried to adapt to traditional UK club obedience. It didn’t work for me.

I didn’t find it as engaging or as rewarding to train, and it didn’t align with the way I liked to work with dogs. So instead of changing my approach, I kept training the way I always had.

I continued teaching people who wanted a different kind of obedience and I kept training my own dogs.
And I kept using competitive obedience foundations as part of everyday training.

Every dog I’ve owned has had obedience foundations built into their training, regardless of whether they competed or not.

From 2016 onwards, I also started inviting trainers from Italy to the UK, to bring a different training culture into the country and to expose people to FCI-style obedience and skill-based training.

For years, FCI Obedience in the UK was very much a niche interest. But that is now changing.

Thanks to the efforts of a dedicated group of people, FCI Obedience is starting to establish itself in the UK, with seminars, training days, and now training competitions being organised.

I’m proud to be part of this growth.

FCI Obedience today

Border Collie doing FCI Obedience UK with Martina Miradoli

From this year, there will be FCI Obedience training competitions across the UK.

I have also trained as an FCI Obedience steward, which means I will be involved in organising and helping run competitions, as well as supporting the development of the sport in the UK.

If you want to understand what FCI Obedience looks like in practice, you can download the official rulebook here:

FCI Obedience Rules PDF (valid from 01/01/2025)

To stay up to date with what’s happening in the UK, I recommend joining the FCI Obedience UK Facebook Group, where you’ll find information about seminars, training days, and starter/entrant classes available at training competitions.

FCI Obedience is for any dog and handler who enjoy training and want to learn how to work together as a team.

It is not limited to Border Collies.

FCI Obedience helps you:

  • build a strong working relationship with your dog

  • improve focus, engagement, and clarity

  • develop skills that transfer into everyday life

  • give busy or intelligent dogs a structured job

  • learn how to teach behaviours that are reliable and long-lasting

If you enjoy training, problem-solving, and clear communication, FCI Obedience is a sport that rewards both precision and partnership.

Border Collie Expert Martina Miradoli FCI Obedience at Bowland Obedience Club Lancashire

Training with me at Bowland Obedience Club

I teach obedience classes at my farm, under Bowland Obedience Club.

Classes are intentionally small, with a maximum of 4 students per class, to ensure quality training and individual support.

Availability depends on current group numbers.

To check availability, please email:
📩 bowlandobedience@gmail.com

1-to-1 Sport Training

If you prefer private training, I offer 1-to-1 sport obedience sessions.

Sport training: £60 per hour

Available at my farm and online (UK and worldwide)

To book a session, email:
📩 bowlandobedience@gmail.com