Saporito House
Toni Saporito and the Akitas: a love story
The love for Japan began in 1973, when at the age of nine I started practicing martial arts, specifically judo. From that moment it was almost inevitable for me to develop a growing interest in every aspect of that country. So, in a short time I came to know the wonderful breed of dogs called Akita.
In 1986 I bought my first akita, a very beautiful specimen, although it had a mixture of Japanese and American lines in its blood. But it was enough to give me the impetus to found Casa Saporito, my Akita kennel, in Givoletto, just outside Turin.
From that moment the passion for the Japanese akita became stronger and stronger, and although I had already obtained excellent results with the lines present in the breeding, in 1992 I was able to finally realize my dream: in fact, following my first trip to Japan for following training at the Kodokan in Tokyo, the temple of judo, I organized myself to spend my free hours doing research on the akitas. In this way I was able to meet Mr Shirai, one of the largest Akita breeders in Japan at that time.
Mr Shirai was very impressed by my passion for a dog breed considered national treasure at home, but very little known outside of Japanese territory. He then decided to take me under his protective wing by teaching me everything he knew about akita. For me it was a school of extraordinary value, given Mr Shirai's immense knowledge.
During that trip I bought my first two Japanese Akita specimens, Guryu and Masaru. From that moment the trips and with them the imports multiplied.
A little at a time, at Casa Saporito, dogs such as Ai hime, Of Musashi Haiva, Koun and above all Suzaku, champion of Tokyo 2005, famous because for the first time a Westerner presented a Japanese example: it was truly an immense satisfaction for me. Then came specimens such as Bizen, Rikyiou, Sekium, Fukutarou, dogs that in those years, from 1993 to 2005, made the history of the Akita breed,
2005 marked the turning point for Casa Saporito. With enormous sacrifices, work began on the new farm. The choice brought immense benefits both for the Akita and for the Shibas, who from that moment entered fully into the breeding. And the results were immediately prestigious, thanks to the importation of specimens such as Takashi,, Kokurin, and many others who have boasted very important titles in the international rings.
Today the Casa Saporito kennel is a solid reality recognized at the highest levels. It can count on about ninety breeding subjects, one hundred boxes of which fifteen are used as heated nurseries and ten green areas for a total of about ten thousand square meters. It also makes use of the contribution of four canine collaborators, a permanent veterinarian within the facility and the collaboration of five other top-level veterinarians. A modern grooming room, a waiting room and administrative offices conclude the picture.
Casa Saporito has obtained, in these almost thirty years of experience, countless prizes and titles in dog shows, and has been honored with important awards, both for us and for our customers, with world champions, Italian champions, French champions, dozens of European champions.
And it is with pride that we can say that Casa Saporito is the largest akita and shiba kennel in the world, in terms of structure, quality of dogs, organization and services provided to our customers, who inevitably become not only friends, but a living part of the large family of Casa Saporito.
Toni Saporito and the Akitas: a love story
The love for Japan began in 1973, when at the age of nine I started practicing martial arts, specifically judo. From that moment it was almost inevitable for me to develop a growing interest in every aspect of that country. So, in a short time I came to know the wonderful breed of dogs called Akita.
In 1986 I bought my first akita, a very beautiful specimen, although it had a mixture of Japanese and American lines in its blood. But it was enough to give me the impetus to found Casa Saporito, my Akita kennel, in Givoletto, just outside Turin.
From that moment the passion for the Japanese akita became stronger and stronger, and although I had already obtained excellent results with the lines present in the breeding, in 1992 I was able to finally realize my dream: in fact, following my first trip to Japan for following training at the Kodokan in Tokyo, the temple of judo, I organized myself to spend my free hours doing research on the akitas. In this way I was able to meet Mr Shirai, one of the largest Akita breeders in Japan at that time.
Mr Shirai was very impressed by my passion for a dog breed considered national treasure at home, but very little known outside of Japanese territory. He then decided to take me under his protective wing by teaching me everything he knew about akita. For me it was a school of extraordinary value, given Mr Shirai's immense knowledge.
During that trip I bought my first two Japanese Akita specimens, Guryu and Masaru. From that moment the trips and with them the imports multiplied.
A little at a time, at Casa Saporito, dogs such as Ai hime, Of Musashi Haiva, Koun and above all Suzaku, champion of Tokyo 2005, famous because for the first time a Westerner presented a Japanese example: it was truly an immense satisfaction for me. Then came specimens such as Bizen, Rikyiou, Sekium, Fukutarou, dogs that in those years, from 1993 to 2005, made the history of the Akita breed,
2005 marked the turning point for Casa Saporito. With enormous sacrifices, work began on the new farm. The choice brought immense benefits both for the Akita and for the Shibas, who from that moment entered fully into the breeding. And the results were immediately prestigious, thanks to the importation of specimens such as Takashi,, Kokurin, and many others who have boasted very important titles in the international rings.
Today the Casa Saporito kennel is a solid reality recognized at the highest levels. It can count on about ninety breeding subjects, one hundred boxes of which fifteen are used as heated nurseries and ten green areas for a total of about ten thousand square meters. It also makes use of the contribution of four canine collaborators, a permanent veterinarian within the facility and the collaboration of five other top-level veterinarians. A modern grooming room, a waiting room and administrative offices conclude the picture.
Casa Saporito has obtained, in these almost thirty years of experience, countless prizes and titles in dog shows, and has been honored with important awards, both for us and for our customers, with world champions, Italian champions, French champions, dozens of European champions.
And it is with pride that we can say that Casa Saporito is the largest akita and shiba kennel in the world, in terms of structure, quality of dogs, organization and services provided to our customers, who inevitably become not only friends, but a living part of the large family of Casa Saporito.
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