Francesco Cochetti (ITA)
Born in year 1963 in Rome, Italy, in a “dog family”, his father was a judge and bred together with mother Poodles with the prefix “Della Perla Grigia”.
His affix “Di San Gimignano” was recognized by the Italian Kennel Club in the year 1984. San Gimignano is a beautiful medieval town in Toscany. At that time he bred Poodles, the lines came from England, from TiopepiKennel. He began to breed and show Chihuahuas year 1996 after marrying a Chihuahua breeder Tuula Lehtinen-Cochetti (Misty Meadow’s Chihuahuas). He breeds in small scale Jack Russell Terrier and Toy Poodles. Together with his wife he bred more than 500 Champions. They have won many Championship titles with their Chihuahuas and Poodles including World and European Winners. He has also bred in the past Dobermann and Boston Terrier.
He became a judge in year 1992 and in March 2013 he became an all rounder.
He is listed in Italian Kennel Club (ENCI) a specialist in the all toy breeds and most of the terriers. He is also a teacher of these breeds to new judges. He is currently breeding Jack Russell Terriers in a small scale as well.
At the moment he is the President of the Rome Kennel Club and board member of the Italian Maltese and Bolognese Club and in the past he has been board member of Club Cani Compagnia (Italian Toydogs Club) and the president of the Chihuahua Club (under Club CaniCompagnia). He is delegate from the Italian Kennel Club to the FCI judges commission.
He has judged all over the world, in more than 50 different countries, including World and European Shows. He has judged BIS in the most prestigious shows around the world and he had the honor to judge the group nine final at the European Show 2012 and at the World Dog Show 2018.
He has participated as a judge at the most important specialties for Toy and Terrier breeds and Italian breeds.
He is the writer of a Chihuahua’s book which has been translated in different languages.
He has been often the lecturer for seminars organized also abroad, for Bolognese, Maltese, Chihuahua, Poodle and Jack Russell Terrier.