There are two distinct groups of German Shepherd Dog breeders in Germany today. There are those who are interested in competing at the highest level in the breed ring who use only “show lines” and those who wish to compete successfully in working trials who only breed from “working lines”.
It is an unfortunate fact that there is very little common meeting ground today between these two groups of German Shepherd Dog breeders.
This is a situation that exists, not only in Germany, but in almost every country in the world where German Shepherds dogs are bred.
This situation is unfortunate because there is certainly a great need for improvement in the temperament of many top winning “show” dogs today and as much need for improvement in the construction and appearance of many top working dog winners.
Many modern day winners of the “Sieger” title at the annual “Bundessiegerprufung” – the obedience trials for working dogs – are very unattractive specimens of the breed.
Some would argue that the German Shepherd Dog is essentially a working dog and the dog able to perform this function better than others is a worthy “Sieger”. There is is no doubt however, that a strikingly, handsome, eye-catching German Shepherd Dog presents a very attractive picture to everyone – whether they are interested in German Shepherd Dogs or not.
There are a number of reasons why the situation has changed so dramatically in recent years. It is beyond the scope of this short article to discuss the reasons in any length. But it may be helpful to suggest a positive solution to the problem by persuading breeders of the two opposing groups to work closer together.
HOW CAN THIS BE ACHIEVED?
In virtually every field of human competition – and dog shows certainly represent a field of human competition as much as they do for dogs – the perception of the public of what is most sought-after, popular and desirable is dictated by fashion.
What determines what is current fashion? Without doubt it’s promotion. This applies to every important sports tournament; every event in which the public is invited to participate as spectators or competitors; every contest and every competition.
It makes no difference whether it is a hairdressing competition; a fashion show, a beauty contest, a dog show, or any other competitive event, promotion is the key to the success of the event.
Sponsors use various means of effective promotion to persuade contestants and spectators that the event they are sponsoring is of major significance.
It makes no difference whether the contest is one that involves throwing a pole the longest distance, or remaining on a wild horse for the longest time, with effective promotion the public comes to accept the contest to be a very important event. As a result, the winners of these contests are admired and held in great esteem.
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH DOG SHOWS?
It has a lot to do with the idea of promotion.
It has to do with the effective promotion of the “Universsalsieger” title; a title introduced in 1997 for the dog that perforned best in both the breed Show and the working trials.
Members of the Show going public have to be persuaded to accept the idea that the ideal German Shepherd Dog is not only beautiful, it is also intelligent, athletic, obedient, protective and epitomizes everything that is most desirable in a dog. The “Universalsieger” should represent this ideal.
When this title was first introduced dogs that were awarded this title were very highly regarded.
Unfortunately it is a title that now appears to have lost its initial appeal.
It will be recalled that the title of “Universalseieger” was won the year it was first introduced year by “Lasso v. Kampchen who was placed 32nd in breed and 43rd. in the Working Trials, certainly noteworthy accomplishments, considering the intense competition in both fields.
The praise heaped on this exceptionally good dog and his expert handler was fully deserved, and the subsequent coverage in the Dog magazines understandable.
But Since 1977 the title has steadily assumed less and less importance each year.
WHY HAS THIS HAPPENED?
The answer is simply because the title has been insufficiently and inadequately promoted. The incentive for winning what should be an extremely prestigious title has been absent for years.
Can this situation be changed? Certainly. It can be done with effective promotion.
If the public is persuaded to accept the tremendous importance of a “Universal Sieger” title – and breeders become aware of the huge financial rewards that will result from breeding an animal able to win this title – the event will attract enormous interest right through the Shepherd Dog world.
There are some who might argue that because many present-day “show” breeders have neglected working temperament for a long time, the current top winning show dogs do not have the genetic foundation to produce animals with exceptional working ability. But this is certainly not so.
It is an interesting exercise to examine the bloodlines of dogs that performed particularly well at the annual German Bundessiegerprufung in previous years.
An excellent example of a dog bred from the finest German “show” bloodlines that performed exceptionally well in the working trials is “Kanto von der Strotheide”.
KANTO VON DER STROTHEIDE
“Kanto”s was placed V 5 at the Budessiesiegerprufung in1984, with a remarkably high score of 292 out of a possible 300. In 1985 he was placed v 9 with a score of 291.
Here are the interesting facts about “”Kanto von der Strotheide”Kanto”s” pedigree.
His Sire was a top quality breed specimen “Apoll v. Haus Tigges”, V.A (Excellent Select) at the Sieger Shows in 1980 and again in 1981.
“Apoll” sire was “Caesar v. Arminius”, an extremely good breed specimen himself and litter brother of the 1978 Breed Sieger “Canto v. Arminius”.
“Apoll’s” Dam was “Penny vom Spexander Land, sired by a dog that was Reserve Breed Sieger in 1979 and 1980, “Grando vom Patersweg”. “Grando” himself was Sired by the 1974 Sieger “Dick v. Adeloga”.
If ever this was an excellent example of a dog coming from the very finest show bloodlines distinguishing himself in the field of working dogs, here it one..
It must also be remember that “Kanto’s owner and trainer was the famous German trainer Fritz Biehler. If trainers of this calibre can be persuaded to train dogs with exclusively show bloodlines, like Kanto, and enter them in working trials, there is no question that this type of performance can be repeated today.
If the “show” dog breeders and the “working” dog breeders that forget their differences and ignore their stubborn insistence that the way they have chosen to breed dogs is the “best way”, the results will be a remarkable improvement in the German Shepherd Dog.
If you are interested in knowing more about the struggle that has been going for years between breeders who concentrate on breeding “show” German Shepherds and breeders who focus on “working” German Shepherds, go to the following site, where you will find a wealth of information
http://www.allaboutgermanshepherddogs.com
Dennis Fisher has been involved in the training, breeding and showing dogs for many years. It’s a hobby he’s been passionate about since childhood. He is still actively engaged in training and showing his own dogs. His special interest has always been German Shepherd Dogs and he judged this breed in many parts of the world. He has been a member of the German S.V. since 1962 and visits Germany regularly, In order to provide helpful information to German Shepherd Dog enthusiasts, especially about leading German Shepherd bloodlines, he created a special site devoted exclusively to German shepherd Dogs. You are invited to visit this website http://www.allaboutgermanshepherddogs.com
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