2010 Nürnberg Sieger Show
report by Fred Lanting
As most of my readers know, I have been sharing my impressions of the
Sieger Show (known in
As a retired SV Zuchtrichter (breed judge), and a trainer of many dogs to
their Schutzhund titles, I am qualified to analyze, educate, and discuss in both
of these areas. As a writer for dog magazines and Internet sites, I can also
share these expert observations with those who were not able to come to the
show. I give descriptions of most of the adult dogs’ Friday protection work
(that hopefully qualifies them to enter the breed competition on Saturday and
Sunday) and then their anatomical characteristics. The top dogs usually move and
look very similar.
This year, in spite of very hard economic times, I had my largest group
ever. Fourteen of us for the whole tour and four more (Australians) for a couple
days of kennel and scenic visits. As always, it was an international group: four
Uruguayans (Sergio & Eliana Fernandez and Pablo & Analía Keizler), two
Argentinians (Valeriano and Estella Garcia), four from
First, let me tell you about the tour, and then I will describe the show.
Everybody flies to the same airport where I have arranged rental vans. Because
of jet lag, it is best to have the group arrive by mid-day on Wednesday, a
day-and-a-half before the first day of the show. The first half-day is normally
spent getting to the first hotel, but this year we were fortunate to have our
first host fairly close to the
Thursday was spent sightseeing. Leaving the autobahn (super highway) at
Würzburg, we took the scenic “Romantic Road” south through several picturesque
villages, cameras clicking away. The name of this off-the-highways route comes
from the era hen the
Following the three-day show, the group was enlarged by the addition of
the Aussies from
The next day, most of us visited the Reichertshof kennels of Friedrich
and Michael Reichert and saw some extremely high-quality dogs. Unfortunately, it
was rainy and we couldn’t get good photos. I and one of the Aussies spoke a
little German, so we could translate for the group. This father-&-son team
breeds and trains for search-and-rescue as well as the show ring. That evening,
we went to the grounds of the club in Laudenbach north of
After saying bon voyage to the
[note
to editors: the part of my report concerning my subsequent lecture tour can
easily be deleted]
With the Sieger Show tour concluded for this year, I started on my next
assignment, which was a fortnight lecture tour in
On the next weekend, I was part of a panel of experts on cynology from
The last time I judged and lectured in the
The Big Show
OK. Now, as promised, the report of the salient features (for most
serious breeders) of the big show. On the first day (Friday), there is a lot of
activity in the fields where the lower-ranked dogs from
On this first day, I always analyze the bitework. This is tested in the big
arena that is split by a curtain and fence so you can alternate between watching
the males and the females. I saw enough of the bitches to be impressed with
their work. I think that because of the distance and cost, plus the minimal
return on any fame garnered here, only the best-performing females are likely to
show up.
This courage test consists of two excerpts from the Schutzhund routines, now
called the “TSB Uberprüfung” --- one bad-guy surprise attack from a blind, and
then one long-bite wherein the threatening attacker runs toward the handler from
the far side of the field and the dog is sent to intercept him.
Most of the serious breeders in my group
and others evaluate these performances and take notes. That’s because it is here
that the official show results fail to adequately describe the true character of
the dogs. If a dog barely passes
its courage test thanks to marginal or questionable performance, or lenient
judges, it has as much chance to get a high show placing as the dogs that are
truly courageous and better for the breed. That’s why I emphasize to my groups
that they should see for themselves how the dogs work, rather than rely on the
pass-or-fail paper records. The judges doing the evaluations of body structure
and gait is not told how well the dogs actually do in the protection phase.
On Saturday morning, the higher-ranked 12-24 month dogs are sorted in the rings
outside the stadium, and by early afternoon, the crowd moves into the main
stadium to get the best seats they can. First, some special presentations, such
as the HGH and top-20 winners of the younger classes, and the stud dogs’ progeny
classes. I have included some of my observations of these progeny presentations
in the section describing the adult males.
On Sunday, the top adult females (SchH-titled and over 24 months) were brought
into the main ring, in approximately the order that they will end up, and walked
around the perimeter of the big ring while their judge rearranges some where he
sees fit. In groups of about six, they do their fast running on-leash (leading
the handler) and off-leash (heeling). As well as a final down-and-back check to
see if any minor changes need to be made based on that view.
After this has been accomplished and the judged females leave the arena, we saw
the special presentations such as honoring the best protection performances
(both sexes), then the breeder groups competition, etcetera. These used to be
done at the end, but so many people left after the judging of the males, that
the SV stuck these events in between.
The same procedure as for females was then carried out for the males over 24
months and titled. These adult classes have been known by various names over the
years, depending on language and country. In the SV’s homeland, they are now
called the Gebrauchshundklasse Rüden (males)and Gebrauchshundklasser Hündinnen
(bitches); in many English-speaking countries they may be known as “adult
males/females” or (AKC-style) “open males/females” although in the WUSV such
classes are “open” only to training-titled (SchH or HGH) dogs over 24 months.
The top percentage of such males as have proven worthy in both the individual
evaluations this weekend and at shows since early spring next come into the big
arena. The same evaluation procedure is carried out for them as for the bitches.
The results of this class are what most attendees rate as of highest importance
on their list of things to se and evaluate. Because a male can be bred up to 90
times a year (60 to German bitches and 30 to foreign dogs), his effects on the
breed are much greater than those of even the most frequently-bred bitches.
Who Did What
And now, to the placings and my comments, as I have done for so many
years. My forecasts have been very accurate, once the unexpected absentees and
sales to other countries have been factored in. The Zuchtwert numbers will be in
parentheses; the lower the number, the better the odds of producing superior
hips. It is not foolproof, but every bit of data is helpful.
VA-1: This year’s Sieger Ober von Bad-Boll (ZW-82)
is worthy of the title, having shown very good work in the courage test on
Friday, and offering genes from notable ancestors. He is a paternal grandson of
VA2 Quantum von Arminius, and his dam’s grandsires are Sieger Ursus and Sieger
Rikkor. VA5 last year,
he is another top offering from Hans-Peter Rieker, who historically has put much
emphasis on working-dog character. Ober’s progeny were very uniform, with strong
males very much in evidence.
VA2 Remo Fichtenschlag (71), bred by Marco Ossman and owned by Josephine
Kao of Taiwan, did good work in the protection phase also. His good-gaiting
progeny were uniform and very promising, though young. His hip score, courage,
and progeny make him a great candidate for Sieger in the next year or two.
Linebred on Sieger Hill Farbenspiel.
VA3 Yerom Haus Salihin (86) had been an early favorite for one of the two
top spots, but tired too soon and lost his last chance to be Sieger. He is over
5, and that’s usually the age limit for success in the conformation (show) ring,
although I have seen many top dogs at the BSP at that age and older. His
slightly steep croup was accentuated by low head carriage (fatigue, out of
condition). Progeny were not very uniform, and many had the same steep pelvis
fault. He has reportedly been sold to… (somewhere?), and I wonder if the buyers
had a queasy feeling watching him in the big ring this year.
VA4 Kwantum Klostermoor (95), a Sieger Zamp Thermodos son who had the
same ranking last year, performed OK in the courage test and looked great
gaiting. This 5-year-old’s progeny class, while not numerous, was notable for
its mature, strong males. I’m not wild about his relatively high ZW number, but
his attitude and anatomy are impressive. The new owners in Japan will be happy
enough with him.
VA5 Shicco Freiheit Westerholt (83) is a handsome son of Maestro
Osterberger Land, but his protection work this year was only fair. He was VA6 in
2009. His progeny class showed good uniformity, although several could have had
better front reach. I hope he lives longer than his sire who died recently,
after being sold to China.
VA6 Arex Wilhelmswarte (83) is a Sgr Vegas son who was not very serious
in the bitework. His small progeny class was pretty uniform with some who
stepped too wide in front (a trademark of Vegas) and had toplines not as good as
those by another Vegas son, Vanos van Noort (79). Arex is now half Taiwanese,
but I don’t know where he’ll be residing. Vanos also reportedly died not long
after moving to China recently.
VA7 Ustinov v Römerland (82), last year’s V-1, again had OK protection
work, and his progeny over all had nice structure. This 4-year-old Quantum
Arminius son should be back next year for a chance at a higher ranking.
VA8 Gigolo Bärenschlucht (94), is disappointing to me because of his weak
bites, but also because he presented no progeny class, and has a high ZW number.
I would like to see the return to the practice of giving VA
(excellent-outstanding) only to dogs with a progeny class presented at the show,
and preferably with successful adult offspring.
VA9 Quattro Partnachklamm (a Zamp son with an admirable 75 ZW) is a
good-looking dog but, again, I feel that VA recognition should be reserved for
proven producers who present fairly mature progeny in the group.
VA-10 Sultan Jahnhöhe (Vegas son with ZW of 75) did very good work, especially
on the first bite (to the attack out of the blind). No progeny class, but a very
nice dog with much promise.
VA-11 Nino v Tronje (an uncomfortable 98) is an almost-3-year-old, handsome son
of 2007 V-17 Irok Karanberg (91). No progeny class, of course. In
2009,
Nino was SG-2 in the 18-24-month
Junghundklasse behind Sultan.
VA-12 Guccy Heinrichplatz (86) from Berlin, a really good-working and
good-looking son of the super producer Odin Holtkämper Hof, is only a few months
short of 3 years old, but I predict a bright future for him. He is owned by
Jurgen Manser, whom we were going to visit, but his vacation plans did not allow
it this year.
VA-13 Paer Hasenborn (78), a very handsome Quenn son out of an American-bred
Mittelwest bitch, is 4 years old and owned by Mrs. Jani of London. His man-work
this year could have been stronger, but he had a large, very impressive, and
uniform class of medium-size progeny. I would have given this Quenn son a much
higher placing—probably VA6—because he produces so well.
V-1 Peik Holtkämper Hof (76) This Ilbo/Roma son has very nice structure and did
pretty good work, though I would liked to have seen a little more confidence and
enthusiasm in the courage tests. His dam is a terrific producer, and Peik should
[prove his promise in coming years.
At this point, I feel I must insert or express my ambivalent feelings about the
increasing number of VA’s awarded in years when overall numbers of adult dogs
competing in this main breed show have been falling. On one hand, it might
encourage more entries, but on the other hand, it seems counter-intuitive to
give the same number of VA’s when total competition is low, as the number
awarded when it was at its highest. There were 9 VA males in 1999 at Karlsruhe
for the 100th anniversary of the SV, out of a total catalog entry of
406 adult males (233 present). Compare that 3.86% of VA’s to today’s 6.5%, and
you’ll see what I mean. I would have stopped at seven VA’s this year, I think.
In the 2010 Gebrauchshund classes (over-2 years & titled), actually competing in
the show ring (out of 318 total entered and in the catalog) were 167 adult males
plus another 33 that showed up only to do their bitework and then were pulled.
This is an abysmally small participation for what used to be the largest
single-breed adult-dog show in the world. The females over 2 years old started
with an entry of 283 but only 151 showed in the big ring (plus 10
“excused”—presumably because the owners felt they were working-lines without a
chance, or some other reason to leave after the bitework).
I did not see as many females working the courage routine as I would have liked,
as I was kept busy taking notes on the males. But I chanced to see a few, and I
got the impression that they did an over-all better average job than did the
males. Perhaps this is because there is not much to be gained by an outstanding
performance, the way that can enhance a stud-dog’s use and value. As predicted,
the Siegerin was the Vegas daughter Chakira v Pendler (89), but we were deprived
of double pleasure because her half-sister Boogie (95) didn’t show up… I
remember her great work last year. The Vegas daughter VA2 Egga Osterberger-Land
(75) had superior fast gait. So did V43 Flora dei Verdi Colli (91) of Italy,
whose sire Arex Haus Neoplantum (86) is now Korea Sieger (his parents
were Croatia Sieger and Siegerin), and I mention him because I was very
impressed when I saw him a few years ago. I was impressed by the Quenn daughter
Fendi Agilolfinger (77) and by Jurgen Oster & Christine Klefisch’s Cheyenne
Karthäuser Lowentor, now owned by Reiner Gunst and managed by Uday Jani. The
Bruno Vierhundert Hertz Dutch daughter Vannesca Lentfert Hoeve (76) did very
good work, but a litter sister was rated insufficient. V-30 was Nickolaus
Messler’s beautiful and energetic Martha v Tronje (103). Excellent work was
shown by Mona Mohnwiese (78), the only SG-rated bitch, Gert Lammertink’s
Lonca Lammersbeek from Holland (81), and V-12 Quickie Hohen-Haus from
Austria (also 81). A Sgr Ober daughter, VA9 Nathalie Alcudia (83), was the only
VA with a black mask, something I’d like to see more of. The beautiful Viana
Fichtenslag (94) got VA3.
I missed only a very few male dogs on Friday because of hurried trips to the
toiletten, so my notes in the catalog are fairly complete. Notable courage
test performances were given by a good number of dogs, although I would have
preferred a higher percentage to have been bred and/or trained for proof of
better character. For me, the most impressive (after some of the working-lines
dogs) were the sons of Odin Holtkämper Hof. Those that caught my eye in the
defense performance were VA-12 Guccy, V8 Hatto Hühnegrab (72), the future-great
V-10 Ballack Worringer Rheinaue (73),
V28 Chivas Bad-Boll (74),
the superbly-trained V61 dog from Holland Azuro Haus Katsboghte (73), and V62
Uso Freiheit-Westerholt (whose brothers have 86 to 89 ZW).
Several Bazi Urbecke sons and daughters represented him very well in both
the bite-work and the show ring. The V51 Gaucho Estherlager (ZW-76 Belgian son
of the very good worker Tiras Roten Feld) performed very well. Margit van
Dorssen’s V-16 Bix (70), Canadian-owned V29 Bobo (88), and Yang (86) Arlett
(pulled from breed competition) ranged from fair to excellent in the
Schutzdienst exercise. The V-103 Harvey Oostweg (87-ZW son of the notable Javir
Talka Marta), a Sirio Real Favorita son named William Suentelstein (87), the V95
Xwattro Stieglerhof (76-ZW son of Idol Holtkämper Hof), and V20 Pardo Baruther
Land (91) all did nice jobs in protection.
An amazing performance, considering his eight years of age, was given by
Puk Bad Wäldle (79). Carrying on the great work of his sire Olly v Grauen was
the very nicely-structured and well-trained super sable, V47 Odin toten Niersarm
(87). Really terrific work was shown by the V-104 Bricards Jazco from Sweden,
trained and handled by a lady in a wheelchair. He was one of those with special
recognition for outstanding work. The V99 Bastian Real Favorita (Vegas/Roma)
gave very nice hits.
A beautiful dog that my group saw
a few days later at a training club was the Maestro son Darko Vierhundert Hertz
(85), owned and trained by Franz Schlenzing. Unfortunately, he did not “let out”
on command, which disqualifies for breed-ring showing that weekend. Another of
Franz’ dogs with good bites is V-19 Baru Fürstenbrunn (80), a very handsome son
of Bruno Vierhundert Hertz (79), whom we also saw working at the training club.
Bruno in turn is a son of the wonderful Arko Butjenter Land (94).
A super gray (sable) dog with very good protection work, named Watz
Neudenauer-Holzsteige (93), was V31 and handled by John Henkel of the USA.
Another impressive-working USA-connection dog was V84 Azlan Petit Geant (94),
bred by Irina Deresh of Massachusetts. Another New Englander, Erin O’Shea’s
Zambo Riedschlurgi (a great 73 ZW), did excellent work, which made me very
proud since I have a daughter of his who is a fireball of a pup—fearless, and
promising to be a good Schutzhund dog if I ever stay home long enough to train
her. I have so many foreign assignments this year that I have to show her my
passport before she will let me on the property!
The Norwegian dog, V63 Ausenberg’s Amir, did very good work, as did V-112
Max Zöller (78), V-83 Falkos Liebeswarte (75), V81 Inox Valtenberg (74-ZW Naxos
Holtkämper See son from Romania), V-102 Warso Simonhoff from Czech Republic
(90-ZW son of Yenno Hühnegrab), V70 Karlos d‘Ulmental (80-ZW son of the
beautiful and great-working bitch Lea), and the only bicolor I saw, the 73-ZW
Xoro Anrachtal who was a joy to watch.
Many great-performing dogs are entered in the Sieger Show purely to let
the public see their courage tests, and are pulled right after that Friday event
because owners know that they have no chance of high placings. This is most
often because the dog has not been entered in several shows under several top
judges during the year (sort of like qualifying for a starting position in
racing) or were from working lines, or maybe had not been given high enough
placings already by the judge who is doing the class at this show. Some dogs
were absent for various reasons: age, sale overseas, a feeling that the judge
would not appreciate them, etc.
Notable absentees (for various reasons) were Godalis Tino and his son Iceman
Amur (now in China), the Arko son Nick Holtkämper Hof, Yukon, Tyson, Paul
Bierstadter Hof, Mexx Hauswalder Bach, Dux Intercanina, Furbo, and a bunch of
working-lines dogs who made such an impression last year.
Some miscellaneous comments fit here as well as in any other place. Notable
courage performances were given by the Quenn sons V5 Bill Fürstenau (73) and
Floro degli Achei (72). A Quenn son who was absent this year, Tyson Köttersbusch
(83), had his own very respectable progeny class. A couple years ago, Quenn
Löher Weg’s progeny were too young for some people to appreciate his value to
the breed, but my prediction then of his future value has been justified in both
rings. Odin Holtkämper Hof is one of the best producers of anatomically
beautiful dogs since Zamp. Also outstanding in conformation were offspring of
the Hill Farbenspiel son Yukon Bastillie, and sons of Floro and Furbo, both of
which latter studs were unfortunately absent from the breed-judging lineup.
Rumors about these great degli Achei brothers were flying, and concerned spinal
injury, cauda equine, aggression, etc., but nothing reliably confirmed. Pretty
reliable, however, is the report that both have been sold to China, which
country found a great prize in their fortune cookies when they got these boys!
It’s getting harder to make my predictions when dogs are zipping off to
money-laden China right and left!
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And now, the “promotion”: Next year (2011) the show will return to Braunschweig
in the northern half of the country, due west of Berlin and east of Hannover
(which airport we will use as our meeting point). The 2012 show is scheduled for
Ulm again, so my tour will either be into Bavaria with Neuschwanstein
attractions, or westward into the Black Forest, depending on who signs up (I
want to vary the groups’ German experience). We would fly into Stuttgart in the
southern region of the country. If you want great scenery, food, and fun as well
as a look at great dogs, think about joining my show-tour group. If you would
like to be guided by an SV breed judge who has trained many dogs to Schutzhund
titles and is familiar with most of Germany, and want to experience those
cultural and natural attractions, let me know as soon as you can. You would see
more and save money by going with me rather than doing a trip alone; and I do
not charge a fee, only a prorated share of expenses.
Fred Lanting,
Union Grove, Alabama USA
editor’s note: Fred is a superannuated SV Zuchtrichter (breed judge) who
has judged numerous countries’ Sieger Shows and Landesgruppen events,. He is
author of several books, among them are
The Total GSD,
and the monumental work on Orthopedic Disorders. You can get
autographed books directly from the author, and schedule judging or
lectures/seminars by e-mailing him: <Mr.GSD[@]netscape.com> or
<Mr.GSD[@]Juno.com>
Articles can be found on:
http://siriusdog.com/sphider/search.php?query=lanting&search=1
Also
on:
http://vonjagenstadt.com/ and
www.fredlanting.org/ or do a
Google-type search for his name.
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