Note:  This article is one of many dealing with every aspect of the German Shepherd Dog - breeding, training, bloodlines, famous German show winners, and a great deal more, that appear on the author, Dennis Fisher's website. Visit  http://www.allaboutgermanshepherddogs.com to see these articles.

 

 

A  detailed  study of the bloodlines of top winners at the German Sieger Shows from 1999 - to 2005

 

By Dennis Fisher.

 

There is a great deal of very interesting information  to be learnt from a detailed study of the top winners at the German Sieger Shows.   It is of particular relevance for German Shepherd Dog breeders who makes use of the bloodlines of well-known German show winners in their breeding program.

 

What emerges from this study is that with every few exceptions most of the highly placed males at the Sieger shows, were sired by top show winners; animals with V.A. or top V ratings.  However a considerable number of them were bred from bitches who were mediocre show specimens.

 

Some of these bitches, who proved to be  outstanding producers when mated to show winning sires, were badly placed when entered at Sieger Shows, because they were clearly not of top show quality.   In a number of instances they were never shown at all or shown only at Landesgruppen shows.

 

Admittedly there are often problems with showing bitch.  The bitch may had just whelped at the time of the Sieger Show; may be out of coat at the time of the Show, or there may be other factors preventing an exhibitor from showing at a Sieger Show.  Nevertheless, as a general rule if an owner has a bitch that is considered of top show quality the bitch is usually shown.  

 

If the bitch has never been shown at a Sieger Show it is generally fair to assume that this is because the conformation was not of sufficiently high standard to warrant being shown in such a extremely competitive field.

 

It must be stressed however, that all the dams of the top show winners were very well bred animals coming from top-quality bloodlines, even though they were not top quality show specimens.

 

This is very encouraging for people anxious to breed top quality show specimens from their well-bred bitches, even though their  animals  lack the conformation to compete for top honours at shows.

 

Here is a brief study of the pedigrees of top male winners at the 1999 Sieger  Show, the 2000 Sieger Show and the 2001 Sieger Show.

 

                             1999 SIEGER SHOW.

 

There were nine dogs who received the V.A. (Excellent select) award. Because this study is brief I have also included the nine dogs who were placed V1 to V9 at the 1999 Sieger Show.

 

The Sieger  and V.A 1 was Rikkor von Bad Boll.

 

Rikkor was sired by the 1995 Sieger Ulk von Arlett.   In this particular instance,   Rikkor’s   Dam  Hella von Wurtachtal   had a very  successful show career.

 

Rikkor’s dam is Hella von Wurtachtal, who was V.3  at  the 1994 Sieger Show, and was Youth Siegerin in 1993.

 

Hella is a daughter of the 1996 Sieger Visum v. Arminis.

Visum is a son of the 1993 Sieger Jeck v. Noricum.

 

Although Hella was a top quality Show bitch, her dam Ica di casa Britta,  was unshown!

 

V.A. 2   was Jango von Furstenberg,  was sired by a very good dog called  Wobo von Larchenhain.   Not a top V.A. dog, but nevertheless a top show specimen and very important, dominant sire.   Jango’s dam  Uta v. Furstenberg has never been shown!

 

Uta’s dam “Julchen von Furstenberg” was shown at the 1985 Sieger Show and was awarded S.G 32  in the Junghundklasse.  Not a very impressive performance.

 

V.A. 3 –  was  Ursus v. Batu.    Owned and bred by Orschler, he is sired by Hobby v. Gletscherhopf.

Hobby is a very good  show show specimen but not a top winner.  He was V.22  at the 1997 Sieger Show and is a son of the 1993 Sieger, Jeck v. Noricum.

 

What is interesting is the Dam of Ursus is Verena v.  Batu who had  very unsuccessful show career having been placed S.G 105 in the  Jugendklasse at the 1993 Sieger Show.   Verena herself has not produced any animals of quality other than Ursus and his litter sister Ussina.

 

V.A. 4  was the grey dog, Timo v. Berrekasten.    He is sired by  a very good grey dog called Wanko vom Lippischen Norden, who was V 14 in 1995, but in 1997  did not do well in the test of courage and was placed S.G. 11 in the open male class.  Timo  did not have a very successful show career as a young dog having been placed a very low SG 65 in the Jugendklasse in 1997.

 

Timo’s dam is Baffi von Berrekasten, who wa placed SG 126  at the 1989 Sieger Show in the Jugendklasse.   Not a very impressive performance.

 

V.A. 5 was Jello vom Michelstadter Rathaus, who was sired by the  important V.A. DOG  Karly von Arminius.   Karly is a son of the 1994 Sieger Kimon  out of an exceptionally  good producing bitch, Marit v. Wildsteiger Land, who was also well placed at Sieger Shows, being  V 17 in 1991 and V 14 in 1993.    Karly is regarded as  an important Sire in Germany.

 

Jello’ dam – Wilma v. Michelstadler Rathaus was never shown at the Sieger Show but she was highly placed in 1993  at a Landesgruppen show where she was placed S.G.1 in the Junghundklasse..

 

This is another instances  where the Sire is a top show specimen and the dam is also a  good show specimen.

 

V.A. 6  was a really beautiful dog called Enzo von Buchhorn, who could be Sieger one day if he proves to be a  a more dominant  Sire.  He has not been a successful producer so far.  He is Sired by the 1997 Sieger Lasso v. Neuen Berg.

 

His Dam – Tina v. Lechtal -  is very well bred from a very successful kennel but she has not had a very successful show career.   She was placed S.G 39 in 1993 in the Junghundklasse at the Sieger Show.  Her dam – Inga v. Lechtal was  even more unsuccessful.  In 1989 she was placed V 86 at the Sieger Show.

 

V.A 7 WAS Quartz dei Templari, sired by  a very good dog and important sire Amigo v. Belgier, who was  V4 at the  1994 Sieger Show.  Amigo is sired by the Fanto v. Hirschel litter brother Frei v. Hirschel.

 

Quartz is a very good dog and is proving a dog sire, but his dam Freda del Pellegrino was never shown in Germany.   Her dam. Flora von Wildsteiger Land has also never been shown in Germany.

 

V.A.8 was Huppy. Arlett, who was sired by Eros v. Luisenstrasee  – who was out of the important sire Cello v. Romerau.    Huppy’s dam- Xira v. Arlett -  was a very unimpressive show specimen who was placed S.G. 100 at the 1994 Sieger Show in Jugendklasse.

 

  It  is also interesting to note that Huppy was not  very successful  at the 1997 Sieger Show where he was placed S.G.15 by Rudiger Mai, one of German’s most experienced judges.  One must keep in mind that this has happened on a number of occasions.   There are dogs who  have unimpressive show records as youngsters but mature into exceptionally good show specimens.

 

A dog who springs to mind is the outstanding 1995 Sieger Ulk v. Arlett, who has also proved to be an exceptionally good sire.   Quite apart from being the sire of  the Sieger “Rikkor v. Bad Boll” and the V.A. DOG “Vando v.Moorbeck”, he has also sired  hundreds of other fine show specimens.   (My own Willy v. Streek is an Ulk son.)

 

  Ulk was whelped on the 28th January 1990 as he matured into a remarkably fine show specimen.  However, as  a young animal he was placed only S.G 25 at the 1991 Sieger show under the very knowledgeable Judge Albert Platz /(Adeloga kennels).

 

A lesson to be learned from this is that it is possible for shrewd observer with a very keen eye to spot a promising dog who has not done particularly well in the Junior classes at the Sieger Show and purchase the animal for a comparatively modest amount.

 

The last of the V.A. DOGS was Vando v. Moorbeck,the Ulk son  who was placed  V.A. 9.

 

Here again is an example of a top quality animal being bred from a mediocre show specimen, because Vando’s Dam is Merri v. Hirschel, who was placed SG 93 in the  Junghundklasse at the 1991 Sieger Show.  She is a daughter of the Double Sieger - 1990 and 1991- Fanto v. Hirschel.

 

It will be quite obvious from the above that the show quality of the dam is unimportant in so far as producing a top quality animal, as long as she is an animal of excellent bloodlines and as long as she complements the top quality  male to whom she is bred.    To be a successful breeder you have to be astute, have a very keen eye, and – above all –extremely lucky!

 

The picture that emerges from an examination of the top V animals at the 1999 Sieger show is very much the same.   The Sires are for the most part top quality show specimens with a history of being good producers. The Dams are invariably mediocre show specimens with excellent bloodlines.

But of course they are also “ brood bitch types” which is also important.

 

V 1 at the 1999 Sieger Show was Pitt v. Tronje, a dog who had failed his courage test the previous year.  He is sired by the Frei v.  Hirschel son, Amigo v. Belgier, and his dam Tini von Schwabental was unshown.

 

V2 was the Rikkor v. Bad Boll son, Mack v. Aducht.   His dam was Quale aus Wattenscheid who was never shown at a Sieger show, but she was placed  V.14 in 1996 at a Landesgruppen show.   Quale”s dam – Xena aus Wattenscheid was never shown.

 

V3  was a dog who has proved to be an important sire.   He is Arex Hagadahis, bred in Sweden out of the important German Sire – Wobo v. Larchenhain – sire of the V.A. 2 DOG Jango v. Furstenberg.

It is a little unfair to criticize his Dam – Winecke’s Vanta – because her show record has not been recorded.

 

V4       was a dog that has done a lot of winning and is proving a good sire, Zamp von Schloss Runding.  He is sired by a dog who apppears to be very popular with many German breeders – Gildo von Wildstgeiger Land – even though he was only placed V40 at the 1998 Sieger Show and in 1997 he was placed V 136, and V 38 in 1996.  Zamp’s dam – Ronya von Schloss Runding is yet another example of a mediocre show specimen producing a top quality dog.  She was Sg 51 in the Jugendklasse  at the 1995 Sieger Show.

 

V5  was  Layos vom Themados who was sired by a dog who has never been shown at a Sieger Show Mut von Heibronner Schloss, but who was V3 at a Landesgrupen Show in 1996.    The Dam of Layos, Vesta vom Monchberg was never shown.

 

V6 was a top quality dog  Xando vom Danischen Hof.  He is sired by the very important 1993 Sieger Jeck v.Noricum son, Lord von Georg Vicktor Turm, out of Minka vom Dannischen Hof, who was only V 90 at the 1995 Sieger Show, but she is the daughter of a very good producing bitch, Gina vom Dannischen Hof, who was V.A. 5  in 1994.

 

V7 was a Swedish bred animal  Gucci Triumphs, out of the dog who was V.A. 6 – Quartz di Templari who has already been referred to.  The show record of his Dam, bred in Sweden, is unknown.

 

V8 was a Mischalands Simon, who had a very good record as a young dog and is very highly thought of.   He is out of the Visum v. Arminius son,

Max della Liggia dei Mercanti, out of a bitch whose show record is also unknown.

 

V9 was Rikkor v. Arlett,  a son of Ulk v. Arlett out of the important producer Gugia v.d. Kahler Heide who has not had a brilliant show career, having been placed only SG 25 at the 1993 Sieger Show in the Jugendklasse. However she has been highly placed at Landesgruppen shows and she has also proved to be an exceptionally good producer. She is the Dam of the VA. Bitch Woldarona v.d. Kahler Heide and  her top V litter sister Wendrina v.d. Kahler Heide.

 

                                       2000 Sieger Show

 

The situation  at the 2000 Sieger Show was not very different.  Here again there are instances where top show winners are the result of the breeding of an important, very dominant top show winning sire and  a  very well bred bitch, whose show career has been less than impressive.

 

The  2000 Sieger was Ursus v. Batu, whose bloodlines have been discussed as he was V.A.3 last year.  A  careful examination of the pedigree of this exceptionally fine show specimen and well-deserved winner of this year’s Sieger title is very revealing.  Ursus is bred by one of the oldest and possibly the  most knowledgeable breeders in Germany, Erich Orschler.

 

The bitch line in the pedigree of Ursus goes back to  continuous “von Batu”  breeding  for FIVE GENERATIONS generations.   This is a remarkable  and very unusual achievement.    

 

  Attention has already been drawn to the fact that the dam of Ursus, Verena v. Batu had an unimpressive show record, having been placed a very lowly SG  105 in the Judgenklasse at the 1993 Sieger Show. The dam of Verena, Maxi v. Batu was somewhat more successful receiving a placing of V28 in 1991.  

 

The dam of Maxi, Zilli v. Batu, was a very good show specimen who was placed V4 in 1989.   Zilli herself was the result of three generations of von Batu breeding!  Her dam was Herra v. Batu,  a daughter of  Swenja v. Batu. Sired by one of the most important and dominant sires of his time “Lasso di val Sole”

 

Erich Orschler has consistently used bitches of his own breeding and mated them to outstanding males with a particular objective in mind.  Ursus is the result of a very carefully planned breeding program. He is proving to be a very dominant sire.

 

V.A  2  “Timo von Berrekasten” was discussed in our examination of the 1999 Sieger Show results.  Attention was drawn to the fact that his dam Leska vom Berrekasten was unshown.  Leska  is the daughter of Baffi v. Berrekskasten who was  placed only  SG 126 in 1989 by Schweikert in the Jugendklasse, a very unimpressive performance.   It must be remembered however, that Baffi was mated to the double sieger Fanto v. Hirschel to produce Leska.   Fanto v. Hirschel is without doubt the most exciting mover I have ever seen.   Fanto himself was sired by a magnificent specimen with an exceptional gait “Tell v. Grossen Sand”.  Tell was a rather disappointing  Sire producing only two sons of note in the litter brothers, Fanto and Frei v. Hirschel. And Fanto himself, in spite of having been mated to many fine bithches, has not produced many top males.   However, Fanto has made an important contribution to the breed in siring   bitches who  have been excellent producers of quality stock.

 

 V.A. 3 was Mack v. Aducht, whose bloodlines were discussed in the 1999 analysis of winners. His dam, Quale v.d. Wattenscheid”although unshown at a Sieger Show was V 14 at a Ladesgruppen show.  The very old-established Wattenscheid kennels of Waldermar Kober have consistently produced top quality animals over the years.

 

The V.A. 4 placed dog was “Enzo v. Buchorn”, son of the 1997 Sieger “Lasso v. Neuen Berg” out of  Tina v. Lechtal.   It was mentioned that Tina had an unimpressive show record having been placed SG 39 in 1993 in the Junghundklasse.   However, an important fact that must not be overlooked is  that the Lechtal kennels of Hans Martin are similar in some respects to the Batu kennels of Erich Orschler.  Tina v. Lechtal is a daughter of a very fine show specimen, Susi v. Lechtal, who was V2 at the 1992 Sieger Show under Dr. Beck.  Examining the pedigrees of Lechtal bitches will reveal a continuous line of bitches bearing the Lechtal suffix for several generations.

 

This years V.A. 5 winner “Yasko v. Farbenspiel” represents  a contradicition of the theory that top show winners are the progeny of dams whose show careers are unimpressive.  He is sired by the current Sieger ursus v. Batu, out the 1997 Siegerin, Connie v. Farbenspiel, sired by the important Sire, Eros v.

Luienstrasse.     Her breeding also represents, for the most part, bitches bearing the Farbenspiel  suffix  going back many, many years.  This exceptional young dog, bred by the old-established very successful  kennels of Erwin Wieser, a  charming, unassuming gentleman, always willing to give others the benefit of his considerable knowledge, was a very deserving Youth Sieger last year. Whelped on the 1st. July 1998 it is a very creditable achievement to be awarded V.A honours  at such a young age.

 

 ( “Yasko”  has already  proved his worth as a dominant Sire, and this year – 2001 -  he was   a worthy winner of the Sieger title.   It is  an honour  for which Erwin Wieser has striven for more than  half a century and it is something he well deserves)

 

V.A  6 this year represented a somewhat surprise choice in “Untox von Ducati”.  In 1999 he was placed only SG 19  Junghundklasse under Heinz Huhn and few would have thought he would have been elevated to such high honours  in the space  of one year. Bred by the well-known “Ducati” kennels of Peter Willmers, his dam is the unshown  “Joska v. Ducati”,

 

V.A 6  was “Pitt v. Tronje” whose was placed V1 last year and whose bloodlines were discussed. He is sired by the Frei v. Hirschel son, Amigo v. Belgier, who has  produced some fine animals.

 

V.A 7  was “Esko v. Danischen Hof, who was Junghund Sieger in 1998 and V 14 last year.  He is   sired by last year’s reserve Sieger “Jango v. Furstenberg” out of the exceptional producing bitch, “Una v. Oxalis.

 

 Although not a top show bitch herself,in addition to “Esko”  Una has produced “Jago,”  “Jana”  and “Jasko” v. Danischen Hof, all excellent specimens.   She is sired by “Karly v. Arminius” out of Nina v. Romerau. Her owner Ahmet Benzes, a relatively  small but extremely successful breeder, was very fortunate  to have acquired a bitch who has turned out to be such an exceptionally good producer.

 

The last dog in the 2000  V.A. line-up was “Neptun v. Bad-Boll”who was only SG 31 in the Jugendklasse in 1996 under Rudiger Mai.   However, he was placed V 11 in 1997 and V12  last year.   Sired by the “Jeck v. Noricum” son  “Jasko v.d. Roten Matter, his dam is “Elbe v. Bad Boll” who was V 26  in 1996.  She is a daughter of the 1997 Sieger “Lasso v. Neuenberg”.

 

                      SIEGER SHOW – 2001.

 

The results of  the 2001 Sieger Show reflect a situation very similar to that of previous years.  There are many occasions where   animals  winning top honours  were the  result of  the mating of  a bitch  of a somewhat ordinary bitch, from the point of view of show quality,  to an excellent show specimen.

 

A brief examination of this year’s results will  validate this.

 

Sieger in 2001 was Yasko v.d. Farbenspiel, whose bloodlines we have already discussed.   As pointed out he  is one of the notable exceptions to the statistical evidence that a top winning dog is often the result of the mating of a mediocre – although very well-bred- bitch to a top show winning sire.

 

As was pointed out his Sire was last year’s Sieger – Ursus v. Batu – and his dam was the Siegerin “Connie v. Farbenspiel”.

 

Second dog was Timo v. Berrrekasten whose bloodlines have also been discussed at some length. He was  also V.A 2 last year.

 

Third was Mack v. Aducht, also V.A 3 last year, whose bloodlines have also been discussed.

 

Fourth was “Esko v. Danischen Hof, who was V.A. 8 last year.  Bloodline  also discussed.

 

Fifth was Untox von Ducati, who was V.A. 6 last year.  Bloodlines also discussed.

 

Sixth was Dux della Valcuvia, who was V  5 last year.  In 1999 he was SG 3 under Heinz Huhn in the Junghundklasse.   He is sired by one of the most important  Visum sons, the Italian bred Max dell Loggia de Mercanti, who was a V.A. animal.   His Dam is an Italian bred  bitch Una della Valcuvia. To my knowledge she has never been shown in Germany.

 

Seventh was a  strikingly handsome masculine dog, Bax v.d. Luisenstrasse, who was Jugendklasse winner last year.  Born on the 19th April 1999, it was a great honour for this young dog to be included in the V.A. CLASS this year.

 

His Sire is the V.A. animal “Odin v. Hirschel” a  “Nero v. Hirschel” son.

His Dam “Beaury v.d. Huis  Kirua” is a Dutch bred  animal who V.A at the 1999 Sieger Show. This represented  a dramatic improvement in her placing of SG 60 under Albert Platz in the Junghundklasse at the 1997 Sieger Show.

 

 It is interesting to examine Beaury’ breeding.  Her Sire was  Eros v. Luisenstrasse, bred by  Dieter Hoffman, the breeder and owner  of Bax.  Her Dam was a Dutch Bred bitch, Zafa v. Haus Hollman, who was a very mediocre show specimen, having been placed SG 120 in the Junghandklasse at the 1990 Sieger Show.

 

It must be pointed however, that although Zafa was not a a successful show winner, her pedigree  represented the cream of  German breeding.   Her sire was Mark v. Haus Beck and her Dam, Linka v. Arminius.   Linka was  a Sieger “Eiko v. Kirschental daughter out of Uta v. Arminius.

 

Quite clearly this outstanding animal Bax was not the result of a lucky, haphazard breeding,   Dieter Hoffman, a very astute breeder, must have been well aware of  the type of animal he had in mind  when he mated  Beaury to Odin.

 

V.A. 8 was Neptun v Bad Boll, whose breeding we have already discussed.  He was placed  V.A. 9 last year.

 

There were only 8 animals this year in the V.A. Auslese group.

 

V 1  was Orbit v. Tronje.  A Neptun v. Bad Boll son out of  Babette v. Tronje, a V.A. Natz v. Steigerhof daughter, who has never been shown at a Sieger Show, but who did reasonably well at Landesgruppen shows.

 

V2  was Domino vom Baronenwald was sired by Hobby vom Gletschetopf out of Thea vom Barnonenwald, who was a good show specimen who was palced Sg 6 in the Jugendklasse at the 1997 Sieger Show.

 

V3 was Rikkor v. Arlett sired by Ulk out of Gugia v.der Kahler Heide.

Gugia, a Nufo v.d. Wienerau daughter  is a  reasonably good show specimen. However, she was placed SG 25 in the Jugendklasse at the 1993 Sieger Show.

 

V4 was Romeo von Pallas Athene, a Quartz del Templari son out of Ginja v.d. Maibuchen, who   was placed SG  9  at a  Landesgruppen show in 1993.    Romeo has made great strides since his appearances at the 1999 Sieger Show, where he was placed V. 18 and  at last year’s Sieger  Show where he  was placed V 17.

 

He is  a dog with spectacular movement and,  from all reports, produces animals with exceptionally good trainable temperaments.

 

V 5 was  Zamp vom Schloss Runding is a very well constructed dog who has proved to be a very popular and dominant sire.  Zamp was  V 2 last year. His pedigree is very interesting indeed as both his Sire and Dam were not very successful in the Show ring!   His Sire, Gildo vom  Wildsteigerland, was also  a popular sire in spite of his poor performance in the breed ring.  Gildo was V 38  at the Sieger Show in 1996, V 136 at the Sieger Show in 1997 and V 40 at the 1998 Sieger Show.

 

Gildo”s popularity was  to some extent due to the fact that his Dam, Marit  vom Wildsteigerland was a remarkable producing bitch.

 

The Dam of Zamp , Ronja vomSchloss Runding,  did also not enjoy a very successful show career, being placed SG 51 in the Jugendklasse at the 1995 Sieger Show.

 

V6 was the  Sieger Rikkor v. Bad Boll son, Kevin vom Murrtal, who was very highly rated at the 1999 Sieger Show being placed SG 2 in the Jugendklasse. His litter sister Kelly v. Murrtal  was placed SG 3 in the Jugendklasse also in 1999.    The  Dam however, Aischa vom Holundersgarten, was placed only SG 71 in the Junghundklasse at the 1995 Sieger Show.

 

V 7 was  Brando von Baccara, an  interesting choice for this high placing.

He has shown marked improvement since last year when he was placed V 21

His Sire is Igel v. Wollenhaupt who was penalised in 1999 for failing to release.  His Dam Ursa von Baccara  was placed  V 24  at the Sieger Show in 1995, which is a good placing.  However, under Wieser at the 1994 Sieger Show in the Jugendklasse, she was placed a very low SG 90

 

V 8 was   Salo vom Maifeld, a Jaguar vom Monchberg son, out of Ines von der  Rauentalshohe.  Salo was placed V 9 last year.  From all acounts his Dam was not shown.

 

V9 was Til v. Lechtal,  sired by  the Karly von Arminius son, Yoker v. Lechtal, out of Jule aus Agriento. Til was highly placed as a young dog in 1998, being placed SG 8 in the Junghundklasse.   His Dam Jule aus Agriento has never been shown.

 

 

The lessons to be learnt  from this review of bloodlines is very clear.  Even if your bitch  is not a top class show specimen but her bloodlines are excellent, do not despair!

 

  If you select a top quality male as her  breeding partner, with due regard to the  excellent qualities which the dog appears to producing, it is possible that you may be able to produce an exceptionally good specimen.  Be judicious in the choice of a suitable sire.

 

   Examine his pedigree and if he comes from a good producing bitch line as well as a good producing male line your chances of success are so much greater.

 

There is another lesson to be learnt.  Acquire sufficient knowledge of the breed to be confident about your own opinion.   Do not always be unduly influenced by the opinion of Judges.  There will always be elements of subjectivity in the judging process.  Even the most expert Judges do differ in their opinions.

 

An examination of the above details will reveal that Judges do sometimes disagree.   Notable examples of this  have been given, for example  in the case of  Timo von  Berrekasten, who was placed only  SG  65 in the  Jugendklasse in 1997, but was Reserve Sieger in  2000 and again this year!

 

There are  instances where certain dogs have been highly praised by one Judge and criticized by another.  The fact that a dog can be placed in a very low position in the Youth classes one year and then subsequently prove to be a top show winner when he matures is a fairly frequent occurrence.

 

 Obviously in many cases maturity does bring about great changes in the development of the dog. Some dogs are slow matures  and  only when they attain full maturity do they exhibit the marked improvement to warrant top show honors.  But quite often the differences in opinion on the part of even the most experienced judges is due to errors of judgment!

 

There are basic  faults of construction that will never change, regardless of the age of the dog.   A short croup will always be a short croup; a short upper-arm will always be a short upper arm.   Try and be as objective as possible in your own assessment of your dog, as difficult as this may be.  Recognize your dog’s faults. But do not be influenced by a Judge’s opinion to the extent that it completely overwhelms  your critical judgment.

 

Good luck in this fascinating and frustrating goal of breeding the perfect German Shepherd Dog!