IN THE BEGINNING-The START of the Breed - Page 1

From these dogs & the feral dogs before them come  recessive genes which are still carried through to todays German Shepherds. These are some of the visible recessives.

White Shepherds, blues, livers and even brindles, longcoated and sometimes wire coated, a soft ear, light coloured eyes and missing teeth.

1899

In the beginning, the earth was null and void of the German Shepherd dog breed.

And then there was - Rittmeister (cavalry captain) Max Emil Frederich von Stephanitz.

Max von Stephanitz became known as the father of the breed, a title he cherished.

While attending one of the 1st all breed dog shows ever held in Germany, Karlsruhe, in 1899 Max von Stephanitz, much to his excitement discovered a big gray dog, of wolfish appearance, but great dignity, a German Shepherd that stood quietly at the side of his handler.

The dogs name was Hector Linksrhein.

 

Rittmeister Max von Stephanitz bought him immediately and renamed him on the spot as Horand von Grafrath.

It was with Horand von Grafrath that the German Shepherd standard of excellence was shaped by and the 1st breed standard was written.

The most important of Horands many sons was Hector von Schwaben, who was out of the good bitch Mores Phlieningen.

Heinze von Starkenburg was the most important of Hectors sons.

On November 1st 1903 Heinze produced a litter out of Bella von Starkenburg in which appeared an all-black male puppy.

Von Stephanitz watched this puppy with immense concentration, for it was evident, almost from birth, that this youngster was special. As he matured there was no doubt in the minds of the Rittmeister and his colleagues that this puppy was a mutant embodying all that was dominant and estimable in the bloodlines.

The name of this important youngster was Roland von Starkenburg.
 

He matured into the model for the breed and the stud of his time who prepotently and constantly produced the type that the Rittmeister wished to perpetuate, though he was not quite sure in temperament..All German Shepherd dogs living today can trace there lineage back to the redoubtable Roland.

Hettel Uckermark, Rolands finest son, became seiger in 1909, and through Bella von der Leine, Hettel sired Alex von Westfalheim who, through Hettel-Roland-Dewett-Krone breeding, begat the famous 1920 seiger and international Grand champion Erich von Grafenwerth.

Erich carried a slightly wavy coat, and to this day when we see a German shepherd displaying this coat texture we refer to it as an Erich coat.

Erich von Grafenwerth was a handsome specimen of the breed with a roomy, easy gait. Though he was sired by Alex, his beauty of conformation can be attributed to Hettel Uckermark. Also of major importance genetically is Flora Berkemeyer , she was a pillar of the Reidekenburg bloodline & a superb bitch whose beauty & balance were passed on to Erich.

 

 

1925

Few were aware of the outcome of the sieger show in Czechoslovakia in 1923. But that show was to have vast significance for the future of the German shepherd dog throughout the world.

Max von Stephanitz was aware of what happened In Czechoslovakia & had given the results serious study. It bothered him that the dogs of Germany were becoming too high & short in body & because of this anatomical failure, were loosing fluidity of movement necessary for a utility dog. Something had to be done immediately to check this tendency.

Before the 1925 Sieger show was to be held, an unprecedented meeting of German Shepherd Breeding Masters was called & chaired by von Stephanitz in his capacity as President of the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde .

Not a whisper by any of those present as to the reason for the assembly was revealed. But shepherd people throughout Germany were aware that something of moment was about to happen.

In the utility dog ring the handlers & their dogs were called into the spacious ring in catalogue order. There were many famous champions of Germany & many other countries. Then began the long & tedious examinations of both conformation & temperament, the latter were seriously tested.

The next day the judgement began early, the dogs began their perpetual gaiting around the ring as the rittmeister intensely watched them, closely scrutinizing their every move, the functioning of the muscles & skeletal framework beneath them, the firmness of joints & ligaments, the rhythm of their movement & the strength & thrust that propelled them forward.

Finally the moment so long awaited for arrived.

3rd & 2nd place were chosen.

Then the Captain pointed at the dog & dramatically motioned him to the lead as the crowd went wild. The judge had made his decision. The 1925 World Sieger was.... Klodo vom Boxburg, the grey dog that in 1923 had been crowned Czechoslovakian Sieger.

 

 

He was the symbol of the shape of things to come, the new era German shepherd Dog.

What was he like, this dog that was to mould the breed to a new standard. He was primarily different from former siegers in his balance & outline. He was not tall or square, as they had been. Von Stephanitz had decided & had conveyed his wishes with his customary authority in the closed door meeting at Ossig, that a new type, a drastic change in the dog selected for World Sieger, must be made to bring the breed back to the wanted, earlier – envisioned conformation standard, & Klodo was that type. He was longer than high in body yet short in back & loin, stationed lower & deeper, perfectly balanced & proportioned, & with a flowing, reaching gait of great power & fluidity. He was the son of the redoubtable Erich von Grafenwerth, & out of the good bitch Elfie von Boxberg. Linebred on Hettle Uckermark & combining the best of the Uckermark & Kriminalpolizei breeding,  Klodo was a model of all that was best in his genetic background. His character & temperament were impeccable, & his selection for the Sieger title was quite dramatic, as Stephanitz wanted it to be, to make his point denoting change.

The 1925 Sieger show became known as the stepping stone from the “old blood “to the “new blood “.

Klodo carried a longcoat recessive, and when his sons Odin von Stolzenfels and Curt von Herzog Hedan were inbred with Klodo bitches a percentage of longcoated progency appeared in the litters.

 

On April 22, 1936 Max Emil Frederich von Stephanitz passed away after a lingering illness.

He had the good fortune to have seen his life’s work fully accomplished and the German Shepherd dogs he loved accepted around the globe as a breed without peer in the canine world.

Von Stephanitz's lifetime dedication in the service of a breed of dogs is, without doubt, unparalleled in the history of dogdom.

 

All facts are based on the findings of Ernest.H.Hart.       

 

AND???

fantastic kitkat

Is Ernest Hart still alive? ecs

And??? And than there was light....
NOT everyone that posts here knows as much as some,(obviously).
There have been numerous discussions on what the German Shepherd dog was intended to be, by Max
I mean really, there are more self appointed, (or do I mean annointed) breed wardens on this database than in Germany!
I MYSELF found this rather interesting that it was said,
"At a closed door meeting Von Stephanitz had deceided and conveyed HIS wishes......that a new type
A ddrastic change in the dog selected ...must be made tto bring the dog back to the earlier envisioned conformation standarrd".....
This is what Max wanted in the breed ...so Klodo vom Boxburg, IS what the Shepherd was intended to look like. The SYMBOL of the shape of things to come....
That's all, and that's what...
Like I said, not everyone knows everything.....
(Even tho some think they do).

Very interesting, thanks.  The proof of the power of selective breeding.

I believe Mr. Hart has passed away, ecs.

Honestly, why would anyone dislike the original post written by one of the most respected students of the breed, Ernest Hart?

It's not the message, Blitzen, but the messenger!
I have been rather enjoying reading some old facts and insights.
Unlike some, I don't know everything about the Breed, but I am always in search of more knowledge about it.
It is possible to learn something new, everyday !
(Unless, like some here,already know everything)

maybe some dislike it because they agree with this guy Terry Hannon, (watch at 1:55).  Total corruption of the breed, and the people's mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV7elIy_Aoo

Terry Hannon may have some valid points albeit taken to the extreme, but he's certainly not a breed expert like Hart who speaks about the origin of the breed, not it's  current status.

KitKat, maybe we should have a contest to see who can get the most dislikes til the end of the year. I think I could give you a challenge in that department . Actually I'm impressed that we have admirers who are so interested in what we have to say that they spend their time surfing this site for our posts. I know one of mine, she even created  FB accounts to trash me and another  GSD owner she doesn't like. She makes me feel loved .