Poeople have been talking about these comments and I actually think "shame on all of you". I witnessed this accident, it happened right in front of our tent.(Note the use of the word "ACCIDENT"
Bernice the dog you were handling did back off. But Zlato was pulling forward and if his handler had been paying more attention he would have noticed and pulled Zlato away.
At this point Zlato grabbed Eiko pantaloons, on second grip,Eiko spun round, losing your balance your got in the way! Zlato was merely going for the other dog. I do differ with the owner on this point as it was Zlato that got Bernice's arm, but Bernice, he certainly never meant to bite you! Males will be males and Zlato was a dominant male, at the time being used alot at stud. This is one of the reasons I do not believe that adult males should be handled by children under the age of 18.
I am sorry for the scar on your arm, I know what it feels like, but it is unfair to blame, when we are dealing with animals, as then accidents happen!
If either parties want to jump down my neck now, feel free to do so, I know what I saw as it happend less that 4 feet away from my chair! I suggest both parties let it lie now and try to forget it! I have made this statement on here as I am totally unbiased on the subject!

Dogs will be dogs and enjoy them for what they are!

Poeople have been talking about these comments and I actually think "shame on all of you". I witnessed this accident, it happened right in front of our tent.(Note the use of the word "ACCIDENT"
Bernice the dog you were handling did back off. But Zlato was pulling forward and if his handler had been paying more attention he would have noticed and pulled Zlato away.
At this point Zlato grabbed Eiko pantaloons, on second grip,Eiko spun round, losing your balance your got in the way! Zlato was merely going for the other dog. I do differ with the owner on this point as it was Zlato that got Bernice's arm, but Bernice, he certainly never meant to bite you! Males will be males and Zlato was a dominant male, at the time being used alot at stud. This is one of the reasons I do not believe that adult males should be handled by children under the age of 18.
I am sorry for the scar on your arm, I know what it feels like, but it is unfair to blame, when we are dealing with animals, as then accidents happen!
If either parties want to jump down my neck now, feel free to do so, I know what I saw as it happend less that 4 feet away from my chair! I suggest both parties let it lie now and try to forget it! I have made this statement on here as I am totally unbiased on the subject!

Dogs will be dogs and enjoy them for what they are!

I have been part of the german shepherd dog world for two years and had the privelage of meeting this magnificant animal before his passing which was tragedy to the German Shepherd dog world in SA as he was one of the last excellent producing studs in the country.Im lucky to have a descendant of his gene (a grandson ) Who is Magnificantly constructed and has a wonderful Friendly temperment and not only that all of the Zlato progeny I have come across have been beautiful dogs with amazing temperments.So in all I feel it a shame and disgrase for this to be written about this Amazing dog who has contributed so much to the breed in South Africa.I have also been told by people (witnesses)at the scene that the evnts have been somewhat scured and I hope that the "scurer"will set the record staright as to the real undertakings of that day.

To the owners:

1. Zlato was never ever graded SG in the 24 month and over class for males and in fact was VA twice at the GSDFSA National Shows. This fact is common knowledge and to label him an SG dog smacks of malice and maliciousness.

I never changed Zlato's gradings. He has always been SG on this site, and that had nothing to do with me. He competed in the BSZS in 1995, and was graded SG 53. Since then, nobody changed his gradings.


2. Yes, Zlato did “attack” Eiko la Nutes whilst he was backing away from the assistant judge who was approaching him to check his teeth, tattoo and testicles. You didn’t and as a result of your poor handling allowed Eiko to invade Zlato’s space which precipitated the dog fight.

It was not my poor handling that caused this mess. In fact as I recall, Eiko was the last dog entered in the class, thus he had to stand at the back, and I kept my space from the dog in front of me. Zlato, his handler and his owner were standing right at the back, when they should have been in front. The handler and owner was having a conversation, not watching their dog, and as they said in the previous comment, the open males are aggressive sometimes, so then why were they so careless?


Zlato’s second bite on Eiko caused him in turn to bite you in the arm when you attempted to regain control of him.

Eiko did not bite me, Zlato did, and I did not try to regain control of Eiko, I tried to get out of the way.


You claimed all your medical expenses back under the GSDFSA insurance policy.

Medical expenses, yes, the federation did pay for that. But in the end, it is not just medical bills that count.


Full statements by Mr and Mrs Kunzmann were provided to you in support of such claim, the contents of which you must have been aware.

No, I did not know that Judith and Julius gave their statements to the fed, but I did not ask them to do so. They were not the only witnesses at the scene.


What motive, after an elapse of almost 4 years, could possibly prompt you to write such unadulterated drivel! It’s untrue what you have stated, it’s slanderous and demands an apology.

What I have stated is not untrue. Yes it has been four years, four years of emotional damage, and a scar of about 5cm long, and very ugly. I would also have liked an apology four years ago.

In my previous comment, I did mention that I did not mean any offence to anyone.

Bernice Rossouw

Comment From the Owners:

I’m compelled to respond to the comments by Nicie on 16th January 2004 regarding Zlato aus Agrigento.
What has been stated by Nicie is a gross distortion of the true facts for the following reasons:
1. Zlato was never ever graded SG in the 24 month and over class for males and in fact was VA twice at the GSDFSA National Shows. This fact is common knowledge and to label him an SG dog smacks of malice and maliciousness.
2. Zlato never ever bit anyone in his entire show career, and he was shown and campaigned extensively. A “TERRIBLE temprament (spelling)” was certainly not a criticism that could ever be levelled at him and he produced good temperament evidenced in his progeny who qualified in large numbers Breed Survey and Schutzhund. I doubt you have the faintest idea what a good temperament really is!
3. Yes, Zlato did “attack” Eiko la Nutes whilst he was backing away from the assistant judge who was approaching him to check his teeth, tattoo and testicles. Handlers in the Open Male Classes should know that stud dogs are normally hostile towards other dogs and should take the necessary precautions. You didn’t and as a result of your poor handling allowed Eiko to invade Zlato’s space which precipitated the dog fight.
4. Zlato’s second bite on Eiko caused him in turn to bite you in the arm when you attempted to regain control of him. Zlato did not bite you – the dog you were handling bit you, yet you blame Zlato! This gross misrepresentation of the true facts can only be as a result of malice on your part for the following reasons:
a. You claimed all your medical expenses back under the GSDFSA insurance policy;
b. Full statements by Mr and Mrs Kunzmann were provided to you in support of such claim, the contents of which you must have been aware.
5. What motive, after an elapse of almost 4 years, could possibly prompt you to write such unadulterated drivel! It’s untrue what you have stated, it’s slanderous and demands an apology.
6. I am sure that the purpose of the GSD Pedigree Comments Page was not designed for the purpose of Federation members washing their dirty linen in public. I have retrieved the statements of Judith and Julius Kunzmann and will be referring same together with the above to the proper authorities at the GSDFSA for further investigation.
7. In the interim, I trust that you will seriously consider the above facts and their consequences and respond with an appropriate apology.

Dee & Spencer Tarr.

Hi Nicie,

I do not take offence, it is just not good for the breed as a whole. Many aspirant Shepherd owners may read your statement and no longer wish to purchase a GSD.

Dogs in a fight may bite the first thing that it can get hold of, I have been there many times!

I have handled a lot more difficult dogs in my time.

Further for the record I trained with Don Pedan, George Cooper, Frenchie Chelin, Auriel Garavarian, Colin Frankel to name a few.

John Easingwood was encouraged and nutured by myself and today represents this country.

One day you too will own a strong male and experience.

I do like most of your comments on this site.

I wish you every success with your breeding and your enthusiasm for the breed.

Hi Draken

I did not mean to offend anyone; it is just that my personal experience of the dog was not such a good one. I still do not believe that the dog was protecting his "personal space", but I think that is also a matter of opinion. I have seen the dog a few times, and at first I did like him. I also know the dog made VA in South Africa in 1999.

Regards, Nicie

I have been involved with the showing, training and breeding GSD's since 1971. I have owned some really strong dogs too over the years. I remember purchasing a female in whelp in 1980 from Walter Martin. At the tender age of four months three male litter mates started fighting, they bit my hands and arms to ribbons. I called Walter who laughed at me. He said that most dogs would fight who had had any character, further they would one day fight to death. I learnt the hard way no matter how much time you spend one cannot get in the way. Since the incedent I built seperate runs for all my Males. One day we had a very serious fight to the death and I again suffered many injuries.

Enough of the background. I have visited the Tarr's on sevaral occasions in their home. Zlato never displayed any agressive tendencies towards myself or my family. In fact he used to lie across my lap seeking the attention our breed is accustomed to demand from us.

I cannot agree that Zlato is an agressive dog.

A dog protecting his "space" even at a show is acceptable. Instinctively dogs were once wild animals and are by nature terrotorial.

Nicie, ZLATO made VA in SA (1999) and V1 at the National Show in (2000) under Her Orschler and had 32 present in is Progeny Group, dont get me wrong im not a fan, he was a very difficult even on a good day.

Tis dog came to South Africa a few years ago, and he had a TERRIBLE temprament. In the Working Class males he attacked the dog I was handling. I then tried to move out of the way, but fell, and he then grabbed me and tore open my arm. Despite all of this, the dog still won the class, which I think was very unfair. This dog is now dead. He cannot pass his disgraceful genes to any other dogs anymore!