Great GSDs from the past - Page 1

Many GSD fanciers and breeders of today do not realize that some of the GSDs from the past were superior in everyway, even when compared to the current FCI standard.  Some were absolutely georgeous with faultless temperaments.  One of the greatest GSDs ever bred was Cuno von der Teufelslache, SchIII.  Even today there is probably not been another GSD AKC Champion that surpasses him for overall quality.  He was born in 1949 and then imported into the USA by a wealthy woman GSD fancier who paid a small fortune for him. He easily became an American AKC Champion because their was nothing like him, nothing that even approached his quality.  The dog had faultless temperament, fantastic and correct movement, deep rich pigment and there is little today that is even as good as he was then. It was many years before there was another GSD as correct as he was. His temperament was outstanding and he heroically protected his master from an attempted breakin on at least one occasion.  Yet the dog was friendly, sound and super stable.  This is the kind of GSD most of us want.  This is the form we strive to breed and or acquire.  This was a true working type that had top confirmation too.  There was no split between this dog between profung and zuchschau. He was the living epitomy of the golden middle, but the best of working temperamnet and the best of confirmation. 

www.dogstuff.info/german_american_shepherd_split.html

Cuno's picture from the database: http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/5774.html

He was that good and yet the breed has been changed to be "better".  He looked like he was "better" enough.

Gee, don't those dogs in his pedigree look familiar?

I think they look a lot like the Rin Tin Tin dogs!  Wonder why??

I sure don't see it.  Not the ones being bred and sold now anyway.

Everyone, forgive me here but I have to add VA-5 Lasso di val Sol-a dog who looked and worked the part many years ago. Topline, underline, angulation, size, working drive, and temperament-Lasso seemed to have it all. Good post, Preston.

Regards,

Bob-O

Bob-O, I agree with your addition of Lasso.  He was what we all strive for in a GSD.  Perfection of temperament and confirmation.  I never saw him but some folks that did told me he has as hard a GSD as their ever was and was super sound in everyway.  Plus his appearance was so excellent that he became a legend of quality. 

Lasso was bred in Switzerland. His mother was inbred 2-2 on Dago v Scloss Dahlhausen. He was sired by Quanto v d Wienerau

I have him on film. About 100 degrees in fore quarter and about 110 degrees in rear hand. Straight topline and medium suspension.

i.e. far from the ideal, and certainly not the greatest ever produced.

Damn good looking dog. I don't know about the rest of you but I consider him to be near perfect in structure. Solid, functional and beautiful. I'd love to find a quality kennel still breeding this type of dog. If I did, I would be willing to break my "no puppy over $1000" rule in a heart beat.