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Impressions, 2003 USA Sieger Show
By Fred Lanting
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For a number of reasons, this year’s
United Schutzhund Clubs of America (USA) Sieger Show was smaller than
usual, though there were sufficient world-class dogs there, that anybody
would be proud to own. The relative isolation of a West-coast location
kept many from east of the Rockies from attending, although last year’s
show in Las Vegas did not suffer to the same degree. Air travel is down
partly because of the post-9-11 syndrome, partly from fears connected
with Operation Iraqi Freedom and supposed danger of extremist-Islamic
retaliation, and partly the general economy which is marked by inflation
and uncertainty regarding layoffs by employers. Add to that the reported
dissatisfaction with the choice of judges (something that one hears at
almost any event): this year complaints centered on this WUSV-affiliated
club only having one SV judge (Arno Humberdros) out of the five
officiating, while the WDA club usually uses only SV judges. This is
only partly true, as my friend Virgilio Garbin from Chile, while listed
in the catalog as from COAPA, is a retired SV judge. The SV has this
stupid rule (as does USA) about mandatory de-listing when a person
reaches 70, regardless of health or ability. But even then, some voiced
concern that only one or two out of five was too far from a majority for
what should be the most prestigious GSD specialty show in North America.
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There was a disappointingly tiny entry
(12, after deducting the 3 who failed the courage test) in the Open
(SchII-titled) Bitch class. This was judged by Johannes Grewe, whose club
put on an over-all very well managed show at a good venue in Bakersfield
California, only a few hours drive from any major airport. He had
probably the best quality of any class to choose from, and awarded half
of them VA. Most felt that was far too may, given the number attending,
in light of the fact that in Germany there may be around 10 VA in an
entry of well over 100. It makes more sense to call 9% “Select” (Auslese)
than 50%. In my view, the top two placings were truly outstanding
examples of the breed, and like the others ranked in this class, they
represented very good decisions.
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VA-1 went to North Carolinian Toni
Brezel’s Acka v Seebachtal, bred by Gunther Nohe.
This Cash WildsteigerLand granddaughter
 is
a well-pigmented, medium to upper-medium sized, very well proportioned
bitch with powerful outreaching and balanced gait, and other qualities
as described in the Standard. She has good width of the torso, yet
single-tracks nicely. She almost lost her lead in the off-leash gaiting
because of a poor decision to switch handlers; sometimes a dog does not
appreciate that, after establishing a team relationship with the primary
handler. Feminine and yet strong, she makes a worthy USA Siegerin. VA-2
was the beautiful dry and firm 5-year-old Alice Rochele-Ranch bred by
Josef Erhard and owned by Alethea Munsinger of Arizona. Despite the poor
pigment seen in many other Karly Arminius offspring, she nevertheless
inherited his marvelous front assembly, reach, and drive as well.
Painted a more pleasing hue, she might easily have been Siegerin. It was
a thrill to watch her gaiting. Upper-medium size and pleasantly
stretched, she has a good croup (hard to find) and very good rear
angulation. One of the other VAs had poor feet and pinched elbows, but
the others were very worthy of high V and ones you’d be pleased to have
in your kennel.
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 The
2003 Sieger, chosen by Herr Humberdros, is a son of Wallace Agrigento
named Hooper vd Rohburg, owned by John Henkel and
B. Campbell. In this class of 28 (after 7 were disqualified as
insufficient for not performing the courage test properly), he and the
very last dog had the most staying power. Both were as fresh as when the
gaiting started, while the others began to tire. In fact, the
last-placed and only sable in the show, Rex Karthago from the famous
working-lines kennel and owned by super-trainer Dean Calderon, seemed
even more energetic and strong at the end. Hooper, bred by Manfred
Fritz, is a tall, lanky, somewhat narrow dog of excellent pigment, and
is the ideal of “trocken und fest” (dry and firm). He has a very
good topline and a powerful driving gait. |
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VA-2 Burschy
zum Alten Eichenhof, also owned by Toni Brezel, was
initially in first place but after a long while of group gaiting, his
couple of extra kilos of weight may have tired him a little. He is a
well-proportioned, upper-medium size dog of very good substance and
width, with an easy gait that shows excellent reach and drive when
fresh. Burschy was V-34 in Bremen in 2000, and WDA Sieger in 2001. He
was pulled after the courage test at the USA 2002 Sieger Show because,
Toni says, he had a sore foot. He is a son of Vando Moorbeck (Sieger Ulk
son).
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VA-3 was the exciting
Wildmarken’s Tito (Ursus Batu) owned by Mittlewest Kennels
and Dennis Novak, and bred in Denmark by Hansen and Joensen. Very good
anatomy, bone, color, and other attributes. Again, I would have cut off
the number of VAs at that point, as well as 2 in the bitches, but that
is certainly not to intimate that many others were anything but
wonderful dogs.
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 The next
generation of great dogs for North America was well represented in the
Youth (12-18-mo) and Young Dog (18-24-mo) classes. I think the best of
these was the 12-18 month bitches, with 17 present, one of which was
excused as gun-shy. SG-1 there was a daughter of Yasko Farbenspiel and
Whitney Agrigento, owned by John Henkel and J. Lee. Rita
Wilhendorf kept her vitality and smooth gait all the way to
the finish. SG-2 was a slightly smaller Dasti v Bella, correct medium
size like her VA sire Orbit Tronje; she moved very similarly to her
far-reaching father. SG-3, litter sister to the SG-2 male, was the
Henkels’ Tyra v Wilhendorf. A notable bitch was SG-8 Abba v Thurmont, a
very classy, typey VA Untox Ducati daughter owned and bred by Helder
Garcia of Maryland. I believe she may have taken a misstep or two at the
critical moment when Señor Garbin’s eye swept in her direction, as she
easily could have won this nice class. Over-medium size with
breathtaking overline and underline, she is a definite improvement over
her dam Wondra Godingerhofer-Weg, who I had seen in Germany during one
of the annual Sieger Show tours I conduct. These include visits to
judges, kennels, and training clubs as well as sightseeing. Helder was
one of my group a couple of years ago and I feel I was helpful in
increasing his contacts and choices for foundation stock. Breeders Theo
and Angelika should be proud of Wondra’s ability to produce such pups.
Littermates placed 3rd and 6th in the male class,
too.
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In the 12-18 mo. male class, with 16
present, John Henkel (again!) and T. Farmer had the winner, Quint v
Wilhendorf. This CT kennel has been consistently at or near
the top in North America for many years. Medium in size and strength, very well
trained and controlled, and in terrific condition, this Benno Hohen-Haus
son made a great impression. The Henkels also had the SG-2 Ty
Wilhendorf. SG-3 was Helder’s Atlas Thurmont, litter brother of the
SG-8 bitch and the SG-6 male. Congratulations on such home-grown
success, all! |
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The outstanding winner of the 18-24-mo.
male class was an Argentine-bred import, Dylon vd Herny Lean, bred by E.
Campos, owned by T. Suedhoff of Wyoming, and imported for him by Ricardo
Carbajal. Excellent structure and animation, could be a little deeper in
pigment. He has a very bright future and I hope the owner gets PennHIP
data on him for the benefit of American fanciers who are looking for
good bloodlines and stud dogs to use. If he shows a low DI and his
ancestors have low ZW numbers, I would heartily recommend him as a
source of “new blood”. However, latest word from Ricardo is that the dog
has returned to Argentina. USA used to have a rule that the USA Sieger
had to live a substantial portion of the year in the U.S., but that
apparently was unworkable, so many USA Siegers do us very little good,
and only give their foreign owners some bragging rights. |
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I want to say something more about Rex
Karthago. While his topline was not great, his medium size and correct
height-length proportions and correctness coming and going should have
been rewarded with a V rating instead of his SG. This son of the famous
working dog Aly Vordersteinwald has many things to offer the breed,
including great drives and character. In a regional show, at least, I
would certainly have given him a V for the sake of bringing the two
wings of the breed closer together.
General comments might well include the
observation that several top dogs were a little too narrow at the
elbows. Hocks seem to be improving, but there is yet room for
improvement in pastern strength. However, the small entry at this show
makes it difficult to make any determination as to trends. One Open male
seemed to have been de-barked; nothing specifically in the rules about
this, but it is surgery to artificially change the dog, and should not
be allowed. I hope the USA organization will make plans further in
advance as to location and dates for the next show so busy people can
schedule better.
Mention should also be made of the
remarkable success that the Wilhendorf kennels have had over the years.
This Connecticut family enterprise has been
ranked as the #1 German Shepherd Dog kennel in the USA Sieger Show for
the past ten years. Wilhendorf placed 6th in Germany recently as a
kennel, which is the highest ever by a non-European kennel. Nice work,
John Sr., John Jr., Karen, and partners!
Fred Lanting has years of experience as an SV judge, has judged
extensively in the Far East and Latin America, is the author of “The
Total German Shepherd Dog” (http://www.hoflin.com),
and is a world traveler who annually leads a tour of training facilities
and historic sites before and after the German Sieger Show, walking the
novice through the intricacies of the “German Experience”. His website,
managed by a co-owner, is <http://www.vonsalix.faithweb.com>,
but many of his articles are found on <http://realgsd.info/>
or <http://www.SiriusDog.com>
and other sites. His e-mail is <Mr.GSD@Juno.com>
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