German Shepherd Dog History
Von Stephanitz had become alarmed at the trend in the breed
toward oversized
square dogs. Other problems included lack
of steady temperament and faults of dentition. He and the
breed wardens decided drastic measures needed to be taken.
At the 1925 Sieger show von Stephanitz selected Klodo von
Boxberg as world sieger. This dog was dramatically
different from the type of dog that had gone before him. He
was of lower station, deeper and longer in body, short in
loin and with a far-reaching gait. As it turned out Klodo
proved to be a potent sire, successfully heralding a "new"
type of shepherd. That same year Klodo was imported to
America by A. Gilbert of Maraldene Kennels in Hamden,
Connecticut. Klodo, through a number of important sons and
daughters, is largely responsible for the faults and virtues
of modern North American lines. In
1936 John Gans imported Sieger Pfeffer von Bern and
in 1938 Sidney Heckert Imported Odin vom Busecker Schloss.
Through their intense inbreeding and line-breeding, these
were dogs that molded the majority of our modern day lines.
Pfeffer was German Sieger in 1937 and had a great show
career in America. Through Pfeffer a uniform type in America
was established but with the faults of long coats, missing
dentition, faulty temperament, overlong bodies and loins,
and orchidism (missing one or both testicles).The German Shepherd Dog was widely sought after during World War II, employed by Allied and Axis forces, as mine detectors, sentinels, guard work, messenger, and other services. In America, Dogs for Defense was formed, providing thousands of dogs to the army. The paths of German and American shepherds diverged after World War II. The Americans continued largely with the Pfeffer and Odin lines while in Germany the breed was in poor shape. Many dogs had been killed or destroyed due to lack of food. The best that was left was bred, frequently outcross breedings, since there was no great selection of line-bred stock. Soon the breeders had individual dogs dominant in the desired virtues. They then began to line-breed or inbreed so that by about 1949 quality specimens began to appear at German shows. The pedigrees of these "new" dogs were largely of the result of "type" breeding without the influence of Pfeffer but having the great dogs behind him. Prepotent sires emerged, Axel von der Deininghauserheide, Rolf vom Osnabruecker-land and Hein v. Richterback, representing preserved pre-war genetics. Through Pfeffer, American breeders established a beautiful type. This was concentrated by inbreeding, and in combinations with descendants of his half-brother Odin vom Busecker-Schloss. Many well-known kennels of the day, utilizing these lines were Long-Worth, founded by Lloyd Brackett, Liebestraum, owned by Grant Mann, and Hessian, owned by Art and Helen Hess. 
In 1950's America, some breeders recognized the need for
some infusion of outcross blood and this was done through
Klodo Boxberg and Odin Stolzenfels lines which blended well
with American taste for topline, croup length and rear
angulation. The Axel/Rolf/Hein combinations were also
brought in notably by
Troll von Richterback. Troll, 1957 Grand Victor, had
remendous appeal. He was dominant in producing rear drive,
hindquarter strength, muscle, bone, and head. He was also
dominant in producing straight uppper arm, weak ears, blues,
and fading pigment.Imports critical to the breed in America were Bernd v Kallengarten and Falk v Eningsfeld. Bernd was imported by Ernie Loeb. Bernd was dominant for shoulder, forehand, bone, feet, substance, suspension, head, croup, tailset, and body length but also weaknesses for ears, steep croup, loose ligamentation, long coats, and high percentage of hip and elbbow dysplasia. Of note is the fact that Bernd introduced the solid-black gene into the American breed. During the 1960's there was an emergence of strong families of stud dogs. In Germany the SV was in control while in America breeders were open to follow their own preferences. Troll wielded a large amount of clout in America by producing the famous "F" litter Arbywood, including Fels, Field Marshall, Fortune and Fashion, bred by Lucy Woodard. This pedigree combined Odin Stolzenfels/Klodo Boxberg/Pfeffer/Utz as well as the Axel/Rolf/Hein combination. The Arbywood males contrasted with their pure American counterparts, being stallion males with the desired type.  Fortune
was bred to Fran and Joan Ford's Frohlich's Elsa v Grunestal
producing Lance of Fran-Jo, American and Canadian
Granvd Victor. Lance represented a new era in American
shepherds - angulation, topline and sidegait. Lance's
popularity in the sixties was also due to the American
tendency to turn away from imports, perhaps due to cost and
poor quality. Lance was geographically convenient to all
parts of the U.S.A. and was widely used.Lance produced many offspring which in turn became pillars of the breed in America, including Lakeside's Harrigan, Cobert's Reno of Lakeside, Eko-Lan's Morgan, Cobert's Golly Gee of Lakeside and Mannix of Fran-Jo. Important offspring of these dogs included Doppelt-Tay's Hammer and Hawkeye who figured prominently in the late seventies. Also concentrating on Lance and figuring prominently in the breed were Zeto of Fran-Jo and Zeus of Fran-Jo. Also important during Lance's time was Yoncalla's Mike, a Bernd v Kallengarten grandson consolidating the Pfeffer/Odin blood. Mike was a potent sire transmitting balanced structure, rich colour, strong bone and good feet. Mike's best known son was Grand Victor Hollamor's Judd whose daughters were also widely used. |