Fred Lanting

by Fred Lanting

It was again a privilege and pleasure to associate with fun-loving fanciers of the German Shepherd Dog and to enjoy the beauty of the breed, when I went to southern Florida to handle dogs in a WDA show sponsored by the Broward SchH Club. The show ran well under the firm hand of Miriam Barcus, although not always “on time”. I did not take part in the trial portion, except to watch and offer encouragement, but I was kept very busy handling one nice dog after another.

Andrew Masia, one of South Florida’s most careful and successful GSD breeders, brought me to his area because he had several dogs he wanted shown, but also arranged for my services to be available to others. With a little help from my four decades’ experience of showing dogs, but mostly because of the quality of dogs I was blessed with here, we won every class except the 3-6-month baby puppy classes. My charges were just barely 3 months, and the bigger ones in these classes were more than a month older and much more developed. The adrenaline that I get from competing and the extra shot from winning kept me hopping. The sportsmanship on the part of all the exhibitors was at its customary high, compared to what you’d find at most AKC shows other than the WDA German-style ones.

It was good to see my old friend Rudiger Mai (the judge) again. He is two years away from facing the mandatory retirement age that SV is still holding to like a prehistoric relic. A stupid limit that has cut my own judging assignments tremendously. If I can run nine GSDs in as many classes in quick succession, I certainly am able to sit and stand with the little bit of movement that judging requires! Maybe I was born too soon, in two respects: age itself, and modern thought about health and strength in maturity. Rudiger remembered my fantastic Timo Berrekasten daughter, having judged and complimented her in New Orleans, then taking her to Europe for me where she lived and sent me pups. I put five SchH titles on her by age 22 months; she was the fastest-learning of all the many dogs I have trained. Rudiger remembered her well, with admiration.

In Baby Puppy Females, two attractive Quai Sebeldsbruck pups from different dams took the first two placings, followed by the Wox Lentulo/Gigi Jagenstadt pup I showed. Her litter brother, owned by Anne Wilson, took 2nd behind one of Martha Hunt’s handsome Quai sons.

I had a short break during Junior Puppies, classes of one each, featuring Danny Spreitler’s youngsters, and then entered the 9-12-month Female class with Martha Hunt’s Jaguar Arkanum/French-dam bitch, a nice-looking youngster who could not get more than a Promising rating in what turned out to be not only her last first place, but also her last show. Perhaps there is some cause for excusing the fact that in previous big shows, her missing lower left P2 premolar was not noticed, but if I had been running or judging those shows, I would not have allowed assistants to be so careless about dentition. It is customary in Sieger Shows to have visiting judges or, in these cases, club members, examine tattoos, teeth, and testicles to save the principal judge’s time. Anything questionable should be brought to his attention so he can make a determination. Obviously, at least two people slipped up. An adult with a missing P2 can get no more than a “G” rating.

In the Youth (12-18mo) female class, I got a blue ribbon for Sara and Ed Blood’s Winner Assaut daughter appropriately named Fayr (pronounced “fire”) but call-named Kiri. A lively but untrained-to-lead-out bitch who should do pretty well based on her anatomy, if not her slightly masculine expression. Owners and dog are lucky to have each other – great temperament in all.

The Youth male class was won by the outstandingly promising Negus Holtkaemper-See son, Champ v. Momax. This aptly-named handsome dog will do a lot for the Buehl family. It was a delight to show him, and once he gets the hang of the ring, he will be a cinch for any handler to win with often. Second was a fit Tor Casa Nobili son, Max Schonen Wippertal owner-handled by Rodrigo Barrientos. Behind him was the Danish import Leri Adriano, owned by the Mangiamele family who may have been giving him too many spaghetti dinners, considering his overweight condition. Fourth was Deborah Schwartz’ Augustus Traumhof, from Kirschental breeding.

The next class, a single-entry Rosi Haus Brezel (by Hassan Schwalmbergtal) gave me a chance to get a drink of water in the shade and look for my next dog, Leri Xerox. Another Danish dog, half-brother of Adriano and sired by VA Chijas Weiko, Xerox is proudly owned by Joe Wirtel. Hopefully, whatever magazine or website carries this report will include the photos I’m supplying (thanks to several photographers), as there were many great-looking dogs at this small show. I got an SG-1 with Xerox, the highest rating possible in his 18-24mo. age group.

In Adult untitled classes, club member Brittany Banus’ single-entry coated bitch got a G-1 (Good) but the judge noted, “no structural faults”. She was indeed very well put together. In Untitled adult (over 24mo.) males, I took SG-1 with Andrew’s handsome high-drive dog who is for sale due to the fact that his importer-owner has another strong male (the sire) and it’s a big job keeping them far enough apart on his small city lot. If I didn’t have a male at home, I’d gobble him up in a New York minute! Leri Gallon is on the verge of getting his SchH-1 and already has a book full of clearances on hips, teeth, and health from A to Z. Behind us in this class were Modesto Echezarrreza’s Fancho Billberg, then Dennis Cardinale’s Lucas Haus Barcus, and Herb Pianin’s very strong Kirschental-lines dog, Quinn Alpenhof.

In the Working Female class, two Leistungs-line bitches owned by Chris Daugaard got G-1 and G-2: Kim Arbeiten Madchen and Enny Moravia Artex. I got the V-1 with Andrew Masia’s Gigi Jagenstadt, the dam of a bitch I trained and titled for him several years earlier, “Ally”, who had been bred to the tough and good-looking Leri Unesco to yield Gigi. Gigi has her mother’s outline and pleasing gait, and likewise her high energy and boldness. She is the mother of the 3-month pups I showed earlier.

In the Working (adult, over 24mo., titled) class, Miriam Barcus’ import son of the well-known Xato Bosen Nachbarschaft was SG-1, and in front of him was another of Miriam’s dogs, V-2 Aik Saalfelder-Hohe, a Vantu Batu son. I handled Leri Unesco to his V-1. He is a son of Volvoro Arminius, and is a very strong-willed, powerful dog with a wonderfully impressive head — massive but not coarse, and harmonious with his body.

Needless to say, I was perspiring in the hot Florida sun, but pumped up with receiving so many blue ribbons and handling such nice dogs. Several people expressed hopes that I would be future national and regional shows to handle. If enough exhibitors get together to comfortably split my expenses (I charge no fee), I’m game. There’s little more that I enjoy than “playing” with dogs. E-mail me.
Fred Lanting, Mr.GSD@netcape.com