The German Dog traces its origins from herding stock developed in the late 1800's, in 1899 a group of herding dog enthusiasts formed an organization called the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde.  These people decided what characteristics they felt were needed in the ideal herding dog, and decided to standardize and create a breed fitting this description. Captain Max von Stephanitz was to be president of the SV until he died on April 22, 1936.

Captain von Stephanitz owned a dog by the name of Horand Vom Grafrath from whom all modern day German Shepherd Dogs are descended.  The earliest divergence in the lineage occurred with Hettel vom Uckermark, who was the Seiger of 1909.  These lines lead to Canto von der Wienerau and Quanto von der Wienerau. While the modern German Shepherd Dog bears some resemblance to its early ancestors, it has become more refined in appearance. The early history can be found in many books, and is very interesting.

Much of the breeding contains a blend of Quanto, Canto and Mutz.  The following paragraphs are taken from THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG by Brian Wooton.

In recent years a number of important brood bitches have left their mark on the breed. Although great stress is laid on the sire, there is little doubt of the importance of a pre potent female. Many German breeders will reant a top-producing bitch so that she may very well produce a litter bearing different prefixes (kennel names). One such bitch was Wilma v. Kisselschulucht.  She was by the V-A dog Bredo v. Lichburghof who was sired by the Bodo v. Lierberg son, Joil v. Bemholt, a dog imported into Britain where he attained his titles. Bredo, however, owed nothing to Joll in appearance, being much more typical of his maternal grand-sire Jalk.  When Wilma was surveyed, the recommendation was that she should not be mated with any male that carried the Lierberg blood(lines).  It was the Jalk source that was to be exploited.  In spite of the fact that she was cow-hocked, she was mated to a young dog out of a Jalk daughter, Canto v. Wienerau.  This mating produced the outstanding brood(-bitch), Flora vom Konigsbruch.  In the 1987 survey book, twenty-four pedigrees showed inbreeding on Flora and twenty on Wilma.  Wilma's influence through the "X" litter Arminius is considerable.  The best member of the litter, Xando, a dog of superb shape and quality but somewhat over-angulated behind, was sold to South Africa after being measured oversize, but his daughter, Fee v Weiherturchen, has proven to be an excellent producer.

(V-A) Xandra was shared by the Restrauch and Arminius kennels and is responsible for many outstanding litters. Xavier (Arminius) sired, among others, the 1986 and 1987 Sieger Quando V Arminius, who is linebred on Wilma (2-4).

Flora was the dam of Reza V Haus Beck, a good producing Quanto son.  Her best matings were, however, to the Mutz Peltzierfarm lines. To the Mutz granson, Jupp v.d. Haller Farm she gave the good "D" Wienerau litter.  Dax v.d. Wienerau sired the 1986 Reserve Sieger, Natz v. Hasenborn and the dam of the 1986 Youth Sieger, Oden v Tannenmeiser (3,5-4).  Mated to Johnny v Rheinhall son, Kuno Weidtweg, Flora produced the outstanding "N" Wienerau litter.  Out of this litter, Nick v.d. Winerau has proved widely influential as a stud, particularly through his daughter, Palme v. Wildsteiger Land.  Palme was a very big, excellently constructed bitch, litter sister to the Sigerin Perle, but much more like her dam, the excellent producer V-A Fina vom Badsee, than was Perle.  To the Quanto granson, Ex vom Schlumborn, Fina gave Quitte and Quanta, who first and second in the youth class at the Sigerschau. Mated to another Quanto male line (Irk vom Arminius), Palme gave the outstanding stud and Sieger, Uran v. Wildsteiger Land.  Borrowed by Hermann Martin of the SV, she was mated to yet another Quanto line through Xavier Arminius, by Lasso di Val sole, and produced Quando Vom Arminius.

To further illustrate the importance of Fee vom Weiherturchen, we have to look no further than the "F" Arminius litter. The most influential member of this litter is V-A Fedor v Arminius.  Of the eight dogs from this litter, six passed breed survey, four have titled SchHIII, four have rated "V" in conformation, and two (Fedor and Fina) rated "V-A".  Fee was also influential in the "N" Arminius litter.  Despite Dingo v Haus Gero's reputation for producing bad hips, when he was mated to Fee, he produced a litter where four of the eight surveyed, four rated "V" in conformation, one (Natz) rated "V-A" and five received Schutzhund titles.  This is quite remarkable when you consider Dingo sometimes produced entire litters with bad hips

Another important bitch is Ottie Vom Trienzbachtal. Ottie, herself, produced three Siegerins, the most important of these being V-A1 Tannie v Trienzbactal by a Canto grandson.  Tannie was mated to the V-A1 Ute v Trienzbachtal son (by V-A Elch), Fax v Trienzbachtal, to produce V-A Gundo v Trienzbachtal. Gundo is linebred (4-2) on Ottie.  His breeder emphasized the female side of the pedigree as opposed to the male side.

Quanto v.d. Wienerau was a very typical expressive, noble dog, with a very good head and forehand, slight limitations in the croup, and a weak pastern. He was a prepotent for type, uniformity, good front angulation, good harmony, correct size and strength. He did not pass on his weak pastern to his progeny.  The lineage from Quanto splits into four major families.

By far the largest of these is through 1984 and 1985 double Sieger V-A1 Uran v Wildsteiger Land (Irk v Arminius X Palme v. Wildsteiger Land). Uran prduced several sons of note.  Among these are 1988 Sieger V-A1 Eido v Kirschental (out of V-A Xitta v Kirschental), Reserve Sieger (Italy) Vopo v Kirschental (also out of Xitta), V-A Yambo v Wildsteiger Land and his brother Yasso, and Harko v Batu.  Uran also produced the 1989 Siegerin.  Eiko, himself, had a very large progeny group at the 1990 Siegerschau.  Either by himself or through his sons, Uran has consistently had a very large progeny group at the Sigerschaus.

The second largest of these is through V-A Lasso di Val Sole, Quanto X Sara v Sonnenber SHSB. Lasso was the father's type and sired an excellent son, Xaver. In addition to the 1986 and 1987 Sieger, Quando V Arminius, Xaver also sired V-A Kanto v Arminius out of V-A Roulette v.d. Wienerau. Quando produced the 1989 Sieger, Iso v Bergmannshof, 1990 USA Sieger, Illo V Bergmannshof and the 1988 Siegerin. Quando comes from the litter of all KKL1 and "V" conformation rating, and has produced the same (i.e. the "W" v.d. Maarue litter.) His best producing sons are V-A Odin vom Tannenmeise, and Enzo v Burg Aliso.  Intense breeding on Lasso di Val Sole is said to produce short upper arms, and therefore should not be more intense than (3-4).

The third major family is through V-A1 Dick v Adeloga through Gundo Trienzbachtal.  Gundo produced the 1990 Siegerin Inka Eichwaldhurte as well as numerous other V-A dogs.  The last traces through Reza v Haus Beck has not been as significant as the others.

Canto v.d. Wienerau was a medium-size and medium-strength dog, with good proportions, superb anatomy of the croup and forehand, and was very harmoniously constructed.  He produced 17 offspring that surveyed KKL1 (out of 100 matings). Genetically, he improved upon the general anatomy, especially in croup and forehand, the Canto Wienerau lines splits into four groups.

The largest is by way of Lasso v Wiederbrucher Land through Fedor v Arminius and Fanto v. Arminius. Fedor is currently the leading sire in the Canto Wienerau lines, and produces excellent dogs with harmonious structure, as long as the bitch does not have a roached back. His most recent exeptional produce was V-A Karina Winnloh at the 1990 Siegerchau. Fedor's best producing offspring is Mark v Haus Beck.

The second largest is through the 1983 Sieger, Dingo V Haus Gero. Dingo was an exciting mover and passed on this trait to his offspring, primarily through his son V-A Natz v Arminius. While Dingo's offspring are spectacular at the extended trot, great care must be taken when using his blodlines because he has not been very consistant in producing good hips.  Line breeding on Dingo is strongly advised against.

The third line is by way of V-A Argus v Klammle, through Argus v Aducht. Argus Aducht was an excellent dog but rarely produced anything of equal or greater to himself. Ablan vom Klammle, is found in many pedigrees, although he did not produce as well as his litter mate Argus. Linebreeding (4-4) Argus-Ablan is found in the better bred dogs.

The fourth lines come by way of the 1980 Sieger, Canto v Arminius. The most important of his offspring was Sonny v Badener Land who sired the Siegerin Tina vom Groben Sand and V-1 Tell v Groben Sand. Tell sired the 1990 and 1991 double Sieger Fanto v Hirschel.  Fanto is currently being used on Quando and Uran daughters and those related to Reza v Haus Beck.

Mutz vom der Peltzierfarm was a medium-large dog who produced very well.  His strong points were correct body proportions, pronounced wither, and strong back. His progenies were spirited movers, tough and resilient, although this sometimes exhibited itself in the form of stubborness.  His limitations were in the croup, upper arm, set-in elbows and cleaness of front.  The best descendent of this line is Vax v.d Wienerau.  Vax has sired numerous champions and is maternal grand sire to the 1989 Sieger and 1990 USA Sieger.  Other significant producers in this line are V-A Putz v Arjakjo and Cello Romerau. Cello currently is the leading producer of this line, siring two V-A females at the 1990 Siegerchau.  Cello is out of Quana v Arminius, litter mate of Quando and thus provides another cross to Palme v Wildsteiger Land.  Palme will perhaps go down in German Shepherd History as the most influential female.  Because she is a large bitch, intense (2-3) on Palme can produce oversize as well as color paling.  It is recommended that linebreeding not be any closer than (3-3).

A fourth line that occurs in many pedigrees is through the Sieger Marko v Celler Land. Marko himself, was an excellent dog, produced many good sons and was dominant for producing good hips.  His sons, however, did not produce well.  They produced poor fronts and unbalanced structure.  Marko sons also produce a divergence of type.  Marko also carried the black recessive and a paling gene.  Most black GSDs trace lineage through Marko, as well as those dogs with marked paling.  Because of these factors, one usually finds this line only through females three or four generations removed.

Information relating to the East German bred dog is sketchy. Many of these have heavier bone and richer pigmentation than the West German Dog but can lack type.  As a rule they are a better working dog, although according to police agencies there have been temperament problems.

As things stand currently in Germany, there has been such intense concentration of Palme v Wildsteiger Land that breeders are searching for a good producing out cross.  Hermann Martin (now deceased, he passed during the 1996 Siegerchau in Germany) of the SV has advised that one should cross to one of the Canto v.d. Wienerau descendants. One source that has been used to Fedor v Arminius, and he has produced well. Another is the 1990 Sieger Fanto v Hirschel.  Fanto has produced some good dogs, but nothing outstanding to date.