By Ed Frawley
715-235-6502

This year the Sieger show was held in the city of Bremen located in Northern Germany. The stadium facility was the best I have seen in years. It is unusual to see a show site where there is actually more room than is needed - but that was the case in Bremen.

The first day opened under cloudy skies. We had rain off and on all day - nothing really unusual for Germany but it is always an annoyance when you are trying to shoot video. My job was a little easier this year because I was given "SV Video Team" credentials that allowed me to get into every ring and go where I wanted. I was actually on the schutzhund field with the helper who was taking bites about 30 feet away. This adds a new dimension to your perception of what is happening.

The 1988 Sieger was Eiko Kirchental. Eiko was VA 2 last year and is a very popular dog in Germany right now. He is a son of the 1984-85 Sieger Uran Wildstiegerland. When I filmed the males doing schutzhund work I scored each dog as it did its bite work. Eiko did well, but he did not out.

We have seen remarkable improvement in bite work since Herman Martin took over the Presidency of the SV 4 years ago. This year only 3 dogs ran, which is less than 2% of the total. A good example of this improved drive was seen in the VA 2 dog Iso Bergmanshof.

I scored Iso as one of the top 5 dogs in bite work at the show. He hit hard, bit with a full mouth (no growling) and came off when called out - a very impressive performance for a VA dog.

Iso is a Quando Arminius son (1986-87 Sieger) out of Nora Bergmannshof. Nora is a Vax Wienerau daughter. Vax Wienerau is in America and at stud with Bill and Ginny Collins in Illinois.

The VA 3 male was Karo Asbacher Land. Karo was also VA 3 last year. He did excellent bite work both years, he was better than Eiko but not quite as good as Iso. Karo produced the SG 2 female this year - Kim Santic Eck. Karo is a Putz Arjako son, Putz is in America and available at stud with Scott Lambert.

The VA 4 male was Yambo Wildsteigerland. Yambo went VA for the third time. He was VA 6 last year - he did average bite work both years. He is an Uran Wildsteigerland son out of Dixie Klingenhof.

VA 5 was Mark Haus Beck. Mark is a Fedor Arminius son out from Quina Arminius. Quina is a litter sister to Quando. Mark was SG 2 in the Youth Class last year.

VA 6 was Odin Tannenmeise. Odin is a Quando Arminius son. He is truly a beauty to see. Odin was the Youth Sieger in 1986 and VA 9 last year. His progeny is just beginning to establish itself. This year he produced the Yougen Sieger (Zamb v.d. Wienerau) and the SG 2 female in the yougen bitches (Chipsi v. Bad Boll). He has 3 other dogs in the top 20 places of the youth classes.

I heard more than one American judge comment that this was the dog someone should bring to America for our breeding program. So if there is anyone out there with a lot of money to spend - this may be a dog to go after. He lives in Holland now.

VA 7 was Fanto Hirschel a Tell Grossen Sand son. He was the Youngen Sieger (in the 12 - 18 month class) in 1987.

VA 8 is Fando Sudblick who is out of Kim Michaelswiese. Fanto was V2 last year.

VA 9 was Don Lennefetal a Gundo Trienzbachtal son. Gundo had a nice progeny group this year.

Henning von Noort was V1 again this year (just as he was in 1987). Henning did very nice bite work. He is a Quando Arminius son out of Esra v. Noort. Esra is in America and owned by Ann Farkas.

There were 8 VA females. Ronda Haus Beck was the siegren. She is an Uran Wildsteigerland daughter. It was interesting because she did not lead the field from the beginning (as Eiko did). Ulma Haus Dexel (VA 4) ran in the front for a good portion of the adult females and then was moved back.

The second place bitch was Daisy Darius who is a Derby Adeloga daughter.

VA 3 was Uta Batu an Uran daughter.

Ulma Haus Dexel was VA 4 also an Uran daughter.

VA 5 was Joga Filsperle. She is an Irk Arminius daughter (Irk being the father to Uran).

VA 6 was Janke Murrenhutte who is a Fanto Arminius daughter.

VA 7 is Nena Arlett . Nena is a Carlo Wienerau daughter.

VA 8 was Vaneska Wienerau who was out of Wong Wienerau and Ussi Wienerau. I watched this bitch do bite work and she was excellent. This is the first time in a while that I have noticed a VA dog whose sire and damn came from the same kennel. I watched this bitch do bite work with Walter. She had nice drive and did an excellent job.

The youth sieger this year was an Eiko son - Enzo v.d. Romerau, who is out of Quana Arminius. Another example of the strength in the "Q" litter Arminius.

There were 22 progeny groups that ran this year. A dog has to have 10 sons and daughters present to run a group. Uran Wildstiegerland was back in Germany from Japan. He looks very good and is in excellent condition. He is still being bred in Germany and had another super group. This dog is going to have a bigger influence on the breed than Canto or Quanto Wienerau.

Quando Arminius also had an excellent group. Quando throws nice pigment and good heads (which Germany needs now).

Cello Romerau also had an excellent group. Cello was SG2 in 1986 and V3 last year. He is a Natz Hasenborn son. Cello throws good pigment. He produced the Yungen Siegeren, Kimba v. Haus Gero and 6 other dogs in the top 20 places in the youth classes.

The running of the progeny groups is an important (if not the most important) part of the Sieger show. This is where we get a chance to see if a stud dog can pass on his good qualities. I heard more than one spectator say that they were not getting enough time to view the groups because most of groups only ran around the stadium one time. I would have to agree, there just isn't enough time for the spectators to look at the dogs here, and there seems to be more than enough time to show the dogs longer.

An interesting change in the show this year was that all the announcements to report to the rings were made in German and then again in English. It would certainly be nice if Herman Martin could have his critiques translated into English after he gives them in German. There is time to do this between groups. It would add a whole new dimension to the Sieger show for a great number of people who can not understand German that well.

Walter Martin's Wienerau kennels won the kennel group this year. Walters collection of dogs was really something to see. I was standing in the ring next to them while the kennel groups were getting ready to move out - my eyes kept going to this young male on the end in Walters group. I did not have my catalogue with me so I couldn't tell who was who. I even set my video camera down and took some pictures of the dog - it turned out to be Zamb v.d. Wienerau the Youngen Sieger (in the 12 to 18 month class). It will be interesting to see what happens when this dog grows up.

For those of you that are interested in video of the SV events. I now have the North American copy right to SV Rei Vision tapes on the World Miesterschaft, the Bundessieger Prufung, the Sheep Herding HGH Nationals and the Sieger show. These tapes will be sold in the American NTSC video format. The masters are expected to be shipped around Christmas. This year I will offer the Leerburg version of the Sieger Show in addition to SV Rei Vision version. If you would like to be notified when these videos are available, call or drop me a letter.