German Shepherd Dogs: What You Really Know About The Controversial "Canto vd Wienerau"?

Although Canto vd Wienerau died young and sired relatively few litters, due to his remarkable arrogance, he is still considered one of the three most important dogs that shaped the modern German Shepherd dog.

Canto was born on September 17, 1968 and was fathered by Hein vom Konigsbruch from Jalk v. Daughter of Fohlenbrunnen Liane von der Wienerau.

It is interesting to examine their pedigree, as this may provide a clue to their rather exceptional arrogance. Despite having produced only a limited number of progeny during the short time they were in the stallion, a large proportion of them received the high classification of Korklasse 1. Six of these animals were AV in Germany. He also sired two American champions.

Canto’s father, “Hein v. Konigsbruch”, born March 10, 1965, was a very interesting dog for several reasons. The most important thing is why Walter Martin decided to use him as a stallion for his Canto’s Dam, his excellent bitch, Liane von der Wienerau, a V bitch from an exceptionally good breed.

Although Hein’s Koer report was satisfactory, he certainly did not have a very illustrious show career in Germany. In 1968 he was placed in a relatively low position of SG 7 in the men’s Open Class under Dr. Funk. In 1969 he did not fare better with Dr. Rummel, being rated only G due to his lack of work ability.

His report “Koer” describes him as a large, upright animal with harmonious lines, good angulation, an ideal backline, and a walk that covers the ground. He also referred to his temperament as solid. However, his fighting spirit “kampftrieb” was described as “vorhanden”, more present than pronounced.

Also, it hadn’t sired many litters before Walter Martin decided to use it.

So why did Walter Martin decide to use him instead of more popular and proven animals that had already proven their skill in the show ring and also their arrogance?

The answer to this, I think, is because Walter Martin was a visionary with an extraordinary eye for a dog. Hein represented a deviation from the mostly square dogs of the time, with limited rear angulation. Hein was overly angled compared to many of the leading dogs of the time. He was a very glamorous dog and Martin recognized the qualities he had to offer.

Also, he was aware of Hein’s pedigree. His father “Fix zu den Sieben Faulen was a very good dog as was” Fix’s father, “Asslan vom Maiweg”. I remember seeing “Asslan” in Germany and was impressed with his beautiful clean lines and – what he was unusual at the time – his very good rump. Besides “Asslan’s” father, “Alf vom Walddorf – Emst was an exceptionally good dog, who was also a very dominant father.

Walter Martin was clearly aware of the qualities of “Alf” and by taking, what some people might have considered a gamble, he calculated that in Hein, he would be able to perpetuate the fine qualities that “Alf” possessed.

I remember seeing “Alf”, ten years old at the time, at the home of his owner Walter Lueg and was very impressed with this exceptional animal. Not only was he a very handsome dog, even at 10 years old, he also had an outstanding temperament, daring but friendly.

Alf’s upbringing reflected the successful combination of Rolf v. Osnabruckerland and Axel vd Deininghauserheide. His father was Rolf and his mother, Elga vom Villosahaus, was a daughter of Axel.

Walter Martin must have considered that by raising his dog Liane he would not have to worry about temperament problems. Liane was a daughter of an exceptionally good dog, Jalk v. Fohlenbrunne, who also had a very good-tempered background. Liane’s mother “Dixie vd Wienerau” was the daughter of the VA dog “Arno vom Haus Schwingel”

Furthermore, Liane was part of an exceptionally good litter. His litter sister Landa v. Wienerau became a Siegerin, and a litter brother “Lido” was also an outstanding specimen, a very dominant Sire with a very strong temperament.

Hein was exported to Tadellos Kennels of Mrs. Egger in Great Britain at the age of 5, where he had reasonable success in the Ring Show, earning two CCs. He also sired a good breed in England.

The best evaluation of Hein v. The Konigsbruch temperament was created by my good friend Percy Elliott in his book “The Complete German Shepherd”. Here is what Percy Elliott wrote: “Hein had little work capacity and for this reason he was demoted to good on the 1969 Sieger Show. He was not shy, just a fairly friendly and satisfying normal dog if not asked too much. .. “

I agree with this review. Many years ago, I imported a young son Hein from Mrs. Egger. My dog ​​was a very lovable, friendly and caring dog, but somewhat lacking in protective instinct; an ideal family pet.

Singing was described as a medium-sized (64cm) and medium-strong dog with excellent proportions. His front angulation was really very good and the rear angulation was marked. A special mention was made of his long and very well placed rump, a characteristic that he passed on to many of his progeny. Negative characteristics included a head that lacked masculinity and also lacked strong pigment. There was also a clear tendency towards loose hocks, which was particularly noticeable when it was a young dog.

As a young dog, he was ranked 4th – SG 4 in the Junior Class at the Sieger Show in 1971 and was V.1 in the open dog class.

His temperament was not as bold as one would have liked, and in this sense he was more like his father than his mother. It should also be mentioned that Canto is considered the first known hemophiliac in the breed. This was not discovered until later when it was discovered that her daughters began to have affected males.

Although he died at the age of four, he produced a large number of exceptionally good dogs.

Very important Singing Children whose names appear in the pedigree of a large number of today’s best winners are as follows. Frei v. Holtkamper See, Canto Arminius and, to a lesser extent, Argus Klamme.

Frei V. Holtkamper See was sired by Canto from Iris v. Sudfeld, a dog whose offspring reflected the valuable influence of Vello zu den Sieben Faulen. Frei was the most successful of Canto’s progeny with 5 VA progeny, one of which, Zorro v. Haus Beck – VA in 1981 – produced the very important Lasso v. Wiederbrucher land.

Lasso v. Wiederbrucherland in turn produced the exceptionally successful sire, “Fedor v. Arminius” who was VA in 1987. Fedor’s name is found in the pedigrees of a large number of winning animals, in many cases through VA’s important son Fedor. , Mark v. Haus Beck.

Mark has proven to be one of the most important sires of recent years and is the sire, among many others, of the Sieger Kimon Dan Alhedys Hoeve.

Kimon is the father of VA rated “Karly v. Arminius”. Karly “has also proven to be an exceptionally good sire and produced the VA” Jello Michelstadter Rathaus “animal, an important sire in his own right.

Canto v. Arminio the other very important song v. Wienerau’s son was Sieger in 1978 when the title “Sieger” was reintroduced after being discontinued since 1973.

Canto was an exceptionally good engine. When I saw him on the Sieger show for the first time, I was struck by the fluidity and effortless nature of his walk. Although he produced better daughters than sons, he produced a very good animal in Sonny v. Badener Land, who in turn produced the Sieger Reserve to Uran – Tell v. Grossen Arena.

His litter sister, Tina, was Siegerin.

Tell produced the Sieger stunt double “Fanto v. Hirschel” – 1990 and 1991 and also his litter brother, ‘Frei v. Hirschel “, who was also an important sire in his own right, producing very strong tempers.

The sound “Frei v. Hirschel”, Friend v. Belgier is considered by expert judges as an ideal source of excellent temperament. He is the sire of a number of very good dogs who have done well in Sieger shows, including the highly respected Italian-bred VA animal “Quartz v. Templari.”

Canto Arminius’ litter brother, Caesar v. Arminio, was also an important Canto v. Wienerau sound. Considered by many to have a stronger temperament than his litter brother, he was the father of Dingo v. Haus Gero, Sieger in 1982.

Dingo was an exceptionally good engine with a spectacular stride. Although it was used widely at first, and the sire of 4 VA animals, Dingo was later not favored by German breeders, as it was considered that he had produced too many animals whose hips were suspect.

Argus against Klammle.

Argus was sired by Song of Zilly v. Klammle, which was later exported to the United States, where she became a champion. Argus was known to be a dog of excellent character.

The bitch I imported, Fara v. Bad Boll, daughter of Lasso di Val Sole, was daughter of Argus. He also inherited the same firm and confident temperament as his Sire.

Argus’s influence continued mainly although his excellent son Argus v. Aducht, who is depicted in animals sired by Manto Overdinger Land and Miro Holtkamper See.

It is clear that Canto v. Wienerau’s influence through her sons and daughters has left an indelible mark on the breed. It can truly be considered one of the three pillars of the modern German Shepherd.