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Registration does not mean breeding rights and responsibilities.
by Fred Lanting
Copyright January, 2006 -
In an article sent to several websites read by sports and breeding enthusiasts, I had stated, “A Körung classification is required for registrable breeding in Germany”, and “GSDs there need a qualifying result in a breed survey in order for their offspring to be registered as purebred GSDs. And in order to get that, they need a tattoo, DNA, working title, AD, and approved hips (“a”-stamp or equivalent).”
Because a few non-breeders (or people wanting to speak for non-breeders) spoke up, I should clarify this. Actually, a dog can be a purebred GSD and recognized as such with an official piece of paper from the SV (GSD club of Germany), although such are seldom found in the community of breeders and competitors that I (and probably you) circulate in. You can consider this as “Part Two”.
Would you or your friends breed to a dog that was not proven suitable? Yes, the SV will "register" lower quality dogs, such as allowed under this provision, for example:
"Working-title Dog Registry: The Gebrauchshund registry contains dogs with or without proven ancestry but with the corresponding breed attributes." That is, if they look like GSDs. They have their own sort-of registry.
However, "Section 4.1.2 Dogs suitable for breeding" (says):
"Dogs suitable for breeding are those who have been breed surveyed to Körklasse 2 at an SV breed survey."
That logically and legally means that dogs without a minimum Kkl-2 are NOT suitable for breeding. Allowed, yes, and I admit I should have made that distinction clear. Thank you for pointing out the fine line that I did not enlarge upon. But such dogs are highly discouraged from entering, or contributing to, the gene pool and are in a miniscule minority of the GSD population.
Since there is relatively very little use or interest in the so-called “white papers” (pale green) and other certificates, compared to those who breed, show or train GSDs in competitions, I originally neglected to include these other types of “Rasse-Echtheitszertifikats” (Breed authenticity certificates). By the way, the Zuchtordnung (breeding rules), in Section 3.2, says: “Tattooers —Tattooing them is a requirement for registration” (regardless of what color the papers are, apparently).
Here, for those who have felt neglected, is my addendum to the excerpts from my translation of the Zuchtordnung (SV Rules for breeders) that I sent out earlier. In this, I will sprinkle in some translated comments from “Die Papiere: Ahnentafeln sind kein Stammbaum (Geneological tables are not [just] a family tree)”, as found in original German on http://www.schaeferhunde.de/10_zucht/zucht_01.htm
There are several types of breed-purity certificates issued by the SV. Whichever variety, the SV calls it “The most important paper that a German Shepherd Dog buyer must receive. Only an association like the SV, recognized by the FCI and VDH, issues it. No dog without this passport can be considered as a purebred German Shepherd Dog.” All have information on 30 ancestors in 4 generations behind the dogs they are issued for, including such info as brothers and sisters, performance (protection dog exam) records, colors, training titles, show ratings, and breed surveys of the ancestors. The most desirable are the “pink papers” well-known to owners.
Under the “Rasse-Echtheitszertifikat” (all since Jan. 1979 have this title) heading on your certificate and genealogical table, there is another — one of four classifications:
- Körzucht-Leistungszucht-Ahnentafel: The “best” kind, given if both parents are angekört (have passed the breed-survey) and all the ancestors in the second generation listed on the inside sheet of the pedigree paper (the grandparents) have received a training title such as SchH/IP or HGH. Incidentally, the Sieger Show has additional Ahnentafel requirements of angekört for the grandparents, in order to get into the VA classification at that annual show. This has kept great dogs like Hoss Lärchenhain and Karat’s Ulk from getting VA in recent years.
- Körzucht-Ahnentafel: This form applies to dogs whose parents animals both are angekört, but allows for one or more grandparents to be missing a training degree.
- Leistungszucht-Ahnentafel: Both parents must meet the requirements of the Zuchtordnung (I have a good translation available for websites), and correspond to the breed type and ancestry as recognized by the SV; however, it is permissible to have at least one of them without angekört, although the grandparents have training titles.
- Ahnentafel: This basic type of pedigree paper (without the descriptor “Leistungszucht” — loosely, “performance dog”) is possible if one or both of the parents correspond to the breed rules, but one or more grandparents cannot be proven to have a training title.
The genealogical table that we call a pedigree or Ahnentafel also contains a summary of the Körschein (Körung report — if it exists) for that dog. Included is the description of the dog, with its advantages and disadvantages, the good and less-than-good characteristics listed.
The Ahnentafel also offers a section for breed-book and official breed survey notes, such as: if the dog was angekört, and if so, in which class and for what time period. Recorded also in the Ahnentafel is the Körmeister’s evaluation and appraisal for the dog - an important document, which plays a role in evaluations of younger dogs, special shows, or when doing schutzhund examinations.
Is the Ahnentafel merely paper stuff? No – it is an important document, useful for not only a particular dog, but also its whole breed. As The SV website says: “Die Papiere: Ahnentafeln sind kein Stammbaum” (The Papers: Genealogical tables are not [JUST] a family tree).
Fred Lanting is an internationally respected show judge, approved by many registries as an all-breed judge, has judged numerous countries’ Sieger Shows and Landesgruppen events, and has many years experience with SV. He presents seminars and consults worldwide on such topics as Gait-&-Structure, HD and Other Orthopedic Disorders, Anatomy, Training Techniques, and The GSD. He conducts annual non-profit sightseeing tours of Europe, centered on the Sieger Show (biggest breed show in the world) and BSP.
All Things Canine -- consulting division, Willow Wood Services Phone: 256-498-3319 Fax: 256-498-3311 E-mail mr.gsd@netscape.com
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