THE TOTAL GSD CONCEPT

There are dogs and then there are German Shepherd Dogs. No other breed of dog has been conceived and promoted solely on the criteria of its suitability to serve a human master as a working companion. It is this single minded focus on its functional capacity that enabled this breed to rise to its present world reknowned status as the most versatile dog to have graced this planet alongside man. This is the concept that I call "The Total GSD". By this I mean a dog that looks and behaves true to the original vision of the founder of the breed, Capt. Max von Stephanitz. This is a dog that in his own words displays: "... joy in work, devotion to duty, and to master, mistrust and sharpness against strange and irregular things, docility and obedience, teachableness and quickness to understand, and in addition, immunity to weather, uncommonly acute senses with fight for retrieving and seeking, assisted by his special gait (going to and fro) by which he leaves nothing unnoticed and unsought wherever he may be. From such natural talents, to which must be added precociousness, physical and mental, everything can be developed. For what is Education but, first and foremost, the recognition and the development of the innate qualities of the person to be educated? As with horses, with men and with children, so it is with the education of the dog. He who knows how to "educate" the qualities of his pupil is a master in his subject."

This therefore brings us to the question:

Is the Total GSD a dog for you?

The answer to that question is actually the question... are you the right person for a Total GSD?

At Zwinger vom Bhairav we breed GSD's that can work and must work. By this I mean that our dogs have all the necessary genetic hardwiring that would impell them towards an irrepressible zest, curiosity and active interaction with their world. "Their world" comprising you, your family, your possessions and your territory. Their loyalty to their world will be unsurpassed BUT BY THAT SAME TOKEN they will demand the same loyalty from you.

A vom Bhairav shepherd is not a companion to be satisfied with an absent-minded pat on the head when you return home, after which it will seek the contentment of the couch until you choose to pay attention to it. Our dogs need to be engaged by you the leader and if this is not forthcoming from you, they will then seek to engage themselves with the same zest and energy they bring to all interactions... except that now their attention is on the arm or leg of a choice furniture which they will proceed to reduce to an elemental state.

But that does not mean that our dogs are creatures of uncontrolled Tasmanian devil energy that hold you and your possessions at ransom unless their demands are fulfilled. Quite the contrary they will demand leadership from you and when that is provided they will be the most tractable of all creatures surpassing even your children in this respect. But it is for you to provide this leadership at all times.

Obviously this requires a special kind of owner. Someone who is willing to make an investment and a committment to training themselves and their dog in the art of working sports, be it competitive obedience, agility, tracking, or schutzhund.

Which is the single biggest reason that at Zwinger vom Bhairav aus Rostrotberg we generally create breedings for pre-selected buyers. We do not breed and then go looking for buyers.

Both our dogs and the people who own our dogs are unique!