Wyn Strickland and other GSD legends - Page 3

I would consider Harlan Gibbs, Kragspoint,  to have been a legend in the breed. He was an AKC judge, imported some very well known dogs from Germany in the 60's. His best known dogs probably were CH. Brandy Wine's Fels and CH. Kragspoint X-Cent owned by Dan Smith,  Darby Dan.

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=1351476-kragspoints-xcent

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=1850271-brandywines-fels
 

After seeing Gustav's question in the other thread but not until after it had been locked, I PM'd him what Wyn told me, when I contacted her to talk about getting another Wynthea pup as my first one was in her 12th year, as to why she switched her breeding program over to the WGSLs. I'll hold off on responding to that question here, then, as he already has my response, and I don't yet know what she told him on the subject.

As for someone's question about whether Strickland could be listen and 'speak' to dogs in that uncanny way some people are lucky enough to have been born with, in short, I'd have to say she did, from my experience with and observations of her. Wyn was a TINY woman, with some of her male GSDs surely equalling or even exceeding her own weight, so she sure couldn't rely on brute force or heavy compulsion to achieve what she did with the dogs she titled. Wyn learned the finer points of formalized obedience training as a student of Blanche Saunders, one of the people responsible the establishment of obedience trials in the US, but she came to it with a natural affinity with dogs, and the ability to explain to them what was wanted in a way they readily understood.

Now hexa and Gustav have me very curious.  What reason(s) did she give?

I have responded to Hexe, she told us exactly the same thing verbatim, which is not surprising because she was candid and forthright in her opinions based upon incredible accomplishment. She was an expert in the breed, training, and in breeding, based on knowledge, experience, and that uncanny ability to read and communicate with dogs on a higher level. She was a giant in the breed, for the betterment of the breed,imo.

Gustav, are there any breeders/trainers who you felt had/have an impact on the working dog side of the breed? Thanks.

Are the Wynthea dogs still present in modern pedigrees? I confess that I have  her book (actually several in different editions) and it has always been my favorite...I did a search a couple years ago to locate Wynthea bred dogs but could not find any. Did I not look in the right places or did she not pass her program on to another breeder to maintain? I will admit that I absolutely adored the dogs she bred from looking at pictures and accomplishments....In fact, that is the EXACT type I seek today to no avail....Her dogs had beauty, type, and the perfect conformation of balance and moderation that I can't find out there right now. Granted, I know nothing about the health or temperament of her dogs. Anyone know anyone that maintained her bloodlines?

Gustav and Hexe..what did she say!!! I bet health reasons. Did she have success with the ASL X German crosses as you would think she would? Did she cut out all her early  Wynthea dogs in breeding and only use GSL? Was the GSL a different "type" then because I can't see the modern type holding up to her level of perfromance expectations....

Please continue with the discussion as it is awesome to talk about these legendary breeders!!

Sarah

Smiley, I think Wynn's last litter was around 2010. She had someone living with her and helping out with the dogs at the time. I can't remember the name, but you might want to contact Romaine Edwards at edwardsbob@aol.com. I believe she had one of the last dogs Wynn bred and served as VP of Wynn's club, Diamond State. I'm not sure if this email address is still active. She would know how many of today's dogs have Wynthea in their pedigrees.

Ok, thanks, Blitzen!!! :-)

Blitzen, I know plenty of breeders that are breeding good sound GS that are capable of working. I have helped many many folks acquire fine representatives of the breed. For me it has nothing to do with working lines, good breeders breed dogs that can work at the many varied utilities that this breed has excelled at. Not good breeders breed dogs that are incapable of working because of health, temperament, structure or any combination of these things. I like any GS or breeder that is breeding consistently utility dogs, I don't have a line I like or color I like; I promote good representatives of the breed based on them being " capable" of good work, health and structure. I also shy away from or shun breeders who are creating dogs that don't represent these values in their breeding programs. There are some really good breeders out there for sure, there are also some really crappy breeders who are given cover by those that don't value the essence of the dog, but rather place their likes over completeness. 

So with that in mind, I consider Strickland, Ernie Loeb, Paul Hombach, Gerd Dexel, Karl Fuller, Connie Beckhart, as folks from the past that had great influence for good, and in today's world there are many many I could name, but I would inevitably leave out some if I started. Unfortunately, there are so many followers of fads breeding that they outweigh the good breeders,imo.

I thought maybe there was someone who helped you get your start in your current venue who  you would like to tell us about. I really hesitated to use the term "working" dogs, but couldn't come up with anything anymore descriptive that would indicate I was asking about dogs that are working in LE. Stupid question in retrospect. Maybe I should have just said LE K-9s?

I  used to show under Loeb. He was a pretty scary judge, not very jovial with the exhibitors and a bit rough, heavy handed with the dogs. After I was in dogs for a while I came to understand how important he was to the GSD breed.