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A Tribute to the German Shepherd Dog

Editor's note: This is the second in a year-long series featured here. Special thanks are extended to the author, Anita 
Rabidou-Milligan, who conceived and executed these articles. Next month: Rigz the police dog. Click here for last month;
Retter, the Search and Rescue Dog from Georgia.

by Anita Rabidou-Milligan
     Although the German Shepherd Dog was bred to be a sheepdog, Max von Stephanitz correctly predicted that
the ways of agricultural living and herding would be replaced by industrialization. To protect the breed he loved, he 
embarked on a mission to promote the versatility of the German Shepherd Dog. Today, no other breed can compare.
From herding to police work, from guide work to family companion, the German Shepherd Dog is the TOTAL dog.

FEBRUARY

Photo courtesy Kathy DiStaso

Above: Kathy DiStaso and Ike

SG Ike vom Dolderbrunnen 3xHGH SchH3 KKLla HSCs HICs HXCs
Herding Dog

Kathy and Ike are one of just two Handler Owner Trained teams
who have earned both the HGH and SchH3 titles

Owner: Kathy DiStaso

Breeder: Manfred Voigt (Germany)

Sire: V Picco von der Teufelskanzel Dam: Bonnie vom Dolderbrunnen DOB:12/24/2001

Our second story goes back to the root of the breed's original function: herding. Kathy DiStaso and Ike work in
the tending style of sheepherding - what the German Shepherd was originally bred for. For those unfamiliar with
the term, tending dogs serve as a "living fence" for the flock, making sure the sheep only graze where they are
supposed to, and bringing the flock back to the sheepfold for water or rest. This may sound antiquated, but it is
still actively practiced in parts of Germany and Europe.


Ike on the narrow graze	Ike moving sheep over a bridge

SG Ike vom Dolderbrunnen 3XHGH SchH3 HSCs HISs HXCs KKL1 was bred by Manfred Voigt in Germany.
Manfred is a well-known professional shepherd and an HGH herding judge. Ike's mother is Bonnie vom
Dolderbrunnen, Vice Champion of National German Herding Competition in 1997. Ike has competed in the
HGH competition in the U.S. three times. He also competes in AKC Herding C Course, where he has earned
HSCs HICS HXCs and is working toward his Herding Championship. In addition to herding, Ike trains and
competes in Schutzhund, where he recently earned his Schutzhund III title. Kathy and Ike are one of only two
Handler Owner Trainer teams in the US who have both the HGH and SchH3 titles.


Moving sheep on a narrow road	Moving sheep on a paved road

   Kathy has been actively herding for ten years. She was trained by another well-known name in herding circles, 
Ulf Kintzel. In addition to Ike, Kathy trains and works with her other German Shepherd, SG Elexa vom Quasliner 
Moor 2XHGH, who was bred by Ulf Kintzel. Elexa also actively trains in Herding and Schutzhund. She achieved 
the HGH title twice at the age of 18 months. Recently, she began competing in AKC Herding C Course (she already has

two legs towards her Started Title). Kathy is hoping to compete in the HGH again next fall as well as begin
her Schutzhund titles next year.


Ike on the move	Ike keeps an eye on the flock

   
     We continue the year of celebrating our wonderful, versatile breed by acknowledging Ike, and all of the other 
German Shepherd Dogs actively working the flocks - their original calling.

Lastly, in acknowledging Herding dogs this month, a tribute goes out to two of Kathy’s previous herding dogs,
Geronimo and Beau, who wait on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

Anita Rabidou-Milligan is a contributing writer for The German Shepherd by Design. She can be reached at anitaar@juno.com.

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