Horand von Grafrath (January 1, 1895 – after 1899) (formerly Hektor Linksrhein) was the first German Shepherd Dog and the genetic basis for modern German Shepherds.
Horand was born on January 1, 1895, in Frankfurt Germany. Bred by Friedrich Sparwasser of Sparwasser Kennels, he was born from the same litter as Sparwasser's famous dog, Luchs. Then named Hektor, Horand was a Thuringian shepherd dog, from Thuringia, a state in Germany known for its dogs bred for a greyish, wolf-like appearance and tall, erect ears. Horand von Grafrath was sired (fathered) by Kastor (1), the son of the championship dog Pollux (1), and whelped by Lene (Sparwasser). Horand had a grey-yellow sable coat.[1]
Sold by Sparwasser to an unnamed third party, Horand was purchased by Anton Eiselen of Eiselen Kennels. Eiselen brought Horand to a dog show also attended by Max von Stephanitz, who purchased the dog for his breeding program, which sought to combine the best characteristics of the Thuringian shepherds from the North with the Wurtemberg shepherds of the South. Horand was the first dog to be officially registered as a new breed called the German Shepherd Dog (registration number SZ1). Horand was not the only dog to sire pups that were to become the breed known as German Shepherds, because many dogs were registered at that time, including his brother Luchs (SZ155), his parents (SZ153 and SZ156), and paternal grandparents (SZ151 and SZ154). However, Horand's heirs went on to dominate in dog shows and championships, and nearly all modern German Shepherds can either directly or indirectly trace their lineage back to him.[2]
History
Throughout history dogs were kept for the purposes of working a specific task, and one of the most common tasks was herding sheep. Through selective breeding, dogs were bred to increase the traits that were beneficial for performing their specific task, which led to the species becoming one of the most diverse to ever exist. European breeders paid little attention to the dog's appearance until the late 16th century, when people in aristocracy began keeping them as pets. By the Victorian age of the 19th century, pet dogs had become commonplace in addition to working dogs, and dog shows and competitions had become popular events.[3]
The sheep dogs in Germany were just as diverse; from lanky, curly-haired dogs to burly, floppy-eared dogs. The shepherds of Thuringia preferred to breed their dogs for a wolf-like appearance, with grey coloring, a slender snout, and erect ears.[2] During the late 19th century, people began to create standardized breeds for their countries, and Germany was quick to follow.[4]
A society named the Phylax Society formed in Germany in 1891, with the intention of standardising dog breeds. The society disbanded in 1894, but many of the members continued to exhibit the ideologies promoted by the society. One of these members was Captain Max von Stephanitz, the man now credited with being the father of the German Shepherd Dog.[5] In 1899 while attending a show, von Stephanitz was shown a dog named Hektor Linksrhein. Von Stephanitz was so impressed by Hektor's intelligence, strength and obedience that he purchased the dog for 200 German gold marks.[6] Von Stephanitz disagreed with the Phylax Society's desire to breed dogs for their physical appearance and commercial value, stating that commercial breeders tended to breed "the fancy dog" for monetary gain while neglecting the health and betterment of the breed, and preferred amateur breeders who bred for intelligence and working value.[2] Upon purchasing the dog, he immediately formed the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (Society for German Shepherd Dogs). Von Stephanitz admired the dog for its "obedient fidelity to [its] master."[7] Von Stephanitz changed Hektor's name to Horand von Grafrath and included him as the center-point of the society's breeding programs. The dog was then registered under a new breed registry, thus making Horand von Grafrath the first German Shepherd Dog.[8][5][2]
Many breeders of the time idolized Horand as the goal for what a well-rounded working dog should be.[5]
There have been statements that some of the early pre-German Shepherds were part wolf, although these have been rejected by von Stephanitz, who found such claims unlikely due to the dogs' build, friendly nature, love of children, and obedient characteristics.[2]
Temperament
Horand's temperament reflects the characteristics for which the breed is known. A sensitive dog with an inquisitive and playful nature, and a highly intelligent dog, they can be prone to mischief when bored, but are motivated and energetic with good threat-assessment skills and family bonds. Von Stephanitz described him as:
...a gentleman with a boundless zest for living. Although untrained in his puppyhood, nevertheless obedient to the slightest nod when at his master's side; but when left to himself, the maddest rascal, the wildest ruffian and an incorrigible provoker of strife. Never idle, always on the go, well-disposed to harmless people, but no cringer, mad on children and always in love. What could not have become of such a dog, if we only had at that time military or police service training? His faults were the failings of his upbringing, and never of his stock. He suffered from a suppressed, or better, a superfluity of unemployed energy, for he was in heaven when someone was occupied with him, and then he was the most tractable of dogs.[2]
Breeding
Horand sired many pups. His most celebrated offspring was Hektor von Schwaben, who later produced Heinz von Starkenburg, Beowolf, and Pilot. These three studs were used in later breeding programs; their progeny are thus the ancestors of all modern German Shepherd Dogs.[5]
^First Friend: A History of Dogs and Humans By Katharine Rogers -- iUniverse 2010
^First Friend: A History of Dogs and Humans By Katharine Rogers -- iUniverse 2010
^ abcd. German Shepherds.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-01. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
^ (in German). Der Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde. Archived from the original on 2007-05-06. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
^. Pedigree Database. Archived from the original on 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
^"SZ-1 Horand von Grafrath". German Shepherd Dog Club of America. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
January 08, 2023
horand, grafrath, january, 1895, after, 1899, formerly, hektor, linksrhein, first, german, shepherd, genetic, basis, modern, german, shepherds, circa, 1899other, name, hektor, linksrheinbreedgerman, shepherd, dogsexmalebornhektor, linksrhein, 1895, january, 18. Horand von Grafrath January 1 1895 after 1899 formerly Hektor Linksrhein was the first German Shepherd Dog and the genetic basis for modern German Shepherds Horand von GrafrathHorand von Grafrath circa 1899Other name s Hektor LinksrheinBreedGerman Shepherd DogSexMaleBornHektor Linksrhein 1895 01 01 January 1 1895Frankfurt GermanyOwnerMax von Stephanitz Contents 1 Early life 2 History 3 Temperament 4 Breeding 5 See also 6 ReferencesEarly life EditHorand was born on January 1 1895 in Frankfurt Germany Bred by Friedrich Sparwasser of Sparwasser Kennels he was born from the same litter as Sparwasser s famous dog Luchs Then named Hektor Horand was a Thuringian shepherd dog from Thuringia a state in Germany known for its dogs bred for a greyish wolf like appearance and tall erect ears Horand von Grafrath was sired fathered by Kastor 1 the son of the championship dog Pollux 1 and whelped by Lene Sparwasser Horand had a grey yellow sable coat 1 Sold by Sparwasser to an unnamed third party Horand was purchased by Anton Eiselen of Eiselen Kennels Eiselen brought Horand to a dog show also attended by Max von Stephanitz who purchased the dog for his breeding program which sought to combine the best characteristics of the Thuringian shepherds from the North with the Wurtemberg shepherds of the South Horand was the first dog to be officially registered as a new breed called the German Shepherd Dog registration number SZ1 Horand was not the only dog to sire pups that were to become the breed known as German Shepherds because many dogs were registered at that time including his brother Luchs SZ155 his parents SZ153 and SZ156 and paternal grandparents SZ151 and SZ154 However Horand s heirs went on to dominate in dog shows and championships and nearly all modern German Shepherds can either directly or indirectly trace their lineage back to him 2 History EditThroughout history dogs were kept for the purposes of working a specific task and one of the most common tasks was herding sheep Through selective breeding dogs were bred to increase the traits that were beneficial for performing their specific task which led to the species becoming one of the most diverse to ever exist European breeders paid little attention to the dog s appearance until the late 16th century when people in aristocracy began keeping them as pets By the Victorian age of the 19th century pet dogs had become commonplace in addition to working dogs and dog shows and competitions had become popular events 3 The sheep dogs in Germany were just as diverse from lanky curly haired dogs to burly floppy eared dogs The shepherds of Thuringia preferred to breed their dogs for a wolf like appearance with grey coloring a slender snout and erect ears 2 During the late 19th century people began to create standardized breeds for their countries and Germany was quick to follow 4 A society named the Phylax Society formed in Germany in 1891 with the intention of standardising dog breeds The society disbanded in 1894 but many of the members continued to exhibit the ideologies promoted by the society One of these members was Captain Max von Stephanitz the man now credited with being the father of the German Shepherd Dog 5 In 1899 while attending a show von Stephanitz was shown a dog named Hektor Linksrhein Von Stephanitz was so impressed by Hektor s intelligence strength and obedience that he purchased the dog for 200 German gold marks 6 Von Stephanitz disagreed with the Phylax Society s desire to breed dogs for their physical appearance and commercial value stating that commercial breeders tended to breed the fancy dog for monetary gain while neglecting the health and betterment of the breed and preferred amateur breeders who bred for intelligence and working value 2 Upon purchasing the dog he immediately formed the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde Society for German Shepherd Dogs Von Stephanitz admired the dog for its obedient fidelity to its master 7 Von Stephanitz changed Hektor s name to Horand von Grafrath and included him as the center point of the society s breeding programs The dog was then registered under a new breed registry thus making Horand von Grafrath the first German Shepherd Dog 8 5 2 Many breeders of the time idolized Horand as the goal for what a well rounded working dog should be 5 There have been statements that some of the early pre German Shepherds were part wolf although these have been rejected by von Stephanitz who found such claims unlikely due to the dogs build friendly nature love of children and obedient characteristics 2 Temperament EditHorand s temperament reflects the characteristics for which the breed is known A sensitive dog with an inquisitive and playful nature and a highly intelligent dog they can be prone to mischief when bored but are motivated and energetic with good threat assessment skills and family bonds Von Stephanitz described him as a gentleman with a boundless zest for living Although untrained in his puppyhood nevertheless obedient to the slightest nod when at his master s side but when left to himself the maddest rascal the wildest ruffian and an incorrigible provoker of strife Never idle always on the go well disposed to harmless people but no cringer mad on children and always in love What could not have become of such a dog if we only had at that time military or police service training His faults were the failings of his upbringing and never of his stock He suffered from a suppressed or better a superfluity of unemployed energy for he was in heaven when someone was occupied with him and then he was the most tractable of dogs 2 Breeding EditHorand sired many pups His most celebrated offspring was Hektor von Schwaben who later produced Heinz von Starkenburg Beowolf and Pilot These three studs were used in later breeding programs their progeny are thus the ancestors of all modern German Shepherd Dogs 5 See also EditList of individual dogsReferences Edit Pedigree of Horand 20von 20Grafrath German Shepherd Dog Database Project a b c d e f von Stephanitz Max Schwabacher Joseph 1994 The German Shepherd Dog in Word and Picture Hoflin Publishing Ltd ISBN 978 99932 80 05 7 First Friend A History of Dogs and Humans By Katharine Rogers iUniverse 2010 First Friend A History of Dogs and Humans By Katharine Rogers iUniverse 2010 a b c d History of the German Shepherd Dog German Shepherds com Archived from the original on 2008 06 01 Retrieved 2008 08 02 Eine Idee findet ihre Organisation in German Der Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde Archived from the original on 2007 05 06 Retrieved 2008 08 03 V Horand von Grafrath pedigree information Pedigree Database Archived from the original on 2008 06 23 Retrieved 2008 08 02 SZ 1 Horand von Grafrath German Shepherd Dog Club of America Retrieved 2008 08 02 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Horand von Grafrath amp oldid 1104609714, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
