Sanjit kumar Mohanty

German shepherds have always played a big role in Indian Dog Show Scenario. Today the German shepherd as a breed in India is very popular among the dog lovers, breeders as well as shoe enthusiasts. Before independence, keeping a German shepherd in the house used to be luxury and only the elite classes of people like Royals, Landlords or English officers were privileged to keep them.

Post independence, one could see them only in rich and royal families it is really interesting to know that the German shepherd dog then an un recognized breed known as D.S.H in its FATHERLAND (GERMANY) was registered for the first time in India in 1910, by Mr. H.Triefflich who imported dogs from Germany. Till 1919 there was no evidence or registration, but royals and canine lovers kept on importing and the dog which was then known as Alsatian the wolf dog. In the year 1919, Captian P.Banerjee imported a dog named FOCH who was bred by Mr. wright of U.k, and got registered with the INDIAN KENNEL ASSOCIATION, this is the first German Shepherd which was shown in Indian Soil, at the 14th championship show at CALUTTA (KOLKATA) on February 1921.

His Highness the Maharaja of Jind got fascinated with the breed and brought a pair bred by Mrs. E.M Cross, these dogs were born in 1920, from the same litter. Mr, A.A.L. parson got a male named VIKING, all the three dogs were shown at the 7th Mussoorie show held on 23rd September, 1921. At the same time Flt. Lt. bouverie Brine had two bred-in-India dogs.

In 1923 Mr. Frank Colinwood imported a bitch from U.K. During this time a lady named Mrs. Normandy Rodwell imported AIRMANS CHAUKE and AIRMANS THALIA from the U.K. AIRMANS CHAUKE became India’s first G.S.D (then Alsatian) champion in 1925.

The breed was admired and loved in this time. People like MRS.C. CH. VAN DE GRAFF, HIS HIGHNESS RAJA OF POONCH, PRINCE BHADUR SHUMSHARE, CAPT. HEM SHUMSHARE JUNG BAHADUR RANA, AND HIS HIGHESS MAHARAJA OF In 1924 H. H the Maharaja of Patiala imported from Germany, Alf von Eiswerdier and Asta vom Franzosenfoch. Also in 1927, he imported MAX V.D.SECRETAINERIE, BIANKA V.D SECRETAINERIE, and KORA AUS DER KATCHENSTADT. All these dogs were bred by then famous breeder from Germany Mr.SCHWABER who later moved to England. In 1926 H.H Maharaja of Jind imported BALDO V.D SECRETAINERIE.

Then people like Raja Bahadur of Bhadri, Major J.W. Goldsmith, flying officer M.D.Ommanney, Mrs. F.E. Godfrey, Lt.Col.Apple by and Mrs. G.Corlly Smith took interest in development of the breed in India. These eminenet people decided to form an association and founded the Alsatian Club of India in 1928, and the office bearers were:-

President- G.E. G.Jamesson, Executive Committee – Mrs. Lyn Carlisele, Mrs. Culley, Mr.C.A. Hardboard, Prince Bahadur Shumshere, Flt.Lt. M.D. Ommaney, Hon.Secretary and Treasurer- Mrs.M.D.Omaney.

This club presented a cup for the best Alsatian, also Frido V.D SECRETAINERIE, challenge cup for the best Alsatian born in India and many other trophies and awards from 1930-33 in the Indian Kennel Association championship shows. During this period apart from the above mentioned ladies and gentlemen, people like Mr.M.A. K.Fraser from south Mrs.W.Knox Chick from north, Mrs.E.H.Fido, Dr.I.C.Smith and Miss K.H.Whatley took up the breed seriously to popularize the bree in India

Mr. J.W.Goldsmith become the first breeder to breed an Indian – bred champion.

Due to some uncertain reasons the Alsatian club of India of 1928, ceased to function in the early part of 1934.

Again due to efforts of some earlier members and patrons, in February 1934, there was a meeting at the Bombay show and Mr. Lun Carlisle was appointed Hon. Secretary and Treasurer Capt.H.Harrison become the President, members present were, Dr.L.C.Smith, Mrs. H.C.Captain.

Mrs. Lyn Carlisle issued the first pamohlet of the club, in March 1934. Due to some reason, Mrs.Lyn Carlisle was un willing to continue as the Hon.Secretary and Treasurer, so Dr. I.C. Smith took over from her and published the first magazine of the Club in July 1934,

Then the kennel club of India (successor to the Indian kennel association) was approached for the registration and affiliation, on 4th October 1934, K.C.I. gave recognition to the new club. Both capt. Harrison and Dr. I.C.Smith put their efforts to make the club a success story and tried to popularize the breed.

Monthly meetings, discussions and seminars were conducted for members, breeders and fanciers of the breed.

Workshops on the breed standard, training, health related issues were conducted by experts like capt. Harrison, Mr. Grove, Mr. N.C. Bose.

Even Capt. Harrison in one occasion described the anatomical difference between a wolf and an Alsation (gsd), by getting a live wolf in the seminar. Training and obedience classes were a regular feature at the Calcutta maidan.

The first championship show of the club was conducted on the 23rd August of 1936, at Calcutta (kolkata), there were around 54 exhibits present in the show and capt. Harrison judged the show.

In the mean time, the breed was getting very popular in Bengal. When Mrs.Corley Smith left India, most of her dogs were brought by V.D SECRETAINERIE,Mr.G.N. Dey and Mr. N.C.Bose .

Mr. G.N. Dey acquired the great stud dog Ch. Lipper von Grafenstein, and Thea vom Hain. He was a great advocate of the breed with passion, his sudden demise lost an ardent supporter of the breed according to his last wish trophies were created.

Mr. N.C. Bose acquired Golden Eagle of Maresquel, Ella vom Grunnensteg, Basko Von Raventhalshof, Donner vom Billhoff ,Mr, Bose bred very good gsd’s, and produced many show stunners. He definitely contributed for the upliftment of the breed in India.

Mr. S.G. Goho was another fancier who imported FERRO V.D SECRETAINERIE, QUANDEL V.D. SECRETAINERIE, ELLA VON HUMMELLACHE, ERLE VON HUMMELLACHER from GERMANY,and ADVENGER STRATHSHAW OF ESEE FROM AUSTRALLIA.

A few other personalities who took great interest in the bred and club were Raja Bahadur of Rajnagar, Patet Sahep- of Dhenkanal ,Mrs.Gardiner , Capt , Dina Nath , Mrs.Gardinor Capt Dina Nath, Mrs. N.D.Monthe, the Raja Sahep of Rampura and Mrs.Hillwood of concord kennel.

In august 1937 a committee meeting of the club was held to change the bread name from Alsatian from Alsatian (Germen Shepherd Dog) and also to change the name of the club from Alsatian club of India to Alsatian (G.S.D) club of India. The proposals were approved by the committee and were forwarded to the kennel club on the advise of kennel club of London granted the changes on October,1937

With the beginning of second world war office bearers and many member from the forces went for their active service duty, it was not possible to take out the club magazine and much activities from 1941.

But notably some members like Mr.A.K.Bose, Mrs. G.Wicker- Sham, Mr.R.P.Mitter, Mrs. D.F.Mortan, Mr.Ashoke Mukherjee, Mr.B.N. Ghose, Mrs. Chadbourn, Mrs.P.Dendrino, Seth Hari Kishore, Mr.H.Inwood, Lt. col. D.K.Oldrini, Dr.L.C.Smith, Mrs. Taylor, Capt. M.Z.Khan continued to breed and show.

In 1945 Mr.Harrison returned, and the club started activity, Mr. R.P. Mitter took over the charge of secretaryship from Mrs. I.M. Rosetti

Mr. Mitter ran the club till 1948, then he handled over the club to Capt. J.M. Banerjee. The club members and office bearers put their efforts and time to make it a success. With more than two hundred members the club magazine was very successful with informative writing by Mr. Harrison.

In the year 1952 the club got affiliated to the Alsatian league and club of great Britain, and in liu of its affiliation received as a present “bontfield challenge cup” for the best bred in India out of sire and dam imported from great Britain. And alsom a trophy for the best Alsatian imported from U.K., on attaining championship. The club regularly sponsored trophies and prizes, in dog shows all over India.

In the mean time there was ban on importing dogs due to foreign exchange regulation act.

In 1954, the club obtained import license from the government, and six dogs were imported to help the members.

In 1955 the club revised its constitution and rules. The glorious landmark in the history of the club under the able stewardship of R.P.

Mitter was on the 11th December,1960, when the great German authority on the breed, Herr Heinz Ropr, Came and judged the 21st club show at Calcutta. He judged the German Shepherds, and demonstrated to the exhibitors and Indian judges, the qualities to look for in a German shepherd as a working dog.

The silver jubilee show of the Alsatian (GSD) club of india was held at Calcutta. In 1963 at that time the country was under national emergency rule. How – ever the show become very successful, with Mrs. G.M.Barrington as the judge, she was probably one of the worlds greatest living authorities of the breed at that point of time. For the success of this show, a letter of congratulation was received from Raja Saheb of Bhadri, Cdr Harrison, Herr Wener Funk, James Y.Baldwin, German shepherd dog club of America inc.

When Cdr.Harrison left India to settle in Australia, become the parton of German shepherd club of Australia.

In the late 60,s German Shepherds from England and Germany came to India. People like Nawab Ahmed Hussain, Nawab Nazeer Yar Jung, R.P. Mitter, Ashok Mukherjee, Rajasaheb Bhadri, Maharaja of Baria, L.C.Smith, Contreibuted a lot to the growth and popularity of the German Shepherds in the country. Especially, Mr.L.C.Smith from Banglore produced top class dogs under the prefix ‘Sydenberg’ blending bloodiness from Ramacon Swas Buckler and Ajax von haus Dexel. Nawab Nazeer yar jung from Huderabad, with his prefix ‘Painghas’ imported lot of quality German Shepherds from Germany, England and Austraila and bred many obedience and slow champions. Ch, Brando of Blue Blood, Ch. Nara von der Kahlerheide, paighas Jung, lccra Talismann were some of the dogs owned by them.

Then, a German Shepherd enthusiast from southern India, Mr.M.J. Krishna Mohan, owned a beautiful specimen Ch. Meriddanes Dick. The dog win laurels in the show rings and created interest and love for the breed among the GSD fanciers. Mr.Krishna Mohan also imported some quality German Shepherds from top kennels from Germany, but his untimely demise was a great loss to the breed in India.

In the meanwhile, German Shepherd as a breed has become very popular for the Indian dog show ring as well as pet lovers. Mr.D.Krishnamoorthy (Kingsway), Mrs.Y.Hemchandra (Yashbans), Mr.S.P. Mishra (Shivas) Capt.Pupala Ashok (Tanfield) Mr.A.Venkatesan (Sansburg), Karlstad kennel from Kolkatta, Iqbal singh Dhilon (Rising Star), Amritsar,Amar Iqbal Singh Bhinder (Super Star), Mr. C.V. Sudharson (Chennai), Contributed a lot to the study rise in popularity of the GSD as a show and pet dog in India. In early 80’s Mr.S.P. Mishra from Hyderabad imported many dogs from Germany and Produced some good stock, Viz.,Ch.Shivas Zamb, An NRI from the US, Mr. Puri registered a kennel in the name of ‘Bornx Shepherde’ and imported some American champions; Pride vom Cypress, a top American winner Avalon’s Hot Shot created interest and hype for Shepherds in Northern India.
Mr.M.C. Sharma of jhajjar Shepherds came into the picture with one of Indian bred top winning Avalon’s Hot Shot son; he later imported German Shepherds from various top show winning lines in Germany and Contributed to the Gene – Pool of North India with dogs like Till vom haus Beck,Nicos von dr Wanasse, Zender van Noort.

At that time Mrs. Y.Hemachandra (Yashbas) imported lot of German dogs combining the herding and slow lines. One of her famous imported female was Gilka vom Kirschental. She had a got a very beautiful, darkely pigmented male named ‘Kai’ who produced some good offsprings.

This was a time when India saw a large number of German imports in the show rings; the cranze for German bloodiness grew among breeders as well as owners of Shepherds. A gentleman named Mr.Venkatesan with the prefix ‘Snsburg’. Who was into Dobermans earlier, got into German Shepherds; he imported many German dogs and bitches in whelp from famous show lines of that time, viz., Norbert van Noort, Ajax van Noort, Cagney von Grahenheim (Uran son proved to be a top producer), Zambos von der Kahlerheide, Beta von der Kahlerheide, Lana vom haus Mohn, Woyna von der Kahlerheide, Gera van Noort and windened the gene – pool in the country. He won two titles of the Dog of the year with his top wining female. Ch. Tussy von der Kahlerheide, and with his dog Ch. Norbert van Noort. His kennel produced some top dogs and bitches like Sansburg Mark, Snsburg Zito, Sansburg Fiona, Sansburg Dino. His last German import fox vom wildteigrland is still contributing to the German Shephred gene pool in India. Mr. Benkateshan was instrumental in forming the German Shephred Dog Club of India along with Mrs. Rajlaxmi Shephred Dog Club of India. Later on the club was affiliated to W.U.S.V., Germany.

At the same time, a young businessman from Pune, Mr. Sanjay Desai got involved in German Shephred showing and breeding; he got success in shows with his Shephred, Ch. Ago vom Kirschental (Reserve Dog of the year) in Partnerhship with Mrs. Y. Hemchandara. Later, he started showing and breeding under the prefix ‘Dogmatix’. He imported many quality German imports. He brought some of the finest Weinerau bloodline in the country. His famous winners were Orfano Blue lris, Berny Blue lris, Ferris Blue lris, Fia Blue lris, India Blue lirs, Odessa Fidelius, Stobuko Yohanessberg, Dasty von der Weinearu, Uras the Country), Vigor drei Birckenzwinger, 2009 German V-9, lgor von der Rommelsh bach. Mr. Desai’s dog Hero von haus Mohn won the Dog of the year award; he produced numberous champions like Nash of Dogmatix, Urla of Dogmatix, quant of Dogmatix, Fan of Dogmatix, Chikey of Dogmatix, Tasha of Dogmatix and continues to bread quality Shepherds. He is the first breeder from India whose breeding is now being shown in Germeny. He is the present Secretary of the German Shephred Dog Club of India.

Mr. Amar lqbal Singh Bhinder from amrisar, who is very knowledgeable in German Shephreds, bred some on the finest females in the country. He had a beautiful German import bitch called Senta von der Aliusburg, who wsa a Quino Arminius daughter. From his kennel, a bitch named Nathalie of Superstar became a showstopper and won many Best in Show lineups.