Although Canto vd Wienerau died young and sired relatively few litters, due to his remarkable arrogance, he is still considered one of the three most important dogs that shaped the modern German Shepherd.
Canto was born on September 17, 1968 and was fathered by Hein vom Konigsbruch from Jalk v. Fohlenbrunnen daughter Liane von der Wienerau.
It is interesting to examine their pedigree, as this may provide a clue to their exceptional arrogance. Despite having produced only a limited number of offspring during the short time they were in the stallion, a large proportion of these received the high classification of Korklasse 1. Six of these animals were VA in Germany. He also sired two American champions.
Canto’s father, “Hein v. Konigsbruch”, born March 10, 1965, was a very interesting dog for several reasons. The most important thing is why Walter Martin decided to use him as a stallion for his Canto’s Dam, his excellent bitch, Liane von der Wienerau, an exceptionally well bred V bitch.
Although Hein’s Koer report was satisfactory, he certainly did not have a very illustrious show career in Germany. In 1968 he was placed in a relatively low position of SG 7 in the men’s Open Class under Dr. Funk. In 1969 he did not do better with Dr. Rummel, being rated only G due to his lack of ability to work.
His report “Koer” describes him as a large, upright animal with harmonious lines, good angulation, ideal rear line, and ground-covering gait. He also referred to his temperament as healthy. However, his fighting spirit “kampftrieb” was described as “vorhanden”, present rather than pronounced.
Also, it hadn’t sired many litters before Walter Martin decided to use it.
Why then did Walter Martin decide to use it instead of more popular and proven animals that had already proven their ability in the ring and also their arrogance?
I think the answer to this is that Walter Martin was a visionary with an extraordinary eye for dogs. Hein represented a deviation from the mostly square dogs of the time, with limited rear angulation. Hein had an excessive angle compared to many of the leading dogs of the time. He was a very glamorous dog and Martin recognized the qualities he had to offer.
Plus, he knew Hein’s pedigree. His father “Fix zu den Sieben Faulen was a very good dog as the father of” Fix “,” Asslan vom Maiweg “. I remember seeing” Asslan “in Germany and was impressed with his beautiful clean lines and – which was unusual in time – his very good rump Also, “Asslan’s” father, “Alf vom Walddorf – Emst was an exceptionally good dog, who was also a very dominant father.
Walter Martin was clearly aware of the qualities of “Alf” and, taking what some people might have considered a gamble, felt that in Hein he could perpetuate the fine qualities that “Alf” possessed.
I remember seeing “Alf”, who was ten years old at the time, at the home of his owner, Walter Lueg, and was very impressed with this extraordinary animal. Not only was he a very handsome dog, even at 10 years old, he also had an outstanding temperament, bold but friendly.
Alf’s upbringing reflected the successful combination of Rolf v. Osnabruckerland and Axel vd Deininghauserheide. His father was Rolf and his mother, Elga vom Villosahaus, was a daughter of Axel.
Walter Martin must have considered that by raising his dog Liane he would not have to worry about temperament problems. Liane was the daughter of an exceptionally good dog, Jalk v. Fohlenbrunne, who also had a very good-tempered background. Liane’s mother “Dixie vd Wienerau” was the daughter of VA dog “Arno vom Haus Schwingel”
Furthermore, Liane was one of an exceptionally good litter. His litter sister Landa v. Wienerau became a Siegerin, and a litter brother, “Lido”, was also an exceptional specimen, a very domineering father with a very strong temperament.
Hein was exported to Mrs Egger’s Tadellos kennels in Great Britain at the age of 5, where he had reasonable success in the show ring, earning two CCs. It also spawned some good deeds in England.
The best evaluation of Hein v. The Konigsbruch temperament was made by my good friend Percy Elliott in his book “The Complete German Shepherd”. This is what Percy Elliott wrote: “Hein had little capacity for work and for this reason he was demoted to good on the 1969 Sieger Show.” He wasn’t shy, just a normal dog friendly and satisfying enough, if not overly so, he was asked … “
I can agree with this assessment. Many years ago I imported a young son Hein from Mrs. Egger. My dog was a very affectionate, friendly, good-natured dog, but somewhat lacking in protective instinct; an ideal family pet.
Singing was described as a medium-sized (64cm) and moderately strong dog with excellent proportions. His front angulation was very good and the rear angulation was marked. Special mention was made of his long and very well placed rump, a characteristic that he transmitted to many of his offspring. Negative characteristics included a head that lacked masculinity and also lacked strong pigment. There was also a clear tendency towards loose hocks that was particularly noticeable when he was a young dog.
When he was a young dog, he ranked fourth – SG 4 in the junior class at the Sieger Show in 1971, he was V.1 in the open dog class.
His temperament was not as bold as one would have liked, and in this sense he was more like his father than his mother. It should also be mentioned that Canto is considered the first known hemophiliac in the breed. This was not discovered until later when it was discovered that his daughters began to produce affected males.
Although he died at the young age of four, he produced a large number of exceptionally good dogs.
The very important Canto sons whose names appear in the pedigrees of a large number of today’s top winners are as follows. Frei v. Holtkamper See, Canto Arminius and, to a lesser extent, Argus Klamme.
Frei V. Holtkamper See was sired by Song of Iris v. Sudfeld, a female dog whose offspring reflected the valuable influence of Vello zu den Sieben Faulen. Frei was the most successful of Canto’s progeny with 5 VA progeny, one of which, Zorro v. Haus Beck – VA in 1981 – produced the very important Lasso v. Wiederbrucher land.
Lasso v. Wiederbrucherland, in turn, produced the exceptionally successful sire, “Fedor v. Arminius”, which was VA in 1987. Fedor’s name is found in the pedigrees of a large number of winning animals, in many cases through the important son by VA Fedor, Mark v. Beck House.
Mark has proven to be one of the most important bulls in recent years and is the sire, among many others, of Sieger Kimon Dan Alhedys Hoeve.
Kimon is the father of VA classified “Karly v. Arminius”. Karly “has also proven to be an exceptionally good parent and produced the VA” Jello Michelstadter Rathaus “animal, an important parent in its own right.
Canto v. Arminius the other very important Canto v. Wienerau’s son was Sieger in 1978 when the title “Sieger” was reintroduced after being discontinued since 1973.
Canto was an exceptionally good engine. When I saw him on the Sieger show for the first time, I was struck by the fluidity and naturalness of his gait. Although he produced better daughters than sons, he produced a very good animal in Sonny v. Badener Land, who in turn produced Reserve Sieger to Uran – Tell v. Gross sand.
Her litter sister Tina was Siegerin.
Tell produced the Sieger stunt double “Fanto v. Hirschel” – 1990 and 1991 and also his litter brother, ‘Frei v. Hirschel, “who was also an important father in his own right, producing very strong tempers.
The sound “Frei v. Hirschel”, Friend v. Belgier is considered by knowledgeable judges as an ideal source of excellent temperaments. He is the sire of several very good dogs who have done well at Sieger shows, including the highly respected Italian-bred VA animal “Quartz v. Templari.”
Canto Arminius’ litter brother, Caesar v. Arminius, was also an important Canto v. Wienerau sound. Considered by many to have a stronger temperament than his litter brother, he was the father of Dingo v. Haus Gero, Sieger in 1982.
Dingo was an exceptionally good engine with a spectacular ride. Although widely used at first, and the sire of 4 VA animals, Dingo was not later favored by German breeders, as he was deemed to produce too many animals whose hips were suspect.
Argus against Klammle.
Argus was sired by Song of Zilly v. Klammle, who was later exported to America where she became Champion. Argus was known to be a dog of excellent character.
The bitch I imported, Fara v. Bad Boll, son of Lasso di Val sole, was daughter of Argus. He also inherited the same firm and confident temperament as his Sire.
Argus’s influence continued mainly through his excellent son Argus v. Aducht who is represented in animals sired by Manto Overdinger Land and Miro Holtkamper See.
It is clear that Canto v. Wienerau’s influence through his sons and daughters has left an indelible mark on the breed. It can truly be considered one of the three pillars of the modern German Shepherd.