What is a German Zuchtschau??

Literally, 'breed show', the Zuchtschau judges the animals not against each other, but against the breed standard.

Ratings are awarded to each animal based upon how closely they conform to the standard. There are six possible ratings (listed from best to worst):

1. Excellent/Vorzüglich
2. Very Good/Sehr Gut
3. Good/Gut
4. Sufficient/Genügend
5. Disqualified/Disqualifiziert
6. No Rating/Ohne Bewertung

Animals are evaluated quite thoroughly in 17 distinct areas, from Teeth to Tail. Each animal's evaluation takes about 10 - 15 minutes, which includes several times around the ring to judge gait, behavior and general appearance. The judge will periodically command the handler to have the dog halt, in a 'natural stack' - there is no 'table stacking' involved in the Zuchtschau.

Here are the results of our latest Zuchtschau with Reggie and Lilie:

• Date - 24 September, 2005
• Location - Reinholds, PA, USA
• Judge - Herr Wilfried Petersen
• Rating - Sehr gut/Very good

• Date - 27 September, 2003
• Location - Crosswicks, NJ, USA
• Judge - Herr Trumpfheller
• Rating - Vorzüglich/Excellent

All our show dogs are CERF-examined.