House Divided    July 2026
Throughout history it has been the human experience that even the most prosperous and resilient civilizations—as in long standing Egyptian dynasties or the Roman Empire—eventually come to an end. Yet in time, even if centuries, we arise from the ashes.

Decline and Fall of the
House of von Stephanitz         Feb 2024
As our family became involved in working dogs ln the latter 1970s the police dog and sport community was on the cusp of a three decade golden era of prosperity for the purebred generally, the German Shepherd in particular and for the emerging American Schutzhund movement.

It was a time of optimism and innocence, an era of unbounded enthusiasm and the promise of ever expanding prosperity. Yet in retrospect even then ominous clouds were gathering on distant horizons, foreshadowing precipitous decline.

The Decline in German Sieger Show Entries and Puppy Registrations (2006–2025)
Louis Donald (Austraila)
Some may see this as negative, twist it to suggest it's a blame game, that the subject matter is best kept quiet, out of public view, left to the experts to deal with. However, I see it as a wake-up call, a clear signal for those in charge to act and nothing gets done when it's only discussed in a closed-door room and too often with people who are in part or whole the problem, but don't see it! Continue Reading...

Can Cheating be the Only Way?
In 1963 the Flemish ring sport community, predominantly Belgian Malinois breeders and trainers, was finally driven to the realization that in the long run viable police level working dog breeding, training and deployment is virtually impossible under the oppressive thumb of the FCI establishment, in this case Societe Royale Saint-Hubert the Belgian equivalent of the AKC. In response they finally established their own independent, working oriented governing body, that is the National Verbond der Belgische Kynologen or NVBK. Continue Reading ...

Who Owns the House of von Stephanitz? 
Jan 20, 2021
Over recent decades the rift between ornamental and functional lines in our police breeds, particularly the German Shepherd, has been relentlessly widening.

That this is coming to a crisis can no longer be denied. Those of leadership and influence, of every persuasion, must seek dialog, find a way to close this rift and preserve these breeds and this heritage.

This is our obligation to the founders. Continue Reading...

Canine Discipline in the Animal Rights Era   January 2024
Over more than four decades I have been involved in the breeding, training and international affairs of working line Bouviers des Flandres and as a commentator and historian for our police breeds generally. In the beginning there was no one to question that on occasion serious discipline—the application of appropriate physical correction—is a necessary aspect of dealing with such large, aggressive and powerful dogs. But in recent years a cadre of self-declared animal rights activists has come forth to preach that physical correction of any sort is inherently wrong and unnecessary, that we can live with and train such dogs with "positive motivation" only without any need of physical correction. Continue Reading...

Animal Rights and Wrongs   April 2022
European green party and animal rights activists have for decades been an increasingly serious threat to our working dog culture and heritage. Rather than driven by empathy or concern for animal wellbeing these shrill opportunists—seemingly trapped in empty, sterile lives—seek relevance through the flaunting of a thin veneer of righteous indignation, seeking to inflict unwarranted harm, distress and humiliation on those carrying on traditional canine culture and service. As with all bullies they can never be satisfied, the visceral thrill of oppression—the obliteration of generations of canine heritage—leading only to the insatiable desire for more. Continue Reading...

SV Power Corrupts   February 2022
In less than a generation the German Shepherd has lost preeminence in police service and in the minds and hearts of the German people. That this is cause and effect is beyond question; the pervasive aura of vigor, aggression and virility was from the beginning what had created enthusiasm in the homeland and around the world, generated the universal allure of possessing a police dog. Continue Reading...

Canine Orginazations and Conflicts  
Nov 2021
The purebred dogs, especially the police and military breeds of concern here, have complex histories, convoluted and interrelated organizations and incessant conflict and strife. Discussions involve innumerable acronyms and often obscure, at least to the uninitiated, terminology. This is intended to be a primer, an outline presupposing minimal familiarity and knowledge. Because of the complexity and volatility this is sure to be found wanting, for which reason readers are encouraged to note errors or suggest additions; this simply can never go beyond the work in progress stage. Continue Reading...

The American Working Dog Movement   September, 2016
Americans are on the whole proud of their heritage, the revolution which broke free of an oppressive European aristocracy and established a government of the people rather than a hereditary privileged class. This was a precursor to the French Revolution, which in time had the same outcome there, that is the opening up of opportunity to all men regardless of the circumstances of their birth. Reality is of course more nuanced, the down side was that these opportunities were limited to white, property owning males; indeed our nation was founded on slavery which preordained a century of strife culminating in a great civil war to complete our revolution. Continue Reading...