As you can see the impact on the breed's harlequin development was significient, each of the dogs listed above would make a worthy case study in themselves; as most, if not all have produced several champion descentants and dynasties themselves. And we will be studying a few of them in other case studies.

In the analysis of Eick Imperial VDH/DDC52656, (Ch. B.S. '69/70/71, Ch. Sw.S. '69/70, Lux. Ch.'69/70; Int., Ger. Ch.)let us first state the obvious; from the examination of his 4 generation pedigree: he is the product of two inbred dogs. His dam Astrid von der Aschenburg VDH/DDC41663 is the product of a father/daughter breeding. Eick's sire Ch.BS'65/66, Ger. Ch. Brilliant von Ballerhaus VDH/DDC46958 is the product of first cousins (a form of inbreeding or tight linebreeding depending on your definition).

Jenni von der Albersloher Hoehe VDH/DDC46761 was out of Lady von der Kreuzschanze VDH/DDC43816 a harlequiin of noteworthy ancestry herself.

Lady's sire was the excellent producer Fant von der Kreuzschanze VDH/DDC41531 a harlequin, the son of Ch. B.S.'54 Ch. Rux-Conny von St. Magn-Obertraubling VDH/DDC39163(harlequiin) and Centa von der Krezschanze VDH/DDC39761 (harlequin).

Fant von der Kreuzschanze VDH/DDC41531 was the sire of: Ch. B.S.'59 Jagla von der Stadt Hamburg VDH/DDC43554, Ch. B.S.'61 Jasmine von der Stadt Hamburg VDH/DDC 43555 and the great producer Marko von der Krezschanze VDH/DDC44107{the second dog of this name from the Kreuzschanze kennel}, also Am. BIS Ch. Ulf von Schloss Dellwig; all of them producers of many generations of champion progeny. Fant was not of top show quality himself, he was somewhat too straight in front and rear and had a slightly roached back; but, in spite of his shortcomings was put to some excellent females possibly because of his pedigree.

Fant's dam Centa von der Kreuzschanze VDH/DDC39761 a harlequin daughter of Ital. Ch. Visko von Muench hausen VDH/DDC37254 and Diva von der Horst VDH/DDC35844. Diva's sire was the famous Ger. Ch. Tantalus von der KreuzschanzeVDH/DDC33399 and her dam Senta von der Kreuzschanze VDH/DDC32853 a black of harlequin breeding. Diva is the product of a half brother/sister breeding incorporating the finest von der Kreuzschanze stock of the time.

Diva's maternal grand sire Ingo von Stolzenburg VDH/DDC29961 carries in his pedigree German Sieger '35 Pankgraf Borussia VDH/DDC21198, German Sieger'30 Dolf St Magn VDH/DDC16431, German Sieger '26 Harras Sauer VDH/DDC7526 and line bred on Holland Sieger '30 Jagla Moguntia VDH/DDC15506 (the son of German Sieger '27/28 Dolf von der Saalburg VDH/DDC8281 (brindle).

Holl. Sgr.'30 Jagla Moguntia VDH/DDC15506 in his four generation pedigree carries: German Sieger'12 Primus von der Rheinschanze VDH/DDC2098 (fawn), Ger. Ch. Tantalus von Sonnenberg VDH/DDC3437 (fawn), Ger. Ch. Thyla von Weisenau VDH/DDC2561 (brindle), German Sieger '25/27 Bosko von der Saalburg [the sire of German Sieger'27/28 Dolf, German Siegerin'27, Am. Ch. Etfa and Holland Sieger'27 Elch Edler von der Saalburg], German Sieger'20 Famulus Hansa VDH/DDC3367 (brindle), Ger. Ch. Zeus (Flocke) von Wilzhelden VDH/DDC2906 (brindle), German Sieger'21 Prinz Fuchs VDH/DDC3733 (harlequin), German Sieger'27 Ador von Amalienborg VDH/DDC6629 (harlequin), German Siegerin'20 Hero (sperberg) VDH/DDC3650 (harlequin) and German Siegerin'27 Christa Orplid VDH/DDC4891 (harlequin).

Diva's double grand dam: Giesa vom Grugpark VDH/DDC28450 produced Ger. Ch. Tantalus von der Krezschanze VDH/DDC3339 (Diva's sire) who has also an impressive list of champion descendants, his sire was Graf von St. Anna, also a descendant of Holland Sieger'30 Jagla Moguntia VDH/DDC15506. Therefore Diva von der Horst VDH/DDC35844 is not only inbred but carries some of the finest dogs in German history doubled up into her gene pool.

Centa von der Kreuzschanze VDH/DDC39761, as said earlier was sired by Ital. Ch. Visko von Muenchhausen VDH/DDC37254. Visko's litter mates Veit VDH/DDC37253 and Varus VDH/DDC37252 were also prolific sires in their own right and we will run into Veit VDH/DDC37253 later in this analysis.

Ital.Ch. Visko von Muenchhausen VDH/DDC37252 was inbred on the "K" litter von Muenchhausen. The dam German Siegerin '48/49/50 Karin von Muenchhausen VDH/DDC33784 was probably the top winning female Great Dane in German breed history. She was undefeated in a four year show career, even while producing the "V" and "R" litters von Muenchhausen. A tall bitch for the time, with great fawn featurers of head, neck, level topline and great angulation. She was inbred on Ingo von Stolzenburg VDH/DDC29961(3;2), and line bred on World Sieger '33, Reich Sieger '33 Int. Ch. Henry v Urbachriesen VDH/DDC21377 (4;5,5,5,5), [the son of Holl. Sgr'30 Jagla Moguntia] and Henry's son Riech Sieger '38 Furst v Urbachriesen VDH/DDC27234 (3;4,4,4).

To produce the "V" litter Karin was bred to her nephew Bento vom Hardenberger Schloss VDH/DDC35288, the son of Kant von Muenchhausen VDH/DDC33782 (Karin's litter brother). Bento's dam: Elite von Muenchhausen VDH/DDC32619 is the full sister to his sires dam: Candida von Muenchhausen VDH/DDC32291. In the four generation pedigree of Visko VDH/DDC37254 we see such inbreeding that the genetic makeup of Visko is practically limited to descendants of Holland Sieger '30 Jagla Moguntia and the only real additional lines are practically those of the broods put to him. This is fawn/harlequin cross breeding at it's best for output and most of the continuity of type in the Muenchhausen, Stolzenburg and Kreuzschanze lines can be attributed to these color crosses and the inbreeding on Jagla Moguntia descendants.

Ingo von Stolzenburg VDH/DDC29961 plays a most important role in the breeding of the von Muenchhausens. He and his litter brother Ito VDH/DDC29964 will be seen time after time in this anaylsis when we encounter Muenchhausen, Krezschanze and von St. Anna breeding.

To bring this analysis forward to Centa von der Kreuzschanze VDH/DDC39761 we conclude that she is the genetic equivalent of being the double grand daughter of Holl.Sgr'30 Jagla Moguntia VDH/DDC15506; every great grand parent being inbred and it is all linebreeding or inbreeding on Jagla Moguntia to the point he makes up almost 50% of the eight generation of the pedigree.

Rux-Conny is linebred on Marko von der Kreuzschanze VDH/DDC26825 (the first of this name) (4;4), the son of World Sieger '35, Ch. Reich Sieger'35, Int. Ch. Heinz vom Urbachriesen VDH/DDC21377 (son of Holl.Sgr'30 Jagla Moguntia VDH/DDC15506). Rux-Conny's dam Ch. Bundes Siegerin, Int. Ch. Bianka von Singoldtal VDH/DDC35625 is line bred on the "B" litter von der Bad-Stadt-Schwaeb-Hall: Reich Sieger '36, Int. Ch. Baron VDH/DDC26207 and his brother Bruno VDH/DDC2628 (3;3), these are great great grand sons of again Holl. Sgr.'30 Jagla Moguntia VDH/DDC15506 and Ger. Sgr'27 Ador von Amalienborg VDH/DDC6629 [who is also Jagla's maternal grand sire].

Rux-Conny's sire Am. Ch. Kalandus von St.Magn_Obertraubling VDH/DDC36346, was also the sire of Am. Ch. Brandy's Charm of Lidgewood - one of the foundation dams of Dinro's harlequin dynasty of Champions.

Rux-Conny, besides being the great grand son of: Marko von der Kreuzschanze VDH/DDC26825 [the grand son of Jagla Moguntia], Hanni von St. Anna [grand daughter of Jagla Moguntia], Int. Ch. Banquo Funcken von der Heide [son of Jagla Moguntia], Dalila Funcken von der Heide [a blue great grand daughter of Jagla Moguntia], Ecko vom Forstenriederpark VDH/DDC29611 [great great grand son of Jagla Moguntia and Ger. Sgr'25/27 Bosko von der Saalburg, Jagla's paternal grand sire] and Erika von der Birkenleiten VDH/DDC29889 [great great grand daughter of Jagla Moguntia]. The only great grand parent of Rux-Conny not carrying the line of Jagla Moguntia VDH/DDC15506 is Ilse vom Schloss Mindelburg VDH/DDC2700 who was the daughter of Ger. Ch. Gunther von Schloss Mindelburg VDH/DDC24317, and great grand daughter of German Siegerin '28 Anneliese von Brandholz VDH/DDC13250 and great great grand daughter of Ger. Ch. Landor von Koenegehutte, German Siegerin'29 Fauna von Obertraubling (pre merge with St.Magn) and Ger. Sgr'27 Ador v Amaliengorg [Jagla Moguntia's maternal grand sire].

Ilse certainly brought some new blood into the line of Rux-Conny and what an addition to that already glorious pedigree.

As we conclude this brief summary analysis of Rux-Conny and his progenitors, we again find his gene pool overflowing with descendants of Holland Sieger '30 Jagla Moguntia VDH/DDC15506 and his progenitors.

With that we finish the analysis of Fant von der Kreuzschanze VDH/DDC41531, adding this observation: we have in this sire's line, breeding of the "I" litter von Stolzenburg but both sides of his pedigree exhibits inbreeding and line bred dogs concentrated with bloodlines descended from one great producer and his immediate progenitors Holland Sieger '30 Jagla Moguntia, supported by line breeding and inbreeding on a cast of further great producers. This is the continuous building on various proven champion dynasties that also have been proven to blend well together. Their is no obvious 'fade' breeding here, it consistently goes back to one dog and his grand parents time after time repeatedly for 5 generations.

Zar vom Havelberg OHZB1750 was sired by Ch. Bundes Sieger '59, Ger. Ch. Carlos von St.Magn-Obertraubling VDH/DDC41663, brother of Am. Ch. Christl VDH/DDC41668 and Am., Int. CH. Conny-Rux VDH/DDC41664. All three of these siblings great showmen and potent champion dynasty producers. They were sired by Ch.German Sieger'51 Gunar vom Rottal VDH/DDC34424 out of Dessie von St.Magn_Obertraubling VDH/DDC38203. (note: many of the online pedigree databases error on this litter and have several different parents associated with them, the above is a correction to them all and is accurate according to the VDH/DDC Stud book.)

Dessie was sired by Ch. Swiss Sieger '51/'52 Astor von Singoldtal VDH/DDC34975 and her dam Draga von Inselheim VDH/DDC36288 was out of Astor von Laabertal and Atlas-Patner von Bruckberg VDH/DDC33996. Draga von Inselheim VDH/DDC36288 was again line bred on Holland Sieger '30 Jagla Moguntia thru Int. Ch. Banquo Funcken von der Heide VDH/DDC24047, Marsa Moguntia VDH/DDC24858, Holland Sieger Caesar Krebs VDH/DDC30447, World Sieger '35, Int. Ch. Heinz vom Urbachriesen VDH/DDC21377 and Ilka von St. Anna [in the line breeding of Dolf von Reckenburg, also Caesar Krebs, Cisko Krebs and Leandor von St.Magn-Obertraubling, all full brothers].

Ch. Swiss Sieger '51/52 Astor von Singoldtal VDH/DDC34975 was sired by Zabo von Schloss Mindelburg, the son of Leandor von St.Magn-Obertraubling VDH/DDC31103 [ again bred on Jagla Moguntia and his great grand son Reich Sieger '36, Int. Ch. Baron von der Bad-Stadt-Schwaeb-Hall VDH/DDC26207] and Bella von Gut Tunis VDH/DDC28329 [a grand daughter of Reich Sieger, Int. Ch. Heinz von Urbachriesen VDH/DDC21377 - Jagla Moguntia's son].

Astor's dam Erda von der Raab's-Aue VDH/DDC32972 was the daughter of Ito von Stolzenburg VDH/DDC29964 [brother of Ingo VDH/DDC29961 and Jubel VDH/DDC29963 von Stolzenburg who are examined in the section with the "K" litter von Muenchhausen analysis]. Erda's dam: Diana von Forstenrieder Park VDH/DDC28440 was the daughter of Bruno von der Bad-Stadt-Schwaeb-Hall VDH/DDC26208 [litter brother of Reich Sieger '36, Int. Ch. Baron VDH/DDC26207] and Ria von Glusental VDH/DDC24191 whom we know little other than the name. Ria's ancestry seems of little consequence in light of the background inbreeding of Astor is again the product of Holland Sieger '30 Jagla Moguntia and his many descendants.

To summarize: Carlos (and his siblings) were very intensely line bred on the offspring of:
Holland Sieger '30 Jagla Moguntia VDH/DDC15506,
Ch. Bundes Sgr'27/28 Dolf von der Saalburg
and the Saalburg bloodline. You would expect some continuity of type among this group and it is evident in the phenotype and many titles gathered by this dynasty. This denotes the quality of the intense inbreeding and constant line breeding this background exhibits. We must also note the fine qualities of the broods in this background:
German Siegerin'32/33 Ortrud Borussia VDH/DDC19658,
Ch. Bundes Siegerin, Int. Ch. Bianka von Singoldtal,
German Siegerin'48/49/50 Karin von Muenchhausen,
Holland Siegerin Wodka von der Stadt Hamburg,
German Siegerin'27 Christl Orplid,
German Siegerin'20 Hero (sperberg) and
German Siegerin'28 Anneliese von Brandhof

We see generation after generation of quality dogs bred to and from outstanding quality, title after title in a period of history when only one title per sex per color was given each year.

We will now focus our attention to the sire of Eick Imperial: Ch. Bundes Sieger '65'66, Ger. Ch. Brilliant von Ballerhais VDH/DDC46958 - as was stated in the opening of this case study, he is the product of a linebreeding on Ch. Swis Sieger Whiskey von der Stadt Hamburg VDH/DDC39789 thru two of his sons - full brothers: Brillant von der Stadt Hmburg and Alb vom Estetal (who was a mantle).

Since Brilliant has his own individual case study we will just summaize it here:
In 6 generations of the pedigree of Brilliant we find that he is the product of more breeding on Holland Sieger '30 Jagla Moguntia. With intense breeding on color crossed lines the contribution of the fawn strains are also evident in him and his descendents. His line breeding/inbreeding background made him dominant for many traits desired in the breed and his ability to pass on these traits has made a deep impact on the harlequin breeding of his time and decades after.

A). Selection of the bloodline is important, it should contain inbred dogs to have all the phenotypes desired stabilized for several generations.

B). It helps to have several lines descended from the same ancestry to breed with.

C). You can line breed and inbreed on the stock from established kennels that have the same foundation stock.

D). Brother /Sister breeding can be used to accomplish a goal, even if the pair have not produced top wins; the gene pool and type are more important than titles.

E). Type breeding is a most. This should be the basis for all subsequent matings.

F). Research the background thoroughly and know the stock from every angle to make the best choice for partners.

G). Sometimes the best dog may not be available for breeding, look for littermates that have the same qualities you need.

H). The female lines are very much considered when looking for a stud and look for offspring that meet your critieria.

There is no need to start from scratch in building a great line. Study the pedigree, generation after generation of the breeding behind the dog you have selected to found your kennel line until you begin to see a plan of your own for your breeding future.

This may be inbreeding to bring forward traits back in the background (make sure they are recessives if you hope to bring them forward); or line breeding on a top producer several generations back (by type breeding from his offspring and descendants as seen in your dog's phenotype).

Be firm in your planning. Planning several generations forward and finding individuals that fit into the plan as seen time after time in the pedigrees of the dynasty's phenotype.

Short cuts can be made by color crossing to get a specific group of qualities badly needed in your stock. But, you must plan several generations ahead to remove from the descendants and your gene pool color faults that may bring your reputation into question later. This may mean never allowing others to breed with your line until you know what it carries and have removed the disqualifying fault from the stock (by using test breedings in every generation if necessary). This could be what is occurring when you see nothing but the same kennel line in progenitors of a dams line. We saw 6+ generations of breeding out of the kennel of von der Stadt Hamburg, by maintaining a line through mother - daughter for 6 or more generations.

Understand, if you use a color cross to achieve a type, it is more likely you will need another one (or tight inbreeding) to maintain it. You may consider teaming up with several breeders to establish a plan to cross breed to each other's line to maintain a more open gene pool and type breeding to fix the traits you worked so hard to bring into the line's phenotype.

In establishing a line you need many dogs, and teaming up with a group of breeders may be the only opportunity each of you have to maintain a gene pool large enough to get the job done and retain the type you have developed. This will require openness and honesty among you to share problems encountered and culling of stock to keep the lines of top quality, free of disqualifying faults and health issues common to the breed.