Abbreviation SV Region served Germany | Headquarters Augsburg Official language German | |
Formation April 22, 1899; 117 years ago (1899-04-22) Founders Max von Stephanitz, Arthur Meyer | ||
The Verein für deutsche Schäferhunde (Society for German Shepherd Dogs), abbreviated as SV, is the dog club founded by Max von Stephanitz and his colleague, Arthur Meyer, in 1899. The SV set forward the standards of the German Shepherd Dog breed.
Contents
History
On the sidelines of a dog show in Karlsruhe in April 1899, von Stephanitz, Meyer, and a number of others decided to form a club for the German Shepherd Dog. On 22 April 1899, the Verein für deutsche Schäferhunde was formally established with its first headquarters in Stuttgart. Von Stephanitz was the Society's first President, and his dog, Hektor Linksrhien (known as Horand von Grafrath) was the first dog entered in the organization's breed registry, the Zuchtbuch für deutsche Schäferhunde, abbreviated as SZ'.
Overcoming old disputes
Von Stephanitz strongly believed that the German Shepherd Dogs' working ability was of the utmost importance and that aesthetics were less important. Thus, in order to avoid the arguments that lead to the disestablishment of an earlier club, the Phylax Society, the SV's first breed standard stipulated, "A pleasing appearance is desirable, but it can not put the dog's working ability into question."
Presidents of the SV
- 1899-1935: Captain Max von Stephanitz
- 1935-1945: Dr Kurt Roesebeck
- 1945-1956: Mr Caspar Katzmair
- 1956-1971: Dr Werner Funk
- 1971-1982: Dr Christoph Rummel
- 1982-1994: Mr Hermann Martin
- 1994-2002: Mr Peter Meßler
- 2002- : Mr Wolfgang Henke
(From: "Die Präsidenten des SV" (in German). OG Viechtach e. V. Retrieved 9 March 2014. )