Vom Fusse der Eifel: a history of champions and legacy

Introduction

In Rottweiler history there are kennels whose importance is measured not by the number of litters but by the mark they left on the breed. In our view, Vom Fusse der Eifel, the kennel founded by Johannes Schmitz, is one of them. It produced five ADRK Klubsieger and three Klubjugendsieger, as well as several European and national champions, high-level working dogs and dogs whose influence carried on for generations.

Johannes Schmitz and the Vom Fusse der Eifel kennel

Johannes Schmitz began his breeding programme with Cora von der Simonskaul, born at the end of 1970. With her he bred the A and B litters. He later added Carmen vom Liebersbacherhof, born in 1972, who was the dam of the C litter.

Vom Fusse der Eifel continued breeding until at least 1996. In the kennel's early years several of its dogs won top-level titles, although none belonged to Schmitz when they did: all competed under other owners. This gives the story a particular perspective. A breeder's work can reach its fullest expression in dogs that, once bred, continue their careers with their new owners.

The litters and the bloodline behind the success

The pedigrees reveal some of the elements that recur in the origin of the kennel's main champions. In particular, they show the presence of Bulli vom Hungerbühl and of Cora's female line across several generations.

A and B litters. Both come from the mating of Bulli vom Hungerbühl with Cora von der Simonskaul. The pedigree shows 5-5 inbreeding on Arno von der Wanne.

C litter. The result of mating Elko vom Kaiserberg with Carmen vom Liebersbacherhof. This litter shows inbreeding on Hektor vom Burgtobel (4-5) and Wotan vom Filstalstrand (4-4).

I litter. From the mating of Falko von der Tente with Heike vom Fusse der Eifel. Heike was a daughter of Banja vom Fusse der Eifel. This pedigree shows inbreeding on Jalk van den Brantsberg (4-5), Alex vom Dobeltal (5-5), Kuno vom Butzensee (5-4) and Britta vom Schlossberg (5-4).

One name stands out in these three families: Bulli vom Hungerbühl. He sired the A and B litters, was maternal grandsire of the C litter and, through offspring of the B litter, maternal great-grandsire in the line leading to the I litter. It is also notable that Dux vom Hungerbühl, Bulli's full brother, appears on the sire's side of that last litter.

Bulli was one of the most influential dogs in the breed. His record included Gekört bis EZA, Klubsieger in 1971 and 1972, Weltsieger in 1973, International Champion and Klubsieger of Switzerland in 1971 and 1972. Added to his own results was his importance as a stud, visible in the quality and standing of many of his offspring.

The titles: 1974 to 1990

Vom Fusse der Eifel's successes started early and lasted more than fifteen years. These are some of its most outstanding dogs:

Astor vom Fusse der Eifel

Klubjugendsieger in 1974, Europasieger in 1975, International Champion and VPG 3. Owned by Marko Meier.

Andra vom Fusse der Eifel

Klubjugendsieger in 1974 and VPG 1. Owned by Rudolf Rabe.

Axel vom Fusse der Eifel

Klubsieger in 1975, International Champion and VPG 3. In 1979 he placed 17th at the ADRK DM with 271 points. Owned by Peter Schaffrath.

Carlo vom Fusse der Eifel

Klubsieger in 1977. Owned by Horst Lange.

Ilco vom Fusse der Eifel

Gekört bis EZA, Klubjugendsieger in 1985 and Klubsieger in 1987, Bundessieger in 1987, International Champion and IPO 3. Owned by Johann Kempen.

Iwan vom Fusse der Eifel

Gekört bis EZA, Klubsieger and Europasieger in 1986, Europajugendsieger in 1985, FH 1 and SchH 3. In 1987 he placed eighth at the ADRK FH DM with 95 points. Owned by Heinz Esser.

Ingo vom Fusse der Eifel

Gekört bis EZA, Klubsieger in 1990, Europasieger and Bundessieger in 1988, Bundesjugendsieger in 1984 and VPG 3. Owned by Günter Orth.

Taken together, the results show the scale of the kennel's achievements:

• Astor and Andra won both Klubjugendsieger titles in 1974.
• Five Vom Fusse der Eifel dogs were ADRK Klubsieger.
• Three were Klubjugendsieger.
• Ilco was Klubjugendsieger and later Klubsieger.
• All three siblings of the I litter won the Klubsieger title: Iwan in 1986, Ilco in 1987 and Ingo in 1990. These siblings were also gekört bis EZA, under different owners.
• The kennel won three Europasieger titles, two Bundessieger, one Europajugendsieger and one Bundesjugendsieger.

The concentration is particularly remarkable: the A litter produced one Klubsieger and two Klubjugendsieger; the C litter, one Klubsieger; and the I litter, one Klubjugendsieger and three Klubsieger. These are not isolated successes but several generations able to produce competitive dogs in conformation and in working disciplines.

Ingo's legacy and the continuity of the line

Among the Vom Fusse der Eifel dogs, Ingo also stands out for the influence of his offspring. His line had a particularly broad reach and is the one that has most visibly carried through to recent generations.

One of his most important descendants was Greif vom Moritzberg, gekört bis EZA and IPO 3. Greif sired dogs such as Cliff vom Hammerbachtal, himself the sire of several dogs gekört bis EZA, and Maxima vom Hause Anin. Maxima founded a female line that leads to Utz vom Hause Anin, Klubsieger in 2009.

Through Greif and his descendants we find other notable names:

Basko vom Charco

Grandson of Greif through Cliff, was Klubjugendsieger in 2004 and VDH Champion.

Troll vom Hause Anin

Grandson of Greif through the dam's line, was gekört bis EZA, IPO 3 and second at the 2003 ADRK DM with 284 points.

Ambassador von Shambala

Great-grandson of Ingo through the dam's line, via Greif vom Moritzberg and his daughter Cleopatra vom Hammerbachtal.

Massimo von Shambala

Whose pedigree shows 5-5,5 inbreeding on Ingo. Massimo sired, among others, Bombe and Boom vom Cherniy Kumir, dogs with extensive offspring.

Another branch goes through Urbina vom Haus Winter, a daughter of Ingo. Through her we reach Chiwa vom Vilstaler Land, Europajugendsiegerin in 1993 and dam of both 1997 Klubjugendsieger, Muck and Mona vom Vilstaler Land, both great-grandchildren of Ingo through the dam's line. The same family includes Djuke vom Vilstaler Land, Urbina's grandson.

The kennel's influence also reached Spain. In 1984 Castor vom Linnicher Land, a son of Astor owned by Sebastián Méndez, became Spanish Champion. Bruma del Norte, a daughter of Iwan bred by Guillermo Álvarez, was also part of this story.

Conclusion

The history of Vom Fusse der Eifel invites us to look at breeding beyond numbers. Five Klubsieger and three Klubjugendsieger from only three litters are an extraordinary concentration of results. The story begins with a double junior win in 1974, when Astor and Andra were named Klubjugendsieger, and continues across generations up to Ingo's Klubsieger title in 1990.

It also shows the value of a well-established female family. The presence of Cora von der Simonskaul and Bulli vom Hungerbühl at the origin of several generations provides a genealogical thread that helps explain how part of that success was built. Ingo's later influence, above all through Greif vom Moritzberg and other branches, shows that a dog's legacy can last long after his own career.

And one last detail deserves to be remembered: Johannes Schmitz owned none of these dogs when they won their great titles. Their achievements came with other owners, who trusted those dogs and took them into competition. The history of Vom Fusse der Eifel is therefore about the breeder's work, the continuity of a selection and also the collaboration between breeders and owners.

With few litters, a recognisable genealogical base and champions spread over several decades, Vom Fusse der Eifel left a mark that still deserves to be told.