SNOWEY RIVER
Home of South Africa's First White Swiss Shepherd Dogs ......from the snow capped mountains of Austria, to the rolling green hills of Kwa-Zulu Natal
HALL of FAME
Ch.
LORD CANTO v.SUTUMER-GRUND
FLYING THE FLAG IN SOUTH AFRICA
for GERMANY
Our
1998 - 2010
Canto has had, and stilll has a remarkable influence on our breed today. Imported in 1998, from Germany - Canto was soon to become a great grandsire and alongside Zac of Villa Bianca can be considered the Grandfather of many South African purebred, registered White Swiss Shepherd dogs today. He was a truly remarkable Shepherd and produced fine offspring. His temperament was superb and ideal, he had a distinct love of children, he was a social butterfly and enjoyed interacting with both dogs and people.He was friendly and charming and had tremendous drive for work. Canto was prepared for IPO1 and much admired for his work - he excelled in all that he learnt, he was a highly intelligent male with a willingness to please. He had a short but successful show career and showed well into his Veteran years, he had optimal conformation and 'viel rasse adel' - written on one of his critiques by a German All Breeds judge. He was a dog that simply HAD IT ALL.....he was my dream male.
Many of his offspring show the same willingness to please and desire to work as their sire as well as easy going and friendly nature, not to mention their absolute beauty and quality.
Canto helped kickstart our breed here in South Africa in big way, and was later to become a Great Grandsire. A big thank you to Ingo and Manuela Bortel for this truly wonderful boy, who will be remembered for all that he has done for our breed. Canto passed on in 2010, a very proud and noble old man, he went out with the love of his life Arizona. My thoughts are often still with him.
MY DREAMCATCHER
He Caught My Dreams And Made Them All Happen For Me
CANTO'S OIL PAINTING IS AN ORIGINAL AND ONE OF MY FAVOURITES
I had the idea to have Canto painted in oils because of his worth as a Great Grandsire, and because of the special place he held in my heart. I went in search of an artist with a special talent - one that had a passion, flare and warmth for their work and one that would capture my boy as he was...........the way his beautiful mane wraps around his neck, the expression of warmth in his eyes and his absolute focus on me. CAROLINE BOSCH did just that ! Caroline was a local artist that had also showcased her art abroad, she was talented and refreshing and put life into her paintings. Caroline invited me to collect the painting, my heart skipped a beat as I raced up the stairs - the front door was open with Caroline standing to one side, smiling proudly from ear to ear as she watched the expression on my face. Canto's painting was propped up in the living room, he looked magnificent and the painting had soaked up his likeness - the tears rolled down my cheeks, oh wow ! she had captured him so well - my boy, every line, his very expression. Thank You Caroline , it was a day I will never forget. Canto's painting now graces my home, and now it is time to share it with the world.
THREE TOP CANTO DAUGHTERS
KUSA NATIONAL WHITE SWISS SHEPHERD DOG 2008
KZN TOP DOG HERDING GROUP WINNER 2007
(advert design : www.showdogs.co.za J.McFarlane)
Ch.Snowey River Gjema-Lee
KUSA National Res.WSSD 2003
SA Top WSSD Bitch 2003
Ch.Snowey River Ivory Star
KUSA National WSSD 2003/2006
Best Puppy In Show 2002
Agility 1, CGC
BREEDERS
A BREEDER MUST HAVE A PASSION AND AN INTENSE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY OF OUR BREED, THEY MUST KNOW THE LEGENDS AND DOGS OF EACH KENNEL BEARING THEIR INDIVIDUAL HALLS OF FAME, ELSE THEY CANNOT GO FORWARD SUCCESSFULLY FOR THEY WILL GO ON BLINDLY INTO THE FUTURE AND KNOW NOT WHAT THEIR GOALS ARE, WHAT TO IMPROVE ON, WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A BLOODLINE..............
Michele van Vuuren
PROUD OF THE HERITAGE OF OUR DOGS