I have always admired the working line German Shepherd. In 2019 I found myself in a position with an immediate need to protect my family after discovering a trespasser on my property while my teenage daughter was home alone. This proved to be a pivotal point in our lives as the decision was made to no longer admire this work horse of a breed from afar. It was now necessary to acquire a trained personal protection dog.

After researching and educating myself further on the breed I made a few calls looking for the perfect prospect = one who could also adjust to home life, not having to be kenneled. After all, what good is a personal protection dog locked away in a kennel? I located a trainer, Bob Manning, who has trained law enforcement dogs (both single and dual purpose), handled working dogs overseas, personal protection, and companion dogs. Bob had recently acquired a Czech import, Jasper z Atarova Sadu, who was looking for a job. After meeting Jasper there was no doubt that he was the epitome of a well balanced working line Czech bred GSD. During the handlers course I became even more enamored with the breed – their intelligence, courage and versatility is second to none. I knew right then I wanted to take this further and began educating myself again, this time on training, handling, and breeding.

I began training with Bob regularly and decided to compete in Protection Sports Association (PSA) to further my education and skills. This meant I now had to learn to be a competitive handler. We worked together countless hours, in the freezing cold, monsoon like downpours, and bone-chilling wind in abandoned parking lots, at law enforcement training, you name it, we were training to get ME ready for a Protection Dog Certificate in less than six weeks because of course, Jasper already had all the knowledge and skills.

I successfully took the field and earned Jasper’s PDC in February 2020.

I next took the field for Level 1 however, Jasper proved to require a more experienced handler on a sport field making his own decision to not “out” within the 5 seconds allowed when asked in two different trials. At this point I was faced with a decision – end his sport career or ask Bob to take over as handler on the sport field. Bob & Jasper participated in a club trial earning 1^st place PSA 1 With Distinction and With Highest Distinction on all protection scenarios in late 2022. The duo will take the field in 2023 for the PSA 2.

Knowing I was fully committed to the conservation of the working line GSD I acquired two females – Darla vom Wulfrick (Ruby), and DaNiece deJasper von der Alten Garde. Ruby has been with me since 8 weeks of age. She is the daughter of Ivon von der Staatsmacht, IPO3. Ruby and I earned our PDC with a score of 140.5 / 155 in early 2023.

DaNiece is currently 9 months old and being raised by Bob. She is the niece of Jasper, and great-granddaughter of Kato Aritar Bastet, 1^st place Czech 2013 National Champion.

With the help and guidance of some of the top working line breeders, and trainers in the industry Vom Alten Grenzschutz was formed and as the old saying goes, “the rest is history”.