Kolbenguss/Familie Lang- Attn: Sue Anne - Page 1

Sue Anne: You are SO wrong on all counts, and so hateful towards people you obviously DO NOT KNOW you make my hair stand on end. I hardly know where to begin, but begin I shall, because you have managed to inspire such anger in me that I cannot help but do otherwise. Lets' see now... How do I put this tactfully and diplomatically? I know. How 'bout HOW DARE YOU?!!! (yes, I like it... brief, concise, no room for misinterpretation) MY PERSONAL HISTORY WITH THE LANG FAMILY/ZWINGER KOLBENGUSS AND ZWINGER ARKANUM: I was fortunate to have been a guest in the home of Herr and Frau Fredirich Lang on several occasions during the time Herr Lang was still enjoying reasonably good health, and spent many delightful days and nights as the guest of Robert and Birgit & family's home. Christian and Robert Lang, (and Dirk Gabriel) have all taken copious amounts of time away from work and school to come and stay in my home back in California the week before the first Bakersfield USA Sieger Show. They generously shared their time and expert handling abilities, helping me prepare my dogs for the show, then traveling with me to the event and handling a number of dogs in the event itself. Robert traveled to the USA to handle my dogs and my friends’ and customers’ dogs in the '99 USA Sieger Show (and mud festival) in Ohio. Robert, a highly respected handler of V-A dogs in German Sieger Shows, (as is Christian, and was their father) personally handled my dark gray 100% working-lines male, V Pallo vom Arolser Holz, SchH 3, Kkl. 1 to a V-rating at that event, even doing the last-minute grooming himself at every event to insure my dogs’ best presentations. None of these fine gentlemen have ever charged me or expected payment for their time and effort in the show ring or on the training field. Of particular disgust to me is the way you INSULTED Christian and Robert’s father, Fredrich Lang! A finer, friendlier, or more hospitable man I have yet to meet. I have pictures of Herr Lang presenting Pedro Kolbenguss and all of his fine dogs for me in his garden, where his wife served me cake and coffee for hours. I have a drawer full of pictures, letters and hand-annotated Annentafeln sent to me, an American woman with little success in the show ring at the time, offering me fine Kolbenguss dogs of all ages at extremely fair prices. I only wish I had been able to spend MORE time with the senior Langs and could have brought ALL the dogs they offered home with me! I have no doubt whatsoever that if you feel you had a less-than-friendly experience with ANY member of the Lang family it was because you contacted them with an attitude of arrogance and false authority which was recognized as such immediately. You must certainly have offended Herr Lang early in the conversation, setting the tone of any/all further discourse between you to a decidedly NEGATIVE tone. Herr Lang tolerated BS about as well as anyone at his age and level of experience. He was happy to give an ignorant dog-sport enthusiast his time, but understandably reluctant to WASTE it. The current generations of the Lang family are not at all unlike the last. The “apples” have not fallen any farther from the tree than the residences of Herr Lang’s sons have. (It’s a short trip from the family home across town to Robert and Birgit’s kitchen) Why, you might ask, has Sue Anne’s post sparked such vehement prose as published here, in someone who has little time even to read most of the posts on this messageboard, let alone compose such a lengthy response? Keep reading. I am not HALF done yet…

Last time I was in Germany… actually EVERY time I have been in Germany since I met them, and have been a guest of the Lang's, This wonderful family have: *housed me in thier home...WITH MY DOGS! *fed me some of the best meals I have ever had (including a fabulous Rei deer Robert hunted himself and Birgit and Frau Lang SENIOR cooked *helped me learn to speak German well enough to get by on my own *taken me to festivals, private parties, restaurants *hauled myself AND MY DOGS from club to club, often long distances *hauled myself and my dogs to and from the homes of their friends and family, near and far *worked my dogs themselves, BOTH excellent helpers in their own rights *entertained MY friends and clients, with and without me *thrown me a birthday party at a fine dining establishment *allowed me to purchase some of their very best show and breeding stock and most promising young dogs & puppies at prices so far below market value I felt guilty about accepting their offers (and rightly so) *located, arranged meetings with, introduced me to and negotiated prices on MY behalf with other internationally respected breeders & owners so I could purchase some of the best dogs every to leave Germany very reasonably... for ZERO COMMISSION! *transported dogs I had bought and didn't have room for in my van to Frankfurt flughafen to meet me for my flight home. *shared their invaluable insights about the direction of my own breeding program to save me costly and painful mistakes *telephoned distant kennel owners and breeders I expressed a desire to make the aauaintance of and arranged for me to enjoy THEIR hospitality when I traveled there on my own, going so far as to insure someone would be present to translate for me with non-English speakers... whether they knew them well or not. *transported my best show prospect back to Germany with them to train and campaign themselves so my dog would have a better chance at success *tutored me for hundreds of hours in every facet of the sport from bloodlines to Schutzhund training to show conditioning, nutrition, grooming, handling, individual judges' preferences and peculiarities, you name it! *educated me about politics of the SV *arranged for people to handle my dogs (INCLUDING my GRAY WORKING DOG!)in the GERMAN SIEGER SHOW *made me feel at home and welcome every place we went *celebrated with me when my dogs did well *comforted me and made me laugh when we didn't *shared my pain and supported me during periods of personal/domestic grief, physical ill-health and economic disaster *defended me against wicked people *guided me towards good honest people *steered me away from DIShonest people *made me feel a part of their family *NEVER EXPECTED OR WOULD ACCEPT A CENT FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE! If Sue Anne had a negative experience, it was her own fault. She must have behaved deplorably to illicit anything but friendly, polite, intelligent and professional behavior from any member of the Familie Lang, from the oldest patriarch to the youngest great grand-kinder. Shame on her for making the rest of us look like uncivilized primitives. Yours in the Sport and the Breed, Shelley Roecker Strohl Lehighton, PA USA

My personal expereince was very different, based on a simple contact inquiring about availability of dogs to the USA. Nothing near deplorable. I've had jobs from Disc Jockey, and Hotel receptionist in my youth, to High School teacher and Forensic Scientist for my State as an adult. know how to handle a simple inquiry via phone.

Sue-Ann, You based your opinion of a family based on a phone call. This is generally referred to as prejudice, the very same thing you accused the Lang family of. You took your unfounded opinion and attampted to slander the kennel internationally and embaress them all around the world. Fortunately for the Lang family, they have an established reputation with people willing to speak up for them. Your assault on the Lang family has backfired and you look like a fool. Stop digging!

Digging? What sense does that statement make. I reported a factual, personal experience. No slander. I make no guesses about their current thoughts. If it's foolish to report what I did then yes, I'm foolish. I do find it hard to believe anyone else would have ignored such distasteful behavior based on origin of one's home country. I am remorseful to have reported this here for one reason alone. I had no knowledge the person who I talked to on the phone is now deceased. I learned this fact through other's responses. Had I known that I would have kept my experience completely private.

Sue-Ann, had you been "remorseful" you'd have kept father and sons separate. Time does funny things. Memories can become very selective. What he said. What you said. We shall never know. We now know though that you seem to forget some details quickly... suddenly what may have applied to the father back then does not apply to the sons anymore today. Not quite the same sentiment you shared with us in the other thread. Very selective indeed. Let it go Sue-Ann. The only thing distasteful here is someone go has to harp on about something absurd from over a decade ago. Even if it did happen as you said or as you remember - it has no place here, and it has no place anymore now. Long past. Put the shovel away. Let it go.

In talking with Christian Lang, I discovered Friedrich Lang, now deceased, did not have good command of the English language. His comments were unintended. Apologies for bringing this conversation forward. Sue-Ann Best Wishes to Kennel Kolbenguss, and much prosperity to you.

Well, Sue-Ann, my hat is off to you for taking this step and making the call. And for coming back here to update us on the situation. I am sure it was not easy. Thank you.

Thank you DH. Although I didn't call. Christian Lang contacted me directly. Which I greatly appreciate. I am very unhappy to have had this here with the poor man being deceased. I assumed Kolbenguss kennel was the smae people 10 years ago and now. Wrong idea. The poor guy, G*d knows what he thought he was saying to me...probably the exact opposite of what he actually said. I give him credit for trying. I speak only English, so if someone called me on the phone, I can only imagine what they might think I said to them! I give the guy credit. He tried to communicate... Humble Sue-Ann...still with the little American flag and a BIG German flag also flying proudly.

It is nice to read the truth has triumphed, mainly because of the kindness and integrity the Langs have extended to friends and strangers alike. Our comments were completely unsolicited but needed to be said because of the kindness and generosity Robert and Birgit extended to us when we were guests at their beautiful kennel. Hopefully they now know how much they are admired and appreciated. If only the GSD breed had more of their kind the world would be a better place. And kudos to Sue-Ann for your humble apology. Not everyone is gracious enough to extend one when they are wrong! Debbie and Larry in California