This last week, June 4th and 5th, the Verein für Deutsche Wachtelhund (VDW) held their annual meeting in Dinkelsbühl, Germany, and voted the change their constitution and accept the DWNA-VDW as a member club of the VDW.

The  DWNA will be the first independent club of the VDW.  The VDW was previously structured as a centrally controlled club.  Financial control was at the Board level and their main club at the main level was legally responsible for each German state group.  The acceptance of the DWNA required a member vote and change to their constitution.  Such changes are allowed every two years.  This was one of those years.

Previously, the VDW and JGHV had provided numerous requirements which we had to meet to become a member.  Communication issues and personal agendas both in the States and in Germany held up our acceptance by the VDW and JGHV.  Those are behind us now.

Last Wednesday, I arrived in Germany and met with the VDW Chairman, Vice Chairman and Head Breed Warden.  We discussed and worked out our many issues holding up our acceptance.  We have worked for five years to this end.

On Friday, I was asked to sit in with the VDW Board of Directors and all of the 18 German State Chairman.  This invitation was an honor and surprise to me.  The meeting began at 8:00 AM and ran to 5:00  PM. During this time, Herr Hartnagel (VDW Chairman) asked me to address the Vorstand group, another surprise and shock, as my German is not the best.  At 6:00 PM I was told I had to sit in with the International Wachtelhund group.  Present members were from Austria (Chairing president), Sweden, Luxembourg and USA.  There are numerous other countries who were not present. The VDW Vice Chairman was also present.  Each of us gave statistics on our Wachtelhund populations.

Friday evening was a fest and I went around meeting breeders whom I had imported Wachtelhunds from and others that I have come to know.  I asked each to raise their hand in the morning.  The word was out and they all understood what was going to happen.

On Saturday, the main annual meeting took place.  The first 6 hours were financial updates, membership statistics, Wachtelhund information; birth, health issues, etc.  Changes to the VDW Satzung (Constitution) and Breeding regulations were proposed and voted on.  Again, I was asked to address the complete present membership, some 800 to 900 individuals.  Yes, I was a little nervous and stumble though with my poor German.  The complete membership voted to change their constitution and accept the DWNA as a member organization.

What does this mean fro the DWNA-VDW:   First, we retain our DWNA name and separate financial status.  We will become members of the VDW, register our kennels litter and puppies with the VDW and abide by VDW Breeding and Testing regulations.  No cross breeding with AKC, UKC or CKC registered Wachtelhunds will be allowed.  They will issue us normal Ahnentafels with the VDW, FCI and JGHV logos.  We will also eventually become JGHV members, as a letter is being sent to the JGHV.

This will add legitimacy to our Wachtelhunds and organization, putting us on paar with the VDD-GNA, VDL-GNA, NADKC, CAN-AM DKC and etc.  All requests for VDW registrations from North America, regardless of DWNA member status will go through the DWNA.  Ahnentafels coming to North America will be signed by the the VDW Zuchtwart (Breed Warden) and the DWNA Chairman.

Registrations will begin with our breeding DWs and litters.  Half of our kennels are all ready registered with the VDW and our Board members are currently members.  The remaining membership DWNA membership will be upgraded to VDW members.  Member dues are due in January of each year.  The DWNA will make a one time payment each year for its members.

Litters for the last two years will be submitted to the VDW for inclusion in their breed book. We have been tattooing our DWs to fit into the VDW breed book system.  The DNA profiles that we have been collecting on our breeding  dogs will be provided with each litter registration.

Also the VDW will accept all of our OFA certifications.  All of our breed-able DWs have been certified for elbows and hips by either the VDW or OFA.  For those with OFA certifications, the VDW will accept OFA certifications now.  We need photo copies of your OFA certifications.  In the future, all certifications for elbows and hips will be sent to the VDW.  The DWNA will pay for all registrations and certification, one time at the end of the year.

Since the DWNA has the majority of breed-able Wachtelhunds and kennels in North America, and due to our limited Wachtelhund gene pool, it would behove Wachtelhund other owners in North America who are not DWNA or VDW members to become VDW or DWNA members and register their DWs if they want to breed them Wachtelhunds in the future.  This will require the submission of your UKC registrations.

The VDW will send judges to North America in 2011 and 2012 to help us with our testing and help us develop our own judges.

I will provide more information upon my return to the States after the 18th.

Dave Pepe

The Deutscher Wachtelhund North America, Inc. (DWNA) breed club goal is to maintain the Deutscher Wachtelhund breed as a versatile gun dog, to insure its health, and to start testing our Wachtelhund offspring as they do in Germany.  DWNA Wachtelhund puppies will only be sold to DWNA members.  Prospective buyers must become DWNA members for the life of the dog.  More will be posted about testing as we progress.

Membership fee is $30.00.  We are incorporated in the State of Wisconsin as a non-stock incorporation and have a federal EIN number.

Those wishing to join; please complete the DWNA Membership and Renewal Form (http://www NULL.deutscherwachtelhund NULL.org/DWNA%20Membership%20&%20Renewal%20Application NULL.htm) .