Here I am a Dog

Here can I be a Dog

Dr. Frank G. Wörner - Research and education around the Dog

The Eberhard-Trumler-Station "the society for pet research" (GfH e.V.) was founded 1969 by the nobel price winner Konrad Lorenz, Otto König, Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt, Eberhard Trumler.

The founders of this society had set themselves the goal to react against the already recognizable fragmentation in the field of pet research. Discussions and meetings will be held to provide possibilities for the exchange of experiences between science and practice serve.

Main research fields would be the roots of breeds, the demeanors, the studies of the domestication processes, and herewith as well research of the relatives of our pets and old races and "variations of certain locations".

The most important founders member for the dog people was Eberhard Trumler, born in Vienna, (1923 - 1991) and

Eberhard Trumler is surely right mentioned to be the "founder of the German Cynology". He is undisputed considered as one of the best dogs connoisseur. His numerously traded books about dogs made him internationally acquainted.

1979 he has built the Northern Westerwald-region the "pet biological station Wolfswinkel". After his early death

this unique research station was named after him.

The research-work he had begun will be further continued; one of the most important tasks of the "Eberhard Trumler - Station" is the exploration of the social behaviour of dogs, especially their development in the early youth phases.

Our today's domesticated dogs originate nearly exceptless out high breedings. Due to domestication and directed breeding on determined characteristics they show - besides engraving changes in the appearance - not anymore the primordial behaviour patterns of the "wild dogs". many behaviour patterns have changed, or appear in weakened shape, or they aren't shown anymore at all, as they got lost in the devolution of the breeding history.

Hense it follows, that one only through the investigations to primordial and wild-bred-animals the actually and completely "dogs behaving" can be studied.

"our dog breeds and their mongrels can that long be no research objects, as we don't know all about their ancestors", Eberhard Trumler commented those problem.

To avoid, that the behaving of a determined dog breed, or the demeanors of a "wild dog species" ( wolf, jackal, Dingo ) would be investigated, Eberhard Trumler focused on matches of various dog breeds with wild-dog-breeds under determined points of view and scientifical interrogations.

Through that linking up to several inheritance pattern he got so animals provided for the research, who still showed up with the basic pattern of natural dog behaviour.

Most important therefore was to keep the animals in organic grown family associations - the packs - under as far as possible nature-near conditions. Therefore the Eberhard Trumler - Station is very well convenient: at a terrain of 1,2 hectare live in eight rich textured enclosures the dogs all over the year outdoors and - except of feedings - without encroachments by human beings. normally those animals are neither vaccinated nor dewormed. Their robustly health helps them to deal with diseases and parasites without problems.

Much knowledge of the modern Cynology, above all over the individual development and the development of the social structures could be gained herewith by Eberhard Trumler and enabled him to make this available to the public.

For publications by Eberhard Trumler in other languages see books

By the maintainance conditions of the dogs in the safety of an organized social structure the animals develop all their genetic traits and behaviour patterns and the matches and upbringing of the whelps is done under natural conditions as well. They get natural food (slaughter house waste and from time to time whole beefs calves) and due to their life under natural conditions they reach an above-average age. The Hierachy of the family-community lets the animals at best health; and this, though they are over the whole year exposed to the rough weather conditions of the Westerwald-area. Only in emergency cases veterinarian care is received !

In the average there live always over 100 dogs in the enclosures of Wolfswinkel. The best-known pack for dogfriends might be the "pack of the Sheik"; introduced in Eberhard Trumlers book " the year of the dog "with its outstanding photos. In 1993 a movie based on the book was made.

The "sheiks" are hybrids based on wild breeds ( wolf - jackal - Dingo - nordical dogs ), The animals - even if not familiar with humans, show except a natural timidness no fear, so they can get studied in their behaving under optimal conditions.

Furthermore Wolfswinkel offers a large pack of more than 30 pariah dogs from the upland of iran resp. East Anatolia. The arabic - ethiopian dogs, also belonging to the heterogeneously cluster of the pariah dogs, show no large family-associations. Despite being originated in the South with high temperature they bring up their whelps as well in the winter (with ice- and snow-conditions). Pariah dogs are especially interesting for scientifical investigations, as this animals hold an intermediate position between our highly-bred domestic dog breeds and their not domesticated ancestors. For the greater part this are dogs, where scientifically yet not much is known and their existence in their homelands is utterly threatened.

Besides the continuing research and practical work in the enclosure of the " sheik-pack " those pariah dogs are the focus of the scientifical interest at the Eberhard Trumler - Station.

Besides the research tasks the station has an important task as a place of information and exchange of knowledge for scientists, practitioner and serious dog lovers.

Besides weekend- guidances through the station it offers as well information - and further training courses for the members and all dog lovers. International seminars and lectures reports take place at each second weekend in September and it is known that famous science - referees and experienced practitioner are there to share their knowledge from theirs areas of work.