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Marie Josée Labrousse, Great Danes Master
Interview realised by aniwa, pictures Marie-Josée
Labrousse and RR |
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This little woman is a great lady in the world
of the Great Danes. Her selection is famous on the 5 continents, just like
her judgement as an international judge. |
| Marie Josée Labrousse is an unavoidable person in the
world of the Great Danes. With all the dogs born at her kennel, she can
boast more than 400 champion titles throughout the world. A list of
achievements that very few French breeders can boast of too. She agreed to
answer our questions, and so we get a chance to know better this woman,
who’s seen almost half a century of Great Danes selection. |
Aniwa.com: Tell us about your first steps with
the Great Danes.
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: Well, I actually did my first steps hung at the neck of
a Great Dane! That was the beginning of a story that will never end. My
mother, Mrs Mérat – a name that all those implied in the breed have in mind
– often found me in the middle of a group of Great Danes, like a rugby ball
in the middle of a scrum.
Picture of the German stud Dieter Vom Eimtereck. |
Aniwa.com: Your family being so involved in the
breed influenced you a lot?
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: My family was naturally crucially important. My mother
was the President of the French breed club – the Doggen Club de France – for
more than 30 years. She played a major part for the recognition and love of
the breed in France. My father was a veterinarian, and he shaped me. I could
say I chose my family before becoming involved in the future of the breed.
Picture of the brindle bitch Orore de Terbel, issued from one of
Marie Josée’s first litters, in 1965. |
Aniwa.com: What was the situation of the breed
after WWII?
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: After WWII, there were almost no Great Danes left in
France. My mother had found again a bitch, which she had given before the
war broke out. With this bitch and other imported dogs, she started breeding
again. In the 50’s, I was very impressed by a beautiful bitch (picture
below); Mum had imported her from Germany a few years after… She was the
first Great Dane of mine, and because of her quality, I could only be
tempted to breed myself. She had everything I liked in the breed: she was
more than beautiful, she was really great, with so many qualities, and she
was so harmoniously built. And what was more, she was very clever, far above
average. For instance, she knew how to simulate what I expected from her.
She was truly an exceptional bitch.
She could be winning nowadays. She had won the most prestigious titles. She
had won the titles of French and International Champions in 1955. That’s why
I say that there’s been almost no qualitative improvement in the type for
the last 50 years. There only was a quantitative increase. The name of this
extraordinary bitch was Zinga Von Kuerenberg (Baldur Von Der Burg
Nurnberg x Yrvi Von Kuerenberg), and she can be found in the ascendancy of
all my current fawn and brindle dogs. |
Aniwa: how did you start breeding ?
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: I began breeding in 1964, after I settled at Jumeaux,
in the French region of Auvergne. I was lucky that Zinga, which was then
aged 7, gave birth to a beautiful litter. She gave birth to an excellent
bitch, Lessie, which was just like her mother French and International
Champion. Lessy was also a great reproducer, as she gave birth in 1965 to my
first Bundessieger – Federal German Champion – the dog Ombre de Terbel
(Ch Logos de la Templerie x Ch Lessie de la Templerie). Ombre won the title
in Germany in 1996 and 1968, as well as the title of International Champion.
Terbel was the name of my first kennel, which I gave up after my divorce.
|
 Then
for a period of 6 years, I bred under my mother’s affix, De La Templerie. I
gave my mother Runy, which was her second Bundessiegerin, and I bred the
beautiful and unforgettable Champion Vahiné de la Templerie (Ch Steff de
Tapendiola, a son of d’Ordos de Terbel, half borther of Ombre and Ch Sirène
de la Templerie), the mother of many champions, among which was the famous
stud Phales des Terres de la Rairie, a great dog born in 1979.
Let’s not forget to mention his litter sister Perlane des Terres de la
Rairie, which won the title of World Champion in Dortmund, Germany, in
1981. |
Aniwa.com: Which dogs impressed you at that
time?
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: There were very few beautiful dogs at that time, only a
few exceptional subjects, among which was Zinga Von Kuerenberg. After WWII,
there were beautiful dogs in Germany, among which was the famous line of the
Paladin (Picture of Almont Paladin), which produced many German
Champions. |
Aniwa.com: When did you start breeding under
your current affix, des Terres de la Rairie?
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: Although I started breeding in 1961, and was appointed
judge by the Doggen Club de France the same year, I started with my current
affix only in 1972. Well, only in 1972 , that’s already 30 years ago. (She
laughs.) And I never gave up this name.
Picture of a young blue puppy from the 2001 generation. |
Aniwa.com: Iamos was one of the first major dogs
produced under the affix of the Des Terres de la Rairie?
Marie Josée Labrousse: That’s completely right. Iamos des Terres de
la Rairie was born in 1963, and he was French, European, and Club
Champion, as well as Bundessieger. He was issued from two Danes from the de
la Templerie kennel, Ch Viking (Steff de Tapendiola x Sirene de la Templerie)
and Ch Umbra (Varus Von Harlequin x Sirene de la Templerie). He was also the
father of many great champions, especially in German kennels. But Iamos was
not issued from my first litter, as before him I had had a litter of blue
dogs, from Sacha de la Templerie. |
According to you, what was the period when
French breeding came on the front of the stage?
 Marie Josée
Labrousse: French breeding really began to be of a great quality around
1975. This growth can still be seen today, on a quality level but not on the
quantity. Many reasons can explain this qualitative growth: first of all,
thanks to the importation of beautiful blue dogs from Germany, which brought
obvious qualities to the French selection. For instance Sire Royal,
here in picture, born in 1973, 1975 Bundessieger and French Champion. He had
been imported to France by the Val de l’Amitié Kennel, and he allowed
breeders to do a great job of selection in the blue dogs. |
Another example was Manager des Terres de la Rairie, a fawn dog born in
1976, World Champion in Berne in 1978, which produced excellent descendents.
Particularly in 1979, with two important bitches: the 1982 French and Club
Champion Pales de la Crypte de Loutakri (issued from Naellen de la Templerie),
which was at the origin of the selection Des Petites Vernières. And
Psychose de la Pierre du Roi – here in picture – 1981 French Champion
and 1982 Bundessiegerin.
In the harlequin variety, let’s not forget the stud Rude de la Templerie,
born in 1980, 1982 French and Club Champion, which marked the selection in
this variety. He gave many excellent subjects, among which were many
champions. |
| On the quantitative level, I noticed there was a very
high percentage of “average” dogs. This is still true today. In the 1970’s,
there were around1.500/1.700 births per year. There the births decreased,
and they finally went up again about 4 years ago. Nowadays, there’s still a
great number of puppies, which will display a very average type at the adult
age. |
Aniwa.com: What do you think about the
inter-variety crosses?
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: This is a very controversial topic. When such an
experience is properly realized, carefully thought over and done with top
genitors, it can be advantageous. This is an experience I did in the 80’s.
the best example is that of Phales des Terres de la Rairie, a fawn dog which
I crossed with Lillia du Val d’Amitié, a blue bitch. Indeed, experience
shows that the blue is getting far from the type: is it because blue is a
diluted colour? To keep a beautiful blue type, one has to put back fawn in
the selection every three years, or one loses the original type. But one has
to do those inter-variety crosses only with exceptional dogs. Sire Royal (BS
72 Lucky Von Der Immenburg x BS/WS 71 Deisree Royal Von Der Ordensburg) is a
good example, as he had a black great father with harlequin blood. I myself
did a cross with a blue bitch, Lilya du Val d’Amitié (Ch Sire Royal x Taiga
Royal) and a fawn dog, Phale des Terres de la Rairie: the result of this
cross was Romea des Terres de la Rairie, which was crowned world champion in
Madrid in 1983. Three years later, the same kind of cross gave me
Ultimate des Terres de la Rairie – here in picture – which was
Bundessiegerin in 1985. |
 The
famous harlequin male Kalif von der Rotburg – here in picture – born
in 1970, 1972 Bundessieger, was also issued from a fawn father issued from
fawn, and from a mother with harlequin and black ancestors. Kalif’s father,
Cyrus Aus Dem Budz, won three times the Bundessieger zuchtschau, in 1965, 66
and 69, and was world champion in 1965 as well. Kalif produced remarkable
harlequin dogs; especially in France, at the du Montbas de Valterie Kennel.
Unfortunately, these harlequin dogs issued from inter-variety crosses often
give bad colours. This explains why the Germans have decided to ban them
from breeding, by forbidding their use. The goal of such a cross fawn x
harlequin, is to obtain a more chiselled head, therefore more beautiful and
with more type. |
| Picture below: harlequin dog Ores des Terres de la
Rairie. |
Aniwa.com: what is your favourite colour from
the five existing?
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: I always say that when a dog is good, you no longer see
its colour. Head study of O’Neal des Terres de la Rairie. But I must say
that I’ve always had a preference for fawn and brindle, as the type remains
more marked and the heads are more chiselled. What’s more, they are the
colours which allow to improve the other colours.
Yet the harlequin individuals remain fascinating dogs in a Great Danes
kennel. When there is a cross you particularly expect, the moment of the
whelping is very stressful, as you always wonder what the result is going to
be. You can have a litter with all the puppies displaying a “false colour”,
merle, white and grey and white. There are also harlequin dogs, in which the
white has taken over all the body. |
Aniwa.com: What do you think of the Boston coat,
which is admitted, and of the grey and black coat, which is not recognised, but
which some breeders consider as an interesting way to escape the genetic
problems of their variety?
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: The Boston (Ramar des Terres de la Rairie here
in picture) is a black Great Dane, whose coat has been invaded by white. You
get round markings on the eyes and on the body. The Boston is called Platten
in Germany. Two Plattens together will generally only give this variety,
which remains a dominant coat. But this colour was left over for a long
time, as it didn’t allow to come back to the real harlequin. Now that it is
forbidden to cross two harlequins in Germany, this colour is used again in
order to avoid that black invades the whole coat. |
Aniwa.com: Could you give us the name of three
Great Danes from today’s breeding, which you would have liked to possess or
breed?
| Marie Josée Labrousse: I really would have liked
to possess and breed the bitch Psychose de la Pierre du Roi, a daughter of
Manager des Terres de la Rairie, as she was a very classy bitch.
Unfortunately, class is a quality which becomes more and more rare. |
Two other great bitches also caught my attention.
There’s Hiroshima de la Benjamine, a black bitch (Ch F Ilko Del Nord Ouest x
Ch F Enthea de la Benjamine) and Nina del Bianello. In 1995, I was a judge
during the World Championship in Brussels. During the final judging, I put
Nina in front of Hiroshima, because she walked in a better way that day. But
both are remarkable bitches.
I’d like to name a fourth bitch, Jet Set de la Pierre du Roi, a fawn bitch
which won the Doggen Club de France National breed Championship Show in
1995. This bitch had that little extra something which makes the difference,
she was perfectly built, and was very classy.
Uh, I’ve just named four bitches, and not a single dog, haven’t I? I admit
I’ve always preferred bitches to dogs, which are always a bit sillier, and
think to much with their hormones. |
Aniwa.com: Talking about dogs, which are the
three studs from your breeding, you are the proudest of?
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: Well, Phale, of course, with Manager des Terres de la
Rairie, and Iamos. Considering the quality of their descendents, and
their influence on breeding, I can be very proud of these three dogs. |
 Looking
back, Phale des Terres de la Rairie has become unavoidable, as he is
present in almost the totality of today’s pedigrees. |
Aniwa.com: What are your priorities in breeding?
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: Health, beauty and character. It’s rather common to say
that, but it’s so true and important when you are breeding Great Danes.
There are two things one should never forget:
1) To take into count the importance of the mothers. You don’t breed with
average bitches, but with extraordinary ones. It’s true with any kind of
breeding, even with horses. A good line has nothing to do with hazard. A
good mother must have a good head, a good bone structure, she must be
powerful and perfectly built. The genetic pool is determining factor.
2) To keep away from breeding all the dogs and bitches with major flaws,
such as bad teeth, bad walk or a bad built. I’m very demanding on the type,
the head, and the general harmony of the dog. |
Aniwa.com: What do you think about the current
German breeding?
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: Let’s not talk about our German neighbours, they are
their own masters in their country. Picture of Nankin des Terres de la
Rairie. On the other hand; I’m quite worried by the fact that one can
see more and more Great Danes in Germany, who are only Great Danes by the
name. One mustn’t breed to make money! The Germans have modified their
standard, and it looks like they are evolving towards a type similar to the
American one. I wouldn’t follow them, as I above all want to keep the
European type, which was originated by the Germans. This is the notably type
of the best dogs from the 60’s. |
Aniwa.com: The Italians and the French have the
reputation to rule the continental scene. What do you think about it?
| Marie Josée Labrousse: I don’t think one can say
that a country dominates the scene, and the best dogs are no longer in
France, nor in Italy or in Germany. A country is lucky or not to have among
its breeders extraordinary dogs, and the judges should be able, thanks to
their skills, to orientate the breed in a positive way, so that it improves. |
Aniwa.com: Among the hundreds of champions you
have bred, which one is the most remarkable?
 Marie
Josée Labrousse: Maybe the brindle bitch Oratzie (Indios x Heim
des Terres de la Rairie), because of her power and built. She’s definitely
the one for me at the moment. This bitch won the CAC and the RCACIB at the
last edition of Longchamp Dog Show, in 2000. I’m expecting a litter from
her, and I’m sure expecting a lot… She may only lack a bit of character.
Well, on the character side, there’s another bitch, a brindle one, called
Jeangere, French and International Champion, which has given me a lot of
satisfaction. She reminded me of my first bitch, Zinga, by being so close
and friendly with me all the time. |
Aniwa.com: What is your feeling on the future of
the Great Danes?
 Marie Josée
Labrousse: What a question! I think it will mostly depend on the
breeders and on the judges, according to what kind of dogs the latter will
reward: those with a lot of type, or those with a lighter type. I’m a bit
worried about the new orientations in the standard proposed by the Germans,
as they’re thinking about forbidding the blue from breeding.
And as a breeder and judge, I’d rather not talk about today’s dogs. |
Take a look at the picture slide show of tens of champions from the Terres de la Rairie Kennel.
