Who we are

Grehenheim

Grehenheim, as a breeding kennel of German Shepherd Dogs, was founded by Sonia and Frikkie van Kraayenburg in 1983. Their son Darren became actively involved almost before he could walk.

The kennel has subsequently grown to one of the most successful in South Africa. The breeding policy is modelled on what was until recently the most successful dog breeding system in the world, namely the German system as run by the Deutsche Schäferhund Verein (SV). Germany is, however, the mother country of German Shepherds and, in order to remain up to date with new developments, we undertake regular trips to Germany.

The kennel became the first in South Africa to be awarded the Breeders’ Platinum medal as well as the Diamond Breeders' Award. In 2011 a Double Diamond Breeders' Award was awarded: the only one in the history of the Federation and the kennel has again become the first to qualify for a Triple Diamond Award.

The kennel has won the National Kennel Group 13 times out of 17 competitions, 10 of which were consecutive.

Whilst no breeder can guarantee that a puppy will be a show winner or perfect, the kennel strives to maintain the main aim of the German Shepherd Dog Federation of South Africa, namely the breeding of Healthy Family Protection Dogs. We believe that temperament and health are paramount and will replace any animal up to the age of two years that have disqualifying faults not evident and pointed out to the new owner at the time of sale.

Dogs owned by the kennel have won the National Sieger (South African National Champion) title on seven occasions and the bitch Tia von Grehenheim was South African Siegerin (South African Champion Bitch) in 2005.

Frikkie van Kraayenburg

Frikkie Frikkie is a founder member and President of the German Shepherd Dog Federation of South Africa.

He has a BSc degree in Genetics and Zoology and an MSc Degree in Mammalogy. He is currently doing research in preparation for a Phd.

He is a Senior Judge and Breed Surveyor in the Federation, the chairman of the organization's Breed Judges Committee and a full SV judge qualified to judge in Germany. Apart from South Africa, he has judged in Kenya, Zimbabwe, India, England, Australia and New Zealand.

He is also a member of the Central Commission of the World Union of Shepherd Dog Associations (WUSV). Based in Germany, the WUSV has 83 member countries and administers German Shepherd Dogs world-wide.

He is active on ground level and is the Chairman of the German Shepherd Dog Federation (Momenta) Club. He is also responsible for the protection dog training in the club and has trained a number of helpers in this regard. He is an active handler of dogs in the show-ring and enters the occasional Schutzhund/IPO trial.

Together with Sonia he wrote the books A New Approach to the Management & Breeding of Protection Dogs (1995) and Breeding German Shepherd Dogs (2009).

Sonia van Kraayenburg

Sonia Sonia is a founder member and the National Administrator of the German Shepherd Dog Federation of South Africa.

She is a Senior Judge and was the first woman appointed to the status of Breed Surveyor in the Federation. To date this honour has only been bestowed on two women. Besides regularly judging in the Federation, she has also judged internationally in Kenya, Zimbabwe and India.

She is also active on ground level and is the Breed Supervisor of her club, the German Shepherd Dog Federation (Momenta) Club.

Together with Frikkie she wrote the books A New Approach to the Management & Breeding of Protection Dogs (1995) and Breeding German Shepherd Dogs (2009).

Darren van Kraayenburg

Darren Darren was "born into German Shepherd Dogs" and has always been actively been involved in the kennel.

He has handled in the show ring since a very young age and is a member of the GSD Federation in his own right. In 2012 he qualified as a protection work helper for both IPO and Breed Survey. We has been chosen to work at the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Federation's National Breed Show.

He has a BSc(Hons) degree in Construction Management.