Xero z Pohranicni straze is a true legend of the Czech border patrol. He is Grim z Pohranicni Straze's (ZVV III, IPO III, SchH III) most famous and long standing producing son. Xero's offspring have been unmatched in quality, structure, and sound temperament.

Xero is a male that possesses perfect social character type outstanding drives to the toys, excellent prey, and strong civil. He is very quick to come into defense when his territory or family is threatened. He has a superb taste for the work in all three phases, and possesses a very strong willingness to please his handler on all levels.


Xero is line bred on the famous stud dogs Kaso z Pohranicni straze 3-2 and 4-3 on Iwo v.d. Buscheke. Iwo and Kaso imprinted their offspring with excellent character, temperament type, pigmentation, and strength in working abilities. Xero possesses the very strongest bloodlines from the z Pohranicni Straze Kennel. Xero has all the finest possible qualities to lend to his offspring, and has proven time and again that he gives all that he is to his get.

Things that I absolutely expect to see in Xero's progenies :-

Very early presence of working drives. i.e. see the photos below of the 3.5 - 6.5 week old puppies. This is typical behavior from Xero's offspring. You can expect to consistently see puppies showing great interest in playing with toys (beginning stages of retrieve drive) and already demonstrating bite drive at the 3-3.5 week mark. Xero is excellent in improving upon the rate at which drives develop when bred to bloodlines that are known to produce progeny that are extremely slow to mature into proper working drives.


Improvement upon pigment

Xero will correct any pigmentation faults. If bred to a female that is not producing ideal pigment in her progenies whether it is a lighter eye or complete pigment loss on the chest, toes etc, Xero will consistently correct this aspect even in a breeding that is considered to be an out cross. Standard coat type is expected as well as correct overall working conformation.


There is a true versatility in the working drives present within the character type of his progeny. Xero's offspring transition clearly from drive to drive in work; have extremely strong fight drive, proper civil aggression, and highly active prey drive. You will see both excellent prey play as well as solid prey hunt not just one or the other.

If bred to a female with excellent natural civil aggression/active defensive reactions you will maintain these old style characteristic when breeding Xero, however, Xero will always improve upon the aspects of prey in a litter while maintaining proper aggression. Also his progenies are consistently excellent in solid nerve, immediately adjust to new environments without conflict, and are correct upon slick surfaces.

Many Dual Purpose and excellent competition prospects may be seen within the same litter. His progenies are consistently solid for narcotics/arson work because they have naturally deep noses, very active prey, no problems with retrieving plastics, iron, stainless steel, etc. Xero's progenies are also correct in the face of gunfire as well as other loud noises which is what we expect due to the solid nerves that he produces.

The asset that I appreciate the most in Xero z PS's female progenies is their true ability to produce. I have worked with Xero daughters for many years in our breeding program. With Xero as their sire coupled with a strong dam line, you can expect the breeding female to produce progeny that are as good if not superior to herself. This is one primary aspect in Xero's ability to produce that I admire most. He is a true foundation style producing stud male in that he is easily able to produce progenies that are superior to himself and is able to impart this quality into his offspring that are utilized within structured breeding programs

Les Flores has worked several females Van Den Heuvel progenies and also has worked Xero on several occasions, below are some comments from Les :-

"Several years ago, I had the pleasure of working and handling Xero. He was a "gentleman" of a dog while still being very sure of himself. His playful spirit and attitude made working with him a lot of fun.

Xero is an imposing GSD with a beautiful, thick, blocky head, rich pigment, and a sound working dog structure. He definitely made people look twice at him when he walked on the field and command attention.

Xero's tracking was very deep and deliberate. He consistently and intently followed each footstep and tracked the origin of the scent. In Obedience, his happy-go-lucky attitude made work seem less like work and more like fun. Sometimes, his independent streak would come out, but one could not get upset with him because of it. He was not independent out of malice. Once he was shown what was wanted from him, he complied willingly. In protection, Xero's grip was always full. His hold on helpers was sure and convincing.

We have been lucky at our SchH club to have seen several of Xero's progenies. Some have come to train with us for the long-term while others just came to visit; one thing that I've noticed in Xero's progenies is that he tends to produce puppies better than himself. Xero was certainly no slouch but, when a stud dog produces better than himself, you know you've got something special."

Les Flores
National Training Director for the sport of SchH in the United States for DVG
September 22, 2006

Below are some comments from Anne La Russa; owner of a few Xero progenies. Anne plans on National competition with Era Van Den Heuvel (Xero Daughter) and International competition with Margot Van Den Heuvel (Xero Grand-Daughter).

It is a pleasure to write a few notes about the Xero girls that I own. They are from different mothers, yet each has Xero's unmistakable stamp: beautiful head type and expression, robust conformation, exceptional trainability and willingness to please their handler, remarkable intelligence and problem solving ability. In character, Xero has given those super stable nerves, warmth and good sense around children of all ages, and the capacity to form very deep bonds of loyalty and affection with humans who are worth the effort. He has also passed on a fun-loving personality and confidence in any new setting.

I very much appreciate Xero for his ability to pass his physical traits and character to his offspring. Congratulations and thanks to Dari James for her years of work in bringing this wonderful stud dog to the United States!

Here are my Xero girls :-

Elsa vom Schroeder Haus(breeding put together by Van Den Heuvel K9): Elsa earned her Sch 3 by age 2 ½. She is a large, serious female with a definite edge. She has beautiful head type and face, very expressive. I think the most noteworthy thing about her is her intuitive intelligence. Her capacity for discernment is unsurpassed in my experience. I have trained dogs for 40 years and she is by far the smartest and most willing dog I have ever encountered. She is naturally territorial, with a committed work ethic. The more pressure you put on her, the harder she comes back. Her protection work is extremely serious and she has pinned more than one uninvited guest to the garage wall. She has been an invited guest in many school classrooms where she has done Search and Rescue exercises for young school children. She is very warm with children and is utterly joyful in her play with them.

Era Van Den Heuvel is another Xero daughter that is currently in training for top competition. She has just turned a year old, and has amazed and entertained spectators at training fields since she has been five months old. She is a happy, high energy little girl who bites like an alligator and was born to the sport. She is a real "scrapper" - lots of fight and power in a compact package who is also able to settle as soon as the work is done. She is a favorite with children because she never tires out and is so responsive to them. Watch for her in 2007!!!

Eeve Van Den Heuvel is a gorgeous black sable female that has her sire's physical presence and expression. High energy, excellent focus, super nerves and intelligence, naturally territorial but also socially correct and a perfect house companion. She has a pronounced love of the water and has started serious scent training. Her character is very warm, but she is never "off duty." She is very committed in her work and persistent in her determination to succeed in her objective, whether involving obstacles, searching or tracking. She is also an amazing canine athlete with exceptional power, agility and speed.

I'm also fortunate to own Margot Van Den Heuvel, a Xero granddaughter on her dam line, sired by the great Norbo Ben Ju. She is amazing in her power and raw ability and I hope I will do her justice as a handler.

Anne La Russa

Below are some of Xero's older progenies.


Geonology of Xero z Pohranicni straze



Judges comments on Nitro in the 6-9 month puppy class

"Large, strong, expressive. Good proportions. Rich Pigmentation. Short flat croup. Upper arm should be longer and more slanted. Still good angulation in the rear. Should show more movement in the gaiting process.(Promising)"

When Nitro competed for his Sch1 he received a trophy for high in protection and high handler/owner/trained. He went on to compete in the Regional's in which he took high in tracking, and 2nd in Obedience and 2nd in protection and 2nd overall in the Sch2's.

Van Den Heuvel K-9 is expecting litters by the following Xero Daughters in Nov-Dec.

Elsa SchH III was put together by our facility owned and handled by Anne/Tom 2x repeat breeding to Congo Vikar due Nov. 12th

Vixie Van Den Heuvel (Xero z PS daughter and Faro Policia granddaughter) also bred by our facility 2x repeat breeding to Cak Piscena boure due beginning of Dec.

Exa z Esagilu (Xero z Pohranicni straze daughter) bred to Cak 2x repeat breeding due Nov. 8th

Dariana James
Information for this article was supplied by Van den Heuvel K9.
Photos courtesy of Dari James at Van den Heuvel K9.
Kristy & Doug Mull - owners of Xero z Pohranicni Straze

Special thanks to :-
Brian Clingan for his help with putting this article together
Kristy Mull for helping gather information and pictures
Les Flores for his great comments and contribution to this article
Anne La Russa for her great comments and contribution to this article
John Crane for the photos of Sascha, and Staci Love for letting us utilize them
Tina Werkheiser for the pictures and write up of Nitro VDH