It was a war scene straight out of the movies. American troops were fighting their way through France during WW II and came upon a hard coated little brown and white dog (a terrier, they thought) and adopted him as their mascot. The dog we now know as “Original Peter” went along for the ride as the soldiers pushed into Germany, but just outside Siegen in the Krumme Furche region northwest of Frankfurt, Peter jumped out of his truck and ran up to a German local woman.
Ilse Schleifenbaum
Peter was dirty, unkempt, and probably could have stood a few meals. What would you have done if you were Ilse Schleifenbaum?
Well, that’s what she did. After she fed Peter and cleaned him up, she believed she was in possession of a Grand Griffon Vendéen (others, however, claim that he was a ‘Breton Griffon’). He was utterly engaging, and “Fifi,” the neighbor’s Fox Terrier bitch, thought so, too.
The war time “romance” surprised everyone for the consistent puppies it produced. The pups were of such uniform type in size, coat and pattern, and so completely appealing that Schleifenbaum decided to use them as the foundation for a new companion breed she would name, “Krumme Furche or Krom Fohr (dialect; “crooked furrow” in modern German).
Two bitches from that first litter – ‘Zottel’ and ‘Hexe’ – were entered in the stud book of the German Kennel Club. With the help of Otto Borner, both worked hard to establish the breed, and at one time owned more than 20 dogs, not easy during a war. After some 10 years, the two breeders were successful in presenting dogs with a consistent and uniform appearance.
In 1955, the breed was recognized by the German Kennel Club and by the FCI. Schleifenbaum and Borner wrote the first breed standard which was altered in 1968, and again in 1986. The most recent FCI breed standard dates from 1998. The first Kromfohrlanders were exhibited in America in 2013 at a United Kennel Club dog show in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in 2012, the breed became part of the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service. When it reaches full recognition, it will be assigned to the AKC’s Non-Sporting Group.
This is an an exceedingly difficult dog to acquire; owners and breeders are understandably protective, but also diligent in maintaining a healthy gene pool. Currently, the FCI is supervising a breeding project to expand Kromforhländer genetics.
Insert image of Mrs. Ilse Schleifenbaum with two of her Kromis. Image courtesy of the Kromforhländer Club of America
Thumbnail image by-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=825256
Very nice article!
Mary (President, Kromfohrlander Club of America)
Much appreciated, Mary!
We LOVE our Kromi’s!!!!
A terrific breed, Wanda, lucky you!!