Registered with the NZKC (which became Dogs NZ in  2017) in August 1968, my kennel name was chosen because of the Rhine River's Lorelei siren sung about by Ella Fitzgerald. A little extra inspiration came from Marilyn Monroe's role as Lorelei Lee in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (although I preferred her in "Some Like it Hot").

Lorelei is a small kennel with its roots in obedience club training (Les) and then in all-breeds conform- ation (Jeannie) until January 1976, after which we limited ourselves to GSD specialist club shows. Our mentors were the von Konig + Pan (who combined as von Racher) kennels, and Albek kennels who, between them, set a consistency record by winning Supreme Best In Show at the NZKC Nationals (our equivalent of Crufts and Westminster) in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and again in 1974, with 5 different (but related) GSDs. My foundation stock was strong on UK.Ch. Asoka Cherusker and UK.Ch. Ludwig of Charavigne, with additions from VA2 Mutz von der Pelztierfarm and V1 Jonny von der Rheinhalle as they became available.

Once the GSD Advisory Council was established (in 1979) we were active in it, each of us having periods on its Executive Committee, with Jeannie becoming a GSD ch.show judge and a Breed Surveyor, plus spending long periods as the Council's editor and/or secretary; Les holding posts as Zone Tattoo Organiser & Tattooist, Information Coordinator & Genetics Advisor, Awards Registrar, Typesetter.