Zitan vom Haus Neufus: Regional Sieger, IGP2 and the Long Coat Male Behind Our Program
Some dogs define a breeding program. At Haus-Neufus, that dog is V Zitan vom Haus Neufus, WB, AD, BH-VT, IGP2, KKL.
Born here in Johnstown, Ohio, on April 11, 2023, Zitan has gone from Very Promising puppy ratings to Excellent ratings and a Regional Sieger title in the Working Long Coat Male class, while earning his IGP2, a breed survey and an SV character assessment along the way. He is also the sire of our current U litter.
This is his story, his record and why he matters to the future of our long coat German Shepherds.
Zitan at a Glance
Registered name: V Zitan vom Haus Neufus
Born: April 11, 2023, bred and raised at Haus-Neufus
Coat: long coat
Titles: WB, AD, BH-VT, IGP2, KKL
Hips and elbows: a1 normal / a1 normal (WUSV/USCA)
DM: N/N (clear)
Breed value (ZW): 78
Sire: VA Zitan vom Repetition, IGP3, KKL
Dam: V Ocean von der Zenteiche, IGP2, KKL
Understanding German Shepherd Show Ratings
German Shepherd shows under SV rules, the breed standard followed worldwide, use ratings rather than simple ribbons. Here's what they mean:
VA (Excellent Select): the highest rating, awarded only to top adult dogs at major Sieger Shows
V (Excellent): the top rating available to most adult dogs
SG (Very Good): the top rating for young dogs, and a strong rating for adults
VP (Very Promising): the top rating for puppies
Sieger / Siegerin: the winning male or female of a class at a Sieger Show or regional show
The number after the rating is the dog's placement. V1 means Excellent, first place.
Zitan's Show Record
2023: Puppy Classes
September 2023 Show: VP3
2023 Sieger Show: VP3, Very Promising, 3rd place in the 4 to 6 Month Long Coat Male class
2024: Young Dog Classes and First Titles
2024 GSDCA Volunteer Schutzhund Club Show: VP1, 1st place in the 9 to 12 Month Long Coat Male class
Completed the SV Wesensbeurteilung (WB), a character assessment of temperament and environmental stability
2024 GSDCA Universal Sieger Show: SG2, 2nd place in the 12 to 18 Month Long Coat Male class
2024 Bluegrass Conformation Show: SG1, 1st place in the 12 to 18 Month Long Coat Male class
2024 MER Conformation Show: SG1, 1st place in the 12 to 18 Month Long Coat Male class
Earned his AD endurance title at 41 North Dog Sports
Earned his BH-VT companion dog, temperament and traffic safety title
2025: Working Class Excellent Ratings
2025 USCA Mideast Regional Show: V1, Excellent, 1st place in the Working Long Coat Male class
2025 Breeding Evaluation: V2, Excellent, 2nd place and Best American Bred in the Working Long Coat Male class
2025 USCA Sieger Show: V3, Excellent, 3rd place in the Working Long Coat Male class
2026: Regional Sieger
2026 USCA South Central Regional Breeding Evaluation and Breed Survey: V1 and Regional Sieger, Working Long Coat Male class
2026 USCA Breeding Evaluation in Ohio: V1, Excellent, 1st place in the Working Long Coat Male class
In about two and a half years, Zitan earned the top puppy rating, the top young dog rating and the top adult rating, and finished first in his class at the national, regional and club level.
More Than a Show Dog: Zitan's Working Titles
A German Shepherd's value isn't measured only in the show ring. Zitan's working titles prove his character, trainability and physical soundness:
IGP2: the second level of IGP, the international working dog standard for the breed, testing tracking, obedience and protection
BH-VT: companion dog, temperament and traffic safety test
AD: a 20 km endurance test that checks structure and fitness
WB: the SV character assessment
KKL: breed survey, confirming suitability for breeding
What the Judges Said
Zitan's breed survey describes him as "large, powerful, and substantial. Very good pigment, very good proportions, and very good male character. Very good lines, very good angulation... Confident temperament, pronounced TSB."
TSB refers to drive, self-confidence and resilience. "Pronounced" is the highest assessment.
A Pedigree Built on International Champions
Zitan's sire, VA Zitan vom Repetition, IGP3, KKL, earned 11 VA ratings, a distinction very few German Shepherd males achieve. His dam, V Ocean von der Zenteiche, IGP2, KKL, is a titled, Excellent-rated female from strong German genetics.
That combination shows in Zitan himself: masculine breed type, rich pigmentation, ground-covering movement and a clear, stable temperament.
His Sister Zenzi
Zitan's littermate, V Zenzi vom Haus Neufus, WB, AD, BH-VT, IGP2, KKL, has matched him title for title. Zenzi earned V1 and Best American Bred at the 2025 Breeding Evaluation, Regional Vice Siegerin in 2026, and V1 at the 2026 USCA Breeding Evaluation in Ohio. Two siblings from one litter reaching this level is a strong sign of a consistent pairing.
Zitan as a Sire: The U Litter
Zitan is now proving himself where it matters most for a breeding program: his puppies. Our current U litter is Zitan x Jessie, born August 16, 2026. Jessie Best of The Gods was Siegerin in the 18 to 24 Month Long Stock Coat Female class at the 2023 GSDCA National and Universal Sieger Show. The litter has no inbreeding, a litter breed value (ZW) of 87 and limited AKC registration. See the U litter and available puppies.
Competing to International Standards
Haus-Neufus dogs are bred, titled and evaluated to the same SV and WUSV standards used by German Shepherd breeders around the world. Our program is built on bloodlines from established European kennels, our dogs are judged by SV judges from Germany, and in 2026 two dogs from our program earned VP1 and Champion Puppy at the Canadian Sieger Show.
Behind all of it is Jana, who began training German Shepherds in 2004 and has spent more than 18 years training, titling and showing them in obedience, tracking, endurance, conformation and Schutzhund. Read more about our time in the ring in German Shepherd Sieger Show Accomplishments, or see every result on our accomplishments page.
Meet Zitan and His Puppies
Zitan represents exactly what we breed for: correct structure, beautiful long coat breed type, real working ability and a temperament that switches off at home.
