In 1969 the "Gesellschaft für Haustierforschung (GfH)" ("Society for Domestic Animal Research") was founded by the Nobel laureate Konrad Lorenz as well as by Otto König, Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt, Eberhard Trumler and some other researchers. In 1979 Eberhard Trumler established the "Haustierbiologische Station Wolfswinkel" ("Domestic Animal Biological Station Wolfswinkel") for the GfH in Wolfswinkel (Western Germany). After his death this research station was renamed in his honour as the "Eberhard Trumler Station".
A rarity of the Eberhard Trumler Station are so-called Shiba-Dingoes, i.e. crossbreeds between Shiba and New Guinea dingo (New Guinea Singing Dog). We cite an excerpt from an article by Dr. Frank G. Wörner. The author was scientific director at the Eberhard Trumler Station.
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Frank G. Wörner: Auf der Suche nach den Urhunden. Die Shiba-Dingos von Wolfswinkel
["In search of the primal dogs. The Shiba-Dingoes from Wolfswinkel"],
Der Hund No. 4/2002, pp. 64-65. Translated by Holger Funk.
Four Shiba-Dingo crossbreeds are a canine treasure at the Eberhard Trumler Station in Wolfswinkel in Germany. Visitors seeing the probably worldwide unique pack are going on a time journey into the early history of our domestic dogs.
It was Eberhard Trumler (1923-1991) who, in search of dogs close to the origins, had the idea of pairing his female New Guinea dingo "Sylvie" with the male Shiba "Che" (on the picture on top). Che was a purebred Shiba, probably the first Shiba at all which came to Germany to stay finally in Wolfswinkel (Che died well advanced in years in 2000). Thus with the Hallstrom bitch, Trumler had at his disposal a dam very close to the beginning of the domestic dogs' history, and with Che a sire just a few domestication steps away from the origins. From this pairing Trumler expected puppies which could be classified exemplarily as a transitional step between entirely primal dogs and dogs with a lower form of domestication. These experiments are comparable to the rebreeding of old domestic dog breeds – and the lively results of this pairing can be seen by scientists and dog lovers in Wolfswinkel under the name of "Shiba-Dingo". However, more whelps are not to be expected – Trumler prevented further breeding because Sylvie had to give birth to her four pups by Caesarean section.
For the numerous visitors at the Eberhard Trumler Station and especially for the children the Shiba-Dingoes from Wolfswinkel are one of the favourite groups. The dogs love humans and take delight in every visitor to their kennels. Even strangers receive a boisterous reception, giving the impression that long lost friends are being welcomed back.