Valentine Martin

Mr. Martin was one of many German breeders to come to our shores during the period between the World Wars. He settled at Woodridge, NJ. His interest in Boxers must have spanned a period of almost half a century, as he is credited with owning and breeding them in the old country as early as 1906.

Mr. Martin commenced breeding here, using the kennel name vd Stuttgarter, about 1933. His foundation bitch was Gretel v Berggeist, whelped that same year in Bavaria, who traced back through her sire Gustel V Haidhausen through six different German Siegers to Rolf v Vogelsberg. Bred to Dorian, she produced two champions. A notable male, whom Mr. Martin imported and who made his championship here in 1941, was the Lustig son, Stern v Friedenheim.

Probably the best known product of the Stuttgarter kennels was Ch. Piccolo, later acquired by the Kettles.

Mr. Martin was one of the small group who, as former members of the German Club in Munich attempted to organize a branch of the same in the United States. This group was a forerunner of the present American Boxer Club. Mr. Martin himself joined the ABC in 1942, and continued until his death late in the 1950s.