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When Wynn's very first German Shepherd Dog was six years old she lost her to cancer. Heartbroken, she answered an ad in a magazine and was told the 7 weeks old puppy she wanted had just been sold. When she heard the price she realized she couldn't have afforded it anyway. Three months later the breeder, Margaret, called to tell her the puppy was now available and the price would be greatly reduced. Wynn and her husband drove all the way from Rhode Island to northern Pennsylvania to see the puppy. She learned that a couple posing as man and wife had taken the puppy. When the breeder called a few days later to see how the puppy was doing a woman told her that her husband hadn't bought a puppy. Days later the check bounced. So the police were notified. It was over two months later when the police had enough clues to follow the man to a dilapidated building along the railroad tracks in Pittsburgh. They found German Shepherds of all ages in the basement, chained to poles or boxes, without food or water. That day the police broke up the dognapping ring that had been stealing valuable German Shepherd Dogs all over the country. When Wynn saw Margelen's Chieftain he was pathetically undernourished. The neglect and abuse he had suffered for two months at the hands of his abductors had broken his spirit. Despite this Wynn could see he was a truly beautiful puppy so she bought him. She remembered his sire, .Grand Victor Ch. Nox of Ruthland. She called him Topper for she believed she could bring out the greatness that she saw in him.. He sat on her lap during the ten hour drive home and became bonded to her. From that day on he was with Wynn twenty four hours a day. He was never left alone. When he was six months of age she took him to an Obedience class. Everyone who saw the puppy told her she should return the puppy, he was no good, she could never train him, he was a disgrace, etc. When he met anyone he would wet the floor so she had to carry a towel to class. She refused to listen to unkind remarks, or be embarrassed, she had faith in him. Undaunted, Wynn trained him patiently and loved him. He loved working for her so much he would do anything to please her. He started to excel in his work and a few months later he won his CD (Companion Dog) title with high scores, always "in the ribbons" During this period he regained his confidence and became very friendly and outgoing.
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