The Breed

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● Joanne at Hoofprint

The Breed

As the grandfather of the FIRST registered "German Shepherd Dog" was a white dog, the gene for white coats has been a part of the German Shepherd breed since it's beginning in 1898. Despite efforts in Germany and many countries around the world to eliminate the white-coated German Shepherd Dog, it remains a popular - indeed "desirable" - dog worldwide, with hundreds of whites registered every year in Canada, and thousands registered every year in the United States.

Since white GSDs are now disqualified from the CKC & AKC show rings and many German Shepherd breeders refuse to breed to the white dogs, White Shepherd clubs in North America have been pursuing the goal of breed separation for the white dogs for several years now, in hopes of attaining the proper recognition that these dogs deserve. Through careful study of the breed worldwide, it has been determined that there is a sufficient gene pool to support a separate breed: the White Shepherd.

In 1999, the UKC (in the USA) recognized the White Shepherd as a separate breed. In 2002, the FCI (a European registry) recognized the White Shepherd as a separate breed - the "Berger Blanc Suisse". We hope to achieve breed separation in Canada (CKC) and the US (AKC) within the next few years as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

IS THE WHITE SHEPHERD AN ALBINO?
No, an albino animal has pink eyes and is totally devoid of pigment (ie. pink eyelids, lips,
nose, pads).

HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM "REGULAR" GSD'S?
The most obvious difference is colour. Another is the structure; typically, White Shepherd breeders strive to maintain the "original" sound structure of the German Shepherd Dog. Most WS breeders shy away from the extreme rear angulation that is found in so many German Shepherds today.

WHAT ABOUT TEMPERAMENT?
As with any dog, breeding and environment have the most influence on a dog's temperament. At a recent Temperament Test (conducted by Temperament Test Associates of Ontario), 80% of the White Shepherds tested attained their Temperament Test title. We'll stack that up against the "regular" GSDs any day!
IS THE WHITE SHEPHERD A PUREBRED?

Yes, they are actually registered as German Shepherd Dogs by the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) and the American Kennel Club (AKC).
IS THE WHITE SHEPHERD ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN CKC/AKC EVENTS?
Yes. They are eligible to participate in all CKC and AKC events EXCEPT conformation shows. White Shepherds can and
do earn titles in Obedience, Tracking, Herding, Flyball and Agility.
ARE THEY ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN CONFORMATION SHOWS WITH OTHER CLUBS?
Yes. White Shepherds may be shown at WSCC, AWSA, UKC, WGSDCI and FORB conformation shows. They can and
do earn Championship titles at these events.

Health and Genetics of the White Shepherd

The Science of Genetics

May your White Shepherd have a long happy, and healthy life!

That being said, please know that most dogs who are properly cared for, loved and socialized will live long, healthy lives. There are some dogs in every breed, however, that can suffer from health problems. Each breed of dog has its own set of specific health issues, some are minor or cosmetic, and some are more serious and costly to treat. The White Shepherd is no exception and unfortunately as seen in other breeds, the problems tend to increase as the White Shepherd becomes more popular and there is an increase in indiscriminate breeders. Failure to screen for health problems, and failure to share data with other White Shepherd breeders often results in the "doubling up" of unfavourable genes. The results can be most unfortunate, not only for the dog owner and the individual dog, but also for the entire breed as a whole.

If a breeder tells you they don’t have any diseases in their lines, it may be very comforting to hear, but beware, it simply cannot be true. EVERY dog of every breed carries genetic diseases, and it’s the breeder’s responsibility to keep their puppy buyers informed, and run their breeding program with honesty and integrity. If a breeder tries to tell you they don’t have any diseases in their lines, or the diseases they list are all cosmetic and very minor, then you know they are not being 100% honest, and perhaps it would be in your best interests to go elsewhere.

A good Breeder of White Shepherds should be willing to discuss the health of their breeding stock and what steps they've taken to reduce the likelihood of problems. They should be willing to guarantee against genetic health problems and be willing to offer either a replacement puppy or a refund if your dog does become ill. They should also want to keep track of anything that might show up later in your puppy. No breeder wants to breed a dog with a genetic disease, but genetics is a tricky science and can be hard to predict. That is why meticulous record keeping is so important, and remember, knowledge is power.

If your White Shepherd should develop a genetic health problem, you should tell your breeder about it. This way, White Shepherd breeders can remain informed about potential problems in their lines, and use the information to breed healthier dogs in the future.

That is the whole focus of the genetics project, to breed healthier dogs. Many of our breeders test their breeding stock for good health, and the results have been very encouraging. We have also been very proud of our White Shepherd breeders who have come forward and revealed the genetic diseases in their lines, so that we can all work together to breed the healthiest dogs possible. It takes time, but we sure feel that we’re off to a great start!