White Swiss Shepherd versus German Shepherd Dog of Colour White

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY - FROM THE FCI STANDARD OF THE WSSD NO. 347

In USA and Canada white shepherd dogs have gradually become to be accepted as a distinct breed. The first dogs of this breed were imported into Switzerland in the early 70ies. The American male “Lobo”, whelped on 5th March 1966, can be considered as the progenitor of the breed in Switzerland. The descendants of that male registered with the Swiss Stud Book (LOS) and other white shepherd dogs imported from USA and Canada, gradually multiplied. There exists now a big number of white shepherd dogs, pure-bred, over several generations, distributed throughout Europe. For that reason, since June 1991, these dogs have been registered as a new breed with the appendix of the Swiss Stud Book (LOS).

A SHORT HISTORICAL OVERVIEW - FROM THE FCI BREED STANDARD OF THE GSD NO. 166

The German Shepherd Dog, whose planned breeding commenced in the year 1899, after the founding of the GSD Verein, was bred from the central German and South German strains of the existing herding dogs of those times, with the final goal of creating a working dog, predisposed to high working aptitude. in order to reach this goal, the Breed Standard was laid down, which relates to the physical attributes, as well as to those of temperament and character.

HEAD

Slightly longer from stop to nose leather, than stop to occiput.

Head length 35% of height to withers

BODY

12:10 Length (point of shoulder to point of buttock) : Height (withers to ground)

CHEST DEPTH

50-55% (50% ideal) of height to withers

SHOULDER ANGLE

90°

TOPLINE

Straight & Level:

The withers slope into a level, straight back with a gentle slope over the croup to the set on the tail.

FEET

Oval

COLOUR

White Only

HEAD

50/50 – Stop to nose: stop to occiput.

Head length 40% of height to withers

BODY

10:9-8.5 Length (point of shoulder to point of buttock) : Height (withers to ground)

CHEST DEPTH

45-48% of height to withers 45-48% of height to withers

SHOULDER ANGLE

90-110°

TOPLINE

Straight:

Straight also does not mean level, straight can be at a gentle slope towards the croup.

FEET

Rounded

COLOUR

The colour white is not permitted.

(N/B: The ANKC CAN & DO register German Shepherd dogs of the colour WHITE in 2016. If parents of the White puppy is registered with the ANKC, & they themsleves ARE current members of the ANKC, ALL offspring CAN and WILL be given ANKC papers.)

BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTER

Lively and balanced temperament, enjoys action, attentive with good ability to be trained. Friendly and discreet. High social competence and devoted to his owner. Never afraid or aggressive without provocation. A joyful and easy to teach working and sporting dog with capability for all round education. High social competence allows for a marked ability to adapt and integrate to all kinds of social events and situations.

GENERAL APPEARANCE .

A powerful, well-muscled, medium-sized, white shepherd dog with erect ears, double coat or long double coat or long double coat; elongated shape; medium sized bone and elegant, harmonious outline.

EYES

Medium-sized, almond shaped, placed a little obliquely; colour brown to darkbrown; eye lids well fitting with black eye-rims desirable. Expressive, showing intelligence and attentiveness. Clear and framed by black almondshaped eyelids. Of moderate size, set a little obliquely, neither prominent nor sunken, with pupils dark, well defined and perfectly positioned. Colour is brown.

NOSE

Medium-sized; black pigmentation desired; snow nose and lighter nose accepted. The nose should be solid jet black. The black nose is due the dog being a black dog genetically masked by the white gene.

Breeding with non-pure (white) White Swiss Shepherds will reveal the dogs’ coloured genetics. For example a red nose indicates the dogs red colouring and liver represents the liver colouring. The amount of pink overage/depigmentation on noses tends to be more pronounced in breeding programs consisting of white coloured dogs, inclusive of German Shepherd bloodlines rather than pure (white) White Swiss Shepherd dogs.

GAIT

Rhythmical sequences of steps with even drive and enduring; front legs reaching out far, with strong thrust; trot ground covering and easy.

The rhythmic trot requires forward momentum to maintain the smooth transfer of weight from feet and spring as the body is suspended during the moment of propulsion.

The White Swiss Shepherd by function is a trotting dog consisting of powerful hind leg propulsion and an even and far-reaching stride. This trot is smooth and elegant due to the combination of the length of neck afforded by the shoulder angles, the length of body and straight topline.

TAIL

Bushy sabre tail, tapering to the tip; set on rather deep; reaching at least to the hock joint; at rest, it hangs either straight down or with a slight saber-like curve in its last third part; in movement carried higher, but never above the topline.

The tail is bushy haired for medium haired dogs while longhaired dogs have copiously feathered tails. At rest the tail either hangs straight down or with a slight curve.

Although not desirable the end can curve slightly. A tail that is short and/or curly, or too long or lacking the bushy characteristics is a serious fault to the extent of the disfiguration.

TEMPERAMENT

The German Shepherd Dog must be of well balanced temperament, steady of nerve, self assured, absolutely free and easy, and (unless provoked) completely good natured, as well as alert and tractable. He must have courage, combative instinct and hardness, in order to be suitable as companion, watch, protection, service and herding dog.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The German Shepherd Dog is medium sized, slightly elongated, powerful and well muscled, the bones dry and the overall structure firm.

EYES

The eyes are of medium size, almond shaped, slightly oblique and not protruding. The colour of the eyes should be as dark as possible. Light piercing eyes are not desirableas they detract from the expression of the dog.

NOSE

The nose must be black.

FROM THE FCI BREED STANDARD OF THE GSD NO. 166

GAIT

Any tendency towards over-angulation of the hindquarter decreases the firmness and endurance and therefore the dog’s utmost working ability. Correct structural proportions and angulations result in a ground covering, low to the ground movement that gives the impression of effortless forward propulsion. With the head pushed forward and a slightly raised tail, an even, balanced and smooth trot, results in a gently curving and unbroken topline, running from the tip of the ears and over the neck and back through to the end of the tail.

As the GSD is a trotting dog, his sequence of steps follows a diagonal pattern, in that he always moves the foreleg and opposite hindleg forward at the same time. To achieve this, his limbs must be in such balance, one to another that he can thrust the hindfoot well forward to the mid point of the body without any noticeable change in the back line.

The correct proportion of height to length and corresponding length of limbs will produce a ground covering stride that travels flat over the ground, giving the impression of effortless movement. With his head thrust forward and a slightly raised tail, a balanced and even trotter displays a flowing line, running from the tips of his ears, over the neck and back, down to the tip of the tail. The gait should be supple, smooth and long reaching, carrying the body with the minimum of up and down movement, entirely free from stilted

TAIL

The tail reaches at least to the hock joint, however, not beyond the middle of the rear pastern. It has slightly longer hair on the underside and is carried in a gently hanging curve when relaxed. It can be carried higher when excited or during movement but not above the horizontal. Corrective surgery is forbidden.