White Swiss Shepherd Dog
Other names: Berger Blanc Suisse, White Canadian Shepherd, White American Shepherd, Weisser Schweizer Schäferhund
#22
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The White Swiss Shepherd Dog is a robust dog, of medium size, sporting an immaculate white coat that differentiates her from her close cousin, the German Shepherd. She is a particularly intelligent, well-balanced and athletic dog who can, nevertheless, by virtue of her natural sensitivity, fall victim to a delicate syndrome: hyper-attachment to her master. She can, however, adapt to many family constellations and various ways of life, as long as she is given sufficient attention.
Key facts about the White Swiss Shepherd Dog
Origins and history
The colour white being excluded from the German Shepherd breed, this breed was raised and selected as a completely separate breed (first under the name: White Canadian Shepherd). The first traces of White Shepherd dog-breeding before the 1900s are to be found in the Alsace-Lorraine region: pure-bred White Shepherds were raised at the royal Habsburg court.
In 2002, Switzerland, which imported its first units in the 1970s, claimed ‘paternity’ over the breed, which was officially recognised by the FCI under its current name.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Section
Section 1 : Sheepdogs
Physical characteristics of the White Swiss Shepherd Dog
Adult size
Female : Between 21 and 24 in
Male : Between 23 and 26 in
Weight
Female : Between 55 and 77 lb
Male : Between 66 and 88 lb
Coat colour
The only coat color of the White Swiss Shepherd breed that is admissible by official standards is, as the name indicates: white.
Type of coat
Two varieties exist, the long-haired White Shepherd Dog and the medium-long haired White Shepherd Dog.
She dons a double coat, with a smooth and coarse overcoat, which is dense and flat. The undercoat is abundant .
Some subtle waviness is admissible for both varieties, and the long-haired variety has a distinct mane around the nape.
Eye colour
Colours vary from brown to fawn-brown.
Description
She is similar to the German Shepherd in all aspects, save for the fact that she is slightly leaner and less angular than the model black-and-fawn German Shepherd. The standard presupposes a robust and strong shepherd dog, well-built, medium-sized, with ears pointing upwards and a white double-coat, either long or medium-long. The eyes are almond-shaped, slightly oblique. The ears are large, triangular and perfectly straight. The tail is tucked in and attached rather low, reaching mid-hock.
Good to know
The rumour that has the White Swiss Shepherd’s white colour linked to pathologies is completely unfounded, as proven by this breed’s demonstrably excellent health.