The White Swiss Shepherd Dog
The White Swiss Shepherd Dog was originally recognised as a separate breed in Switzerland in 1991. In the German Shepherd Dog breed, white dogs have always existed but the colour was frowned upon and listed as a disqualifying fault in the German breed standard. It is generally accepted that the White Swiss Shepherd has been developed from a White strain of that breed and there is an obvious similarity.
It was in the USA that the White strain was first registered by the American Kennel Club in 1917 and it was from here that the first imports to Switzerland arrived in the early 1970s. The male named Lobo, born in 1966, is credited as the patriarch of the breed there.
Further imports from the USA followed to expand the gene pool and thus the strain was developed, eventually being recognised as a separate breed by the Swiss Kennel Club in in 1991 and later by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.
The breed now enjoys popularity in many countries, not only as a show dog but as a companion where its devotion to its owners and its intelligence and trainability has endeared it to many.
The Swiss Shepherd Dog was the 219th Pedigree dog breed recognised by the UK's Kennel Club with effect from 1st October 2017, the breed is classified in the Pastoral group on the Imported Breed Register.
Appearance
The White Swiss Shepherd exists in two coat types - the medium coat and the longhaired.
It is a medium to large sized, powerful, well-muscled dog with harmonious lines and an elongated rectangular outline.
Its long, wolf-like head is cleanly wedge-shaped, with little in the way of brow or cheek arches, and even the line of the stop is subtle where the forehead slopes to the muzzle. The breed’s almond-shaped eyes are a dark brown colour and sit a little obliquely, and the lips, eyelids, and nasal cartilage should all have strong black pigmentation to sit in stark contrast to the brilliant white colour of the coat.
This intelligent and watchful breed has large, triangular ears that are held erect and directed forward. The neck and back are strong and long, with pronounced arching over the withers and the muscular loin.
The White Swiss Shepherd has a moderately narrow but deep chest that also extends well back, giving it a large capacity, and the lean abdomen is reasonably well tucked. Its long, bushy tail is held sabre-like at around the hock level most of the time, although it will be raised when the dog’s attention is aroused. As previously mentioned, the rear end is sloped through the hip and thigh; this should not be exaggerated, as it can predispose to hip and stifle problems due to exceptional stresses during exercise.
The double-thickness white coat is extremely dense throughout, and can be either medium-length or long, with slight waviness being considered acceptable. Male White Swiss Shepherds are between 58 and 66 cm tall, while females stand 53 to 61 cm in height; their respective weight ranges are 30–40 and 25–35 kg.
If you have any questions at all about this magnificent breed, please don't hesitate to get in touch!
The White Swiss Shepherd Dog
El Pastor Blanco Suizo
كلب الراعي السويسري الأبيض
Bílý švýcarský ovčák
Den hvide schweiziske hyrdehund
Le Berger Blanc Suisse
Der Weiße Schweizer Schäferhund
Ο Λευκός Ελβετικός Ποιμενικός Σκύλος
Il Pastore Svizzero Bianco
Baltasis šveicarų aviganis
Biały Owczarek Szwajcarski
O Cão Pastor Branco Suíço
Белая швейцарская овчарка
Beyaz İsviçre Çoban Köpeği
