The White Swiss Shepherd: Handsome And Intelligent

The Swiss White Shepherd was not recognized as a breed until 2011, it is a breed originating from Germany, despite what the name suggests; this dog is medium, muscular and stocky, in addition to being lively, hardworking and easy to train.

It looks like an albino German Shepherd,  but the white Swiss Shepherd does not owe its color to a genetic anomaly: it  is typical of its breed to have this striking coat. It is a breed that contributed to the emergence of the German Shepherd, which ensures that, in addition to beauty, it also has intelligence.

Swiss White Shepherd Story

For a long time, it  was said that the Swiss White Shepherd was a white variety of the German Shepherd. However, this breed has been shown to be older.

There is evidence that the first Swiss shepherds appeared in the early 19th century, but in northern Germany, not Switzerland. The Swiss country, however, was charged with fighting for its recognition as a unique and original race, as well as for its official registration.

The great expansion of the breed took place in North America. The first specimens arrived in Canada in the 1970s.  There they gained great popularity and finally defined themselves as a different breed. After spreading across most of North America, they returned to Europe.

For a long time, they  tried to devalue the value of this breed,  treating it as if it were a  German shepherd  of the worst category. Nothing could be further from reality, since  the Swiss Shepherd was one of the dogs that contributed his genes to create the German Shepherd,  as we know it today.

Finally, the  FCI admitted the Swiss White Shepherd as a breed in 2011. Breed  fans had to spend decades promoting it and registering it internally, until they could then make it official.

Characteristics of the White Swiss Shepherd

The White Swiss Shepherd is classified as a medium-sized breed. Males, which reach between 60 and 66 centimeters in cross, are slightly  bulkier, since females measure about 55 to 60 centimeters.

Regarding weight, this difference is also noticed: the ideal weight for males is 30 to 40 kilos and for females is between 25 and 30 kilos. Therefore,  we can say that they are muscular and stocky dogs, of medium size,  but also slender and stylized.

Its body maintains a rectangular proportion:  its back is slightly longer than the cross height. The same goes for the head: the nose, which in proportion, is slightly larger than the skull.

Ears are triangular, elongated, with a slightly rounded tip. They are held upright on the head and pointed forward, as in an alert position. The eyes and nose are also dark: if it were an albino animal, they would be pink.

The fur is completely white. There are two varieties of hair: medium long and completely long. In both cases, this dog has a double coat of fur: the undercoat is dense and hard and the outer layer is silky and smooth. The face, ears and front of the legs have shorter hairs.

The tail is shaped like a saber and is thinner at the tip. At rest it is low,  almost straight or slightly curved. On alert, he can lift it, but never go above back height.

behavior of the white swiss shepherd

As for the behavior, it can be said that it resembles that of the German shepherd. It is an alert and vivacious dog that lives well as a companion dog, but is also valuable for work.

This, along with his agility and intelligence, made him a great competitor in canine sports such as  agility.  He is an attentive and alert dog, always willing to learn and therefore easy to train.

With such a smart dog,  you need to focus your education from a positive perspective  as it speeds up and facilitates learning. A traditional force-based education will only cause behavioral problems.

care and health

The White Swiss Shepherd  is prone to inherited diseases common to other breeds of shepherds and dogs its size:  gastric torsion,  elbow or hip dysplasia, and heart disease. Also, it appears to be more prone to food allergies and dermatitis.

As for the hair, due to its length, it is necessary to do  a good brushing at least twice a week to remove dead hair  and avoid skin problems.

The White Swiss Shepherd has struggled for decades to stop being the German Shepherd’s younger brother. Despite this, it gained popularity thanks to its extraordinary beauty and wonderful character.