White Swiss Shepherd – German Shepherd Relative Demystified

Written by: Bojana Radulovic
Dog breeds can be relatives also. Swiss White Shepherd is distant cousin of fantastic German Shepherd. Read about this fantastic, loyal, kind, kingly and lovable dog breed. Discover how intense they shed and if they get along with cats.

Breed Characteristics:

White Swiss Shepherd is a newly recognized breed that is also known as Berger Blanc Suisse. They are known for their unique look and for being extremely clingy.

This is also one of those breeds that won’t let you wear black at least twice a year. Learn what makes this breed so unique and if Swiss White Shepherd should be your next canine.

Quick Facts

Real name: Berger Blanc Suisse
Other names: White Swiss Shepherd
Origin: Switzerland
Breed type: Working Dogs
Weight: Male 30–40 kg (66–88 lb), female 25–35 kg (55–77 lb)
Height: Male 60–66 cm (24–26 in), female 55–61 cm (22–24 in)
Lifespan: 12 years
Color: Pure white
Coat: Thick medium in length; varies from shorter to semi-long

White Swiss Shepherd: History

White Swiss Shepherd is mostly intertwined with German Shepherd, their closest relative. This breed is a cross between the long-haired, short-haired and wire-haired shepherd dogs of the German regions of Württemberg, Thuringia and Bavaria. This breed is relatively new breed, as the AKC recognized it in 1908. Interestingly, the white-coated variant was removed from the main breed standard in 1968 but was saved by breeders in Switzerland. Breeders in Switzerland are responsible for developing a breed as we know it today.

Originally, White Swiss Shepherd’s were bred for herding, but they evolved with time due to their intelligence and strength to many different roles, including the roles of police dogs, rescue dogs, guide dogs, and even military dogs.

Nowadays, White Swiss Shepherds are considered to be a distinct breed. When it comes to the States and Canada, they opened their borders for this originally European dog back in the early ’70s directly from Switzerland.

The American male ‘Lobo’ is considered to be the progenitor of the breed in Switzerland. The descendants of this male registered with the Swiss Stud Book (LOS) including the other White Shepherd dogs. These dogs are registered as a new breed in the appendix of the Swiss Stud Book (LOS) since June 1991.

White Swiss Shepherd: Physical Appearance

White Swiss Shepherd’s are always white, without any mark or line of any other color on their fur. When it comes to their appearance they emit a strong and powerful posture with a well-muscled body. Overall, they are medium-sized dogs, with erect ears and a double coat.

Their outline is elegant, almost harmonious. If you were to meet them in dark you would think that you are looking at a wolf, due to their long and wolf-like head. Luckily, they are completely white so people know that they are not looking at the wolf.

In contrast to their fur, eyes are almond-shaped and dark brown, while the lips, nose, and eyelids are all black. Their neck is long and strong in addition to their bush tail. Males and females are big with a slight difference of just a few centimeters when it comes to height.

White Swiss Shepherd: Personality

White Swiss Shepherd is known as a white gentle dog that is extremely clingy when it comes to his owner or family members. In general, they are intelligent and bright just like the rest of the Shepherd family, so you can expect many traits that are reserved for German Shepherd. This breed is great when it comes to loving and protecting children, although they can be skeptical with strangers at first.

If you are a fan of outdoor and sport activity, this is a perfect dog for you, as they are we well outdoor fans. Even more, they are excellent in dog sports of any kind. Their temperament is lively and well-balanced, while at the same time they enjoy activities and social moments. The great thing about White Swiss Shepherd is that they won’t be aggressive or afraid without provocation, especially that they are not prone to showing fearful or shy behavior.

White Swiss Shepherd is a massive people-pleaser and once he falls in love with you he will follow you everywhere, basically, you will have a shadow following you everywhere.

They are also highly intuitive and make a great companion dog, so if you ever feel blue rest assured that your white bundle of joy will feel it and try to comfort you the same second. If you can handle 35 kg dog trying to sit in your lap, of course. Last, but not least – they are kind of in a need of constant affection, as they just love being in the center of attention when it comes to family life.

Are White Swiss Shepherds Aggressive?

White Swiss Shepherd is the Mellow Cousin of the Shepherd Family. When we say Shepherd family we think German Shepherd at the first place. We all know that German Shepherds are extremely loyal, protective, and moreover one of the best guard dogs out there. Trust us when we say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in this case.

White Swiss Shepherd can be a protective and serious dog when strangers are walking around his house or family members, but it doesn’t mean that they will attack. Simply said, if you love Shepherd’s in general and are very fond of German Shepherds but you would love to have a dog that’s less aggressive and serious than Swiss is your perfect match.

This dog is clingy toward his owner and can be good or bad, depends on training and the owner, just like with any other dog. However, they can share a few aggressive moments toward other animals, dogs especially if they are not properly prepared for co-existence.

Swiss White Shepherd And Cats

There are some amazing friendships between dogs and cats that last for years. In most cases, those friendships were born out of necessity, specific conditions, or from day one (when a dog was just a puppy and a cat just a kitten) of their lives.

The White Swiss Shepherd dog is known for its great demeanor toward children. Moreover, they are extremely protective when it comes to keeping children safe and happy (they will let children play with them freely), but there is one thing that can put the children in risk, and that’s – dog’s size.

The same principle goes for felines. If they are properly introduced to each other from day one and your dog understands how to move around smaller animals you shouldn’t have any problems with them fighting. White Swiss Shepherd and cats can be best friends if you work on their friendship with professional tips.

White Swiss Shepherd: Grooming

Just like any other white animal, so the white area means that you should be extra careful when it comes to outdoor time and rainy-walks. Your pooch will run and jump and anything that’s not white will be easily seen. Simply said, the white coat requires additional care. However, when it comes to grooming you will have your share of time investing in it.

You will have to brush White Swiss Shepherd at least two times a week, although three times would be perfect. After all, this breed is connected with German Shepard and they are known for shedding a lot, so this gorgeous breed does shed a lot as well. Again, their coat is white, so you can expect regular brushing off with a towel or dry shampoo. Don’t overdo with bathing as dogs skin is sensitive and they don’t need often bath as we do.

Also, you can always pick between commercial and homemade shampoo for dogs. If you need a better understanding of dogs coat and why you shouldn’t bath your dog to often, schedule an informative talk with your veterinarian.

You will have to brush them for sure on a regular basis, to keep their coat safe from bacteria and tartar. Have weekly gums and teeth check-ups.

Clip nails regularly – long nails are uncomfortable and may bother your canine with every step. Some average time for nail clipping is 3 weeks. Check ears and clean once a week to remove excess wax and bacteria. By doing so you will prevent an ear infection.

This beauty comes with a price, and if you are not ready to invest in more than a functional vacuum cleaner and to spare at least two days per week of your time for long brushing, this just may not be the dog for you.

White Swiss Shepherd: Training

Thanks to their playful and balanced temperament they are great to train. With so much intelligence and willingness to learn they are great when it comes to training sessions. They are eager to learn. However, bear in mind that in canine’s world learning comes from loyalty, so you need to show him that you deserve his loyalty and that you are a true pack leader.

Naturally, real training starts on day one, when you pooch enters your home, so make sure that by the time your dog is not older then just a few months knows basic commands and house rules.

How To Train White Swiss Shepard?

The first thing that you should know about training White Swiss Shepard is that just like with any other breed early training and proper socialization is the key when it comes to having a well-behaved puppy and later an adult dog.

Expose your dog to different sounds, sights, people, other animals, and different experiences to make your white canine a well-rounded dog. Like with anything in life, arm yourself with extra patience.

White Swiss Shepard is an active breed so be ready for long walks and proper exercises that are fun. After all, they love a good challenge.

Training tips:

One more important thing about training that people tend to forget is that dogs can be very sensitive to how they are treated and to their environment. They will absorb their surrounding and manifest it in their behavior. That being said, make sure to have calm and nice surrounding that is pet-friendly and positive.

White Swiss Shepherd: Health

Every dog breed comes with specific health characteristics, and they all come into medical bumps in the road at some point in their life. And being a responsible owner means that you are capable to provide them anything needed for proper healthcare. Although White Swiss Shepherd is relatively healthy, it’s always important to have regular veterinarian check-ups.

The truth is that some breeds are more prone to certain health conditions than others, especially if you are having a purebred dog. Luckily, with a purebred dog, you know what the breed is prone to and what you can expect in terms of medical conditions and medical history. Some of the most common health conditions that White Swiss Shepherd is prone to are:

All in, if you got your dog from a reputable breeder or an animal shelter the chances that you know the medical history and vaccination state, so you can advice with your veterinarian on the next steps. With proper vaccination, good nutrition, healthy and active lifestyle your dog should live a long and happy canine life.

White Swiss Shepherd – Key Takeaways

White Swiss Shepherd is mostly known for its unique presence and clean appearance. Also, this breed is known for being highly intelligent, eager to learn and extremely lovable when it comes to cuddling with his owner. They are great with small children and other animals if they are properly trained for that. It’s crucial that they are socialized well. Otherwise, you will a great companion for many years and some high-quality time outdoor.

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