White Shepherds?

[SouthernWoman]

Okay, I am looking for some information, links, etc. on "White Shepherds". I believe at least a few members own one?

I have some conflicting information. I have heard that they are German Shepherds and can be registered, but not shown due to their color. Others have told me they are NOT German Shepherds, but based on them crosses with other bloodlines, and a seperate breed.

Can anyone help me out? I am off to do a Google search right now, but help from others is always welcome!

[rutylr]

They are German Shepherds that are White,but there is a group that is trying to have them become their own breed.They are White Shepherds in UKC,but they are also German Shepherds(as some people don't want to seperate the breed.
White Shepherds and German Shepherds are different in body style and coat.Ther face is different and they do not have that huge slope(that I really hate).
This is a friends site on White Shepherds
http://www.reevesroyalacres.com/
The American White Shepherd ***.
http://www.awsaclub.com/
The White German Shepherd dog Club International.Inc
http://www.whitegermanshepherd.org/
But the pictures of theses dogs are also WS if you go by the Standards

UKC White Shepherd Standard
http://www.ukcdogs.com/breeds/herdin...herd.std.shtml
UKC German Shepherd Standard
http://www.ukcdogs.com/breeds/herdin...ddog.std.shtml

I tryed to find a picture of a White German Shepherd that fit the German Shepherd Standard,and not the White Shepherd Standard,but have not yet.

[NicoleLJ]

If you look at the picture with my name you will see Sheena, registered name(Debbie's Gift of Gods Grace). She is a registered AKC, pure bred white german shepherd. And I am sorry to tell you rutylr, but white shepherds and white german shepherds are the exact same thing. Just like you can find different body structures in rotti's the same thing is with the white german shepherd/white shepherd/Swiss Blanc. I know this becuase my Aunt was a very respected breeder of rotti's. But you also see the same thing in the body structure of standard colored german shepherds when you start comparing the American, European and the German lines. All of those have differering body structures. In some countries they have been successful in breed seperation. And have a different name. But even though they now have a different name they can still be bred and registered as white german shepherds in the states and canada as long as they do a DNA test and a few other criteria. I know this also because the stud I am planning to use next fall for Sheena is from another country and I had to do all of these things to register the future pups. Also in Canada and the States, under CKC and AKC they can not be shown as German Shepherds. The white color is a disqualifier. But they can be registerd, and they are registered in both as german shepherds. They can compete in all other avenues also just not conformation. That is the main reason that people are fighting for a breed seperation. But under the UKC they can be shown and registerd under the listing of German Shepherd or White Shepherd. After my post there are links to my web site where I also have a page with the history of my breed and also on my links page are some places to help you learn more. I hope this helps. Here is the official history of the White German Shepherd/White Shepherd/Swiss Blanc:


White German Shepherd History

The color white is one of the original colors of the German Shepherd Dog (GSD). The developer of our breed, Max Von Stephanitz, owned several white German Shepherd Dogs. The white coat color was a very important element in the creation of the German Shepherd Dog. The grandsire of Horand (Hektor, the first registered German Shepherd Dog), Greif, was white. Ann Tracy's Stoneihurst Edmond, whelped March 27, 1917, is believed to be the first registered white German Shepherd Dog born and bred in the United States.


The color white was made a disqualification in the GSD Breed Standard by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America over thirty years ago. Up until that time, the white-coated German Shepherd Dog was eligible to compete in conformation events. Our dogs are still eligible to be registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC); however, due to the color disqualification, our dogs can no longer be shown in the AKC conformation breed ring. There are many misconceptions that still exist today about the genetics of the white gene in the German Shepherd Dogs.

The White Gene in German Shepherd Dogs

There are many misconceptions about white-coated German Shepherd Dogs and the gene that expresses their coat color. First and foremost, white German Shepherd Dogs are NOT albinos. Albinos lack all pigment where white German Shepherd Dogs have brown eyes and black pigment on their noses, around their mouth, on their paw pads, around their eye rims and sometimes have darker skin and nails.

It was once thought that breeding to white German Shepherd Dogs would definitely lead to color paling, but the white gene is not a dilute gene (such as liver and blue) but a masking gene. A masking gene masks the real color and pattern of the dog. A white German Shepherd Dog can be any color and pattern found in the breed including black, black and tan, black and red, black and silver, black and cream, blue, liver, sable, saddled and bi-colored. The only possibility for dilution when using a white dog in a breeding program is if the white is masking a diluted color such as a black and silver, black and cream or is a blue or liver. Because it is unknown what color or pattern a white German Shepherd Dog is masking, it is hard to determine what colors the dog will throw when bred to a non-white German Shepherd Dog.

The white gene is also a recessive gene. The gene ONLY expresses coat color and is not linked to poor health, temperament or any other part of the dog's genetic make-up. The black coat color is also a recessive. A non-white German Shepherd Dog can carry the gene but not express it. When breeding non-white German Shepherd Dogs, the only way the gene can be expressed in some of the offspring is if both parents carry it. When a white dog is bred to a non-white dog that does not carry the gene, none of the offspring will express the white coat but they will be carriers of the white gene. If offspring are bred to a white, some of their offspring will express the white coat color. White bred to white will always produce white offspring.

Many of the misconceptions about the white coat color came into existence before modern genetics research. Many people thought white was linked to albinism and other health issues. Although these thoughts have been found to be untrue, the misconceptions have been hard to correct.



There are some people who believe that the white coated German Shepherd Dog is best served by forming a separate breed from the traditional German Shepherd Dog.

White German Shepherd Dog vs. White Shepherd



In the 1960's, the white coat color became a disqualifying fault in the German Shepherd Dog standard determined by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. Before the disqualification, the standard permitted the white German Shepherd Dog to compete side-by-side with its "colored" counterparts in the AKC conformation ring. The disqualification only pertains to AKC conformation competition; the white German Shepherd Dog can still be registered as a German Shepherd Dog by the AKC and participate in AKC performance events.

For over 30 years, white German Shepherd Dog fanciers have worked to try and change the German Shepherd Dog standard in order to give the dog the opportunity to once again show in the AKC conformation ring. Throughout the years, varying ideas on the future of the white German Shepherd Dog arose and two separate views now exist.

I am committed to the white German Shepherd Dog staying part of the German Shepherd Dog breed versus the dog becoming a separate breed (White Shepherd). The reasons the I feel it's important for the dog to stay a German Shepherd Dog as opposed to separating the breed are as follows:

1. <LI class=cont>The white coat color helped create and has been part of the German Shepherd Dog breed since the inception of the breed. <LI class=cont>The dog is AKC registered as a German Shepherd Dog. <LI class=cont>The gene pool for the white German Shepherd Dog is relatively small and inadequate for separation. <LI class=cont>The white German Shepherd Dog can benefit both structurally, mentally and health wise when bred to "colored" German Shepherd Dogs. <LI class=cont>Coat color should not be a basis for separating a breed. Varying coat colors in other AKC recognized breeds show as one breed or as a variety.
2. The white recessive gene is carried by some "colored" German Shepherd Dogs. If the white German Shepherd Dog were to be separated into a new breed, white-coated dogs born to "colored" German Shepherd Dogs would not be eligible for AKC registration since they are not the same breed.

White German Shepherd Dogs and White Shepherds are judged by different breed standards although in many cases both dogs look similar. The white German Shepherd Dog standard used is similar (except for color) to the standard used by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. The White Shepherd standard varies from the white German Shepherd Dog standard in shoulder and pelvis angle and length to height ratio.

The white German Shepherd Dog standard is used at conformation events by the White German Shepherd Dog Club of America, American Rare Breed Association, International All-Breed Canine Association of America and Canine Kennel Club among others. In the United Kennel Club, the white German Shepherd Dog can show as either a German Shepherd Dog or White Shepherd.

On the brighter side, we can show our beautiful white dogs in AKC-sanctioned performance events such as obedience, tracking, agility and herding trials. Also, the white German Shepherd Dog is able to be exhibited at most rare breed shows and is eligible to earn conformation titles with several independent kennel clubs including the WGSDCA. The WGSDCA holds a breed standard for conformation events very similar to the AKC German Shepherd Dog standard, with the exception of coat color.

White German Shepherd Dogs can be found in police forces across the country. They're found in bomb detection squads, drug interdiction units, tracking, attack work, community activities, and other activities required of a dog on any police force. The dogs are also actively involved in search and rescue units, keeping an eye on the family children, herding flocks, guiding the blind, assisting the handicapped, working as therapy dogs, guarding the home, appearing in movies and on television, and doing everything else that the wonderfully versatile German Shepherd Dog is famous for doing.

All information on this page are provided by the WGSDCA (White German Shepherd Dog Club of America)

[SouthernWoman]

Thank you both for the links and information; I have also found a couple of good, forthright sites on the Internet as well.

And yes, Nicole, your beautiful girl WAS the one I was thinking of.

[rutylr]

Yes they are the same but different,but when I Judge them.The White shepherd in my mind looks like this and a White German Shepherd should look like the colored version(but white).
I would not place a WGSD that looked like a WS.
Or a WS that looked like a GSD as they have different standards,and if you are going to show as that breed then you should structley look like it.
Sure Rottweilers have different looks but they still fall within one standard and you still know it's a Rottweiler.
Donna

[NicoleLJ]

I will have to agree to disagree with you. If you look at the german shepherd itself, american/european/German you will see three different versions. All the same breed, all different body structures and all have won and do in the show ring. The white german shepherd/white shepherd/swiss blanc comes in all three body structures as well. It is and always will be a German Shepherd. It is just white. Even if breed seperation comes to Canada and the States it will still have teh histrory of being a German Shepherd. That is just the way it is.

Nicole & Sheena PSD

[Nightrise]

I agree with NicoleLJ. It's just a different color althouth some breeders breed to get that color. Kinda like how some breeders (though this one is wrong) breed only for albino dobes. The only difference is that albinos are actually very sick dogs while the white shepherd doesn't experience all that an albino does. But, it's the same breed, different color. White shepherd come from colored ones as well and if you do take a look, America has very different looking kind of German Shepherd than Germany. It's just what bloodlines you get.

[rutylr]

Yes they are the same breed,but they are also sepreate breeds.In UKC you can show the dogs as WS or WGSD.So there are different standards for both.
So there are different body styles,but you can not give a dog a win in a class where it does not fit the standard.
I would not put up a dog in a GSD class that fit the standard of the WS.
Donna

[pung-yo]

rutylr........Quit while you are ahead, it's like hitting yourself in the head with a brick. We know what the deal is here so why waste more of our time.

[GermanShepherds]

Originally Posted by pung-yo

rutylr........Quit while you are ahead, it's like hitting yourself in the head with a brick. We know what the deal is here so why waste more of our time.

12-12-2005, 12:15 PM

This was Last Year.