About the breed. The White Swiss Shepherd dog, also known as the Berger Blanc Suisse is a medium to large sized dog breed that is known for their white coats, wolflike appearance, vocal nature, incredible intelligence, obedience and versatility. A good example of the breed is a confident, family oriented, biddable and active dog that also fits the visual of the breed standard. White Swiss Shepherds come in two coat variations: long and stock coat. Stock coat (also known as “short coat”) dog’s coats look similar one to another while their long coated counterparts can vastly vary in appearance (From a thick and huge fluffy coat to a coat that is just a bit longer than a stock coat). The only acceptable eumelanin (Black pigment that colours a dog’s nose and skin, in some cases coat) colour in the breed is black. Some WSSD lines carry the dilution and liver genes, however it’s not advised to breed for these colours as it’s not desired in the breed and due to these being recessive genes, could substantially add to the already high Coefficient of Inbreeding of the breed. White Swiss Shepherd dogs stem from the German Shepherd dog breed so some lines come with a high drive and can be used as sport and police dogs, however most lines of this breed are medium to low drive and are used as show dogs or household pets.

History.The White Swiss Shepherd has its origins in the Thuringian region of Germany. There, the White Shepherd was a precursor to the popular German Shepherd dog, and in fact its body type made it one of the breeds selected to create the German Shepherd. For almost a century, there was little discerning between the German Shepherd and the White Shepherd. Then, in the 1930s, the white-colored dog was removed from shepherd breeding, and it almost became extinct. By the 1960s the White Shepherd had made a comeback, and in the U.S. and Canada it was distinguished as a separate breed. In the early 1970s, some of these dogs were sent to Switzerland, where they prospered and multiplied. The new White Swiss Shepherd breed was added to the Swiss Stud Book in 1991, and in 2017 the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom officially recognized the breed as well.

What kind of person is the ideal owner of the white shepherd? The ideal owner of a White Swiss Shepherd dog is an active owner that is ready to go on long walks and be ready to train their dog a lot. When taking a White Swiss Shepherd puppy home, it is needed to spend a lot of time socialising your puppy so that they grow up without typical behavioural issues of the breed (Like anxiety, reactivity, fearfulness). Even if you get your puppy from a good breeder without any apparent behavioural issues, it is the owner’s responsibility to “mould” their puppy so that it grows up to be a great pet for their lifestyle.

I live in apartment, is a White Swiss Shepherd the right breed for me? My take on large dogs in apartments might be a bit unusual. I am not against keeping a WSSD in an apartment, as long as it is being properly taken care of. Migla is a city dog living in an apartment and her quality of life is not bad because of it. However, if you want to keep a White Swiss Shepherd dog in an apartment, you need to be ready to spend hours of your day walking your dog, giving it mental stimulation in form of training or mentally stimulating toys and keeping it’s quality of life as high as they would have it if they lived in a house with a yard. The biggest mistake I see being made with White Swiss Shepherd dogs is underestimating their energy levels. As even a low drive WSSD will need a lot more activity than a lazier breed like a pug would need. Think about it this way, would you be able to keep a husky in your current housing and with your current lifestyle? If the answer is no, a White Swiss Shepherd dog is not the breed for you. Both breeds need a lot of activity and mental stimulation to not be destructive around the house, plus they both tend to be vocal and have high prey drives.