The White Swiss Shepherd: A Guide to This Beautiful Breed

Discover the beauty and charm of the White Swiss Shepherd with this comprehensive guide. Learn about their history, temperament, and care requirements.

The White Swiss Shepherd is a stunning breed of dog that is known for its intelligence, loyalty, and gentle nature. In this guide, you'll learn about the history of this breed, its temperament, and the care requirements needed to keep your White Swiss Shepherd happy and healthy. Whether you're considering adding one of these beautiful dogs to your family or simply want to learn more about them, this guide has everything you need to know.

History of the White Swiss Shepherd.

The White Swiss Shepherd, also known as the Berger Blanc Suisse, is a relatively new breed that was developed in the mid-20th century. It is believed to have originated from the German Shepherd breed, with breeders in Switzerland and Germany working to create a dog with a white coat that was just as intelligent and loyal as the German Shepherd. The breed was officially recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 2011. but was accepted on a provisional basis in 2002. Today, the White Swiss Shepherd is gaining popularity around the world as a beloved companion and working dog.

Temperament and personality traits.

The White Swiss Shepherd is known for its loyal and affectionate nature, making it an excellent family pet. They are also highly intelligent and trainable, making them well-suited for a variety of tasks, including search and rescue, therapy work, and obedience competitions. However, they can be wary of strangers and may require early socialization to prevent shyness or aggression. Overall, the White Swiss Shepherd is a loving and devoted companion that thrives on human interaction and attention.

Physical characteristics and grooming needs.

The White Swiss Shepherd is a medium to large-sized dog with a thick, white coat that requires regular grooming to maintain its beauty and health. They have a muscular build and a wedge-shaped head with erect ears. Their eyes are almond-shaped and are in color brown to dark brown only. The breed sheds moderately year-round and heavily twice a year, so regular brushing is necessary to prevent matting and tangling. They also require regular nail trimming, ear cleaning, and dental care to maintain their overall health and hygiene.

Training and exercise requirements.

The White Swiss Shepherd is an intelligent and active breed that requires regular exercise and mental stimulation. They excel in obedience training and can also participate in agility, tracking, and herding activities. Daily walks and playtime in a fenced yard are recommended to keep them physically and mentally healthy. It’s important to note that this breed can become destructive if they don’t receive enough exercise and attention, so it’s important to provide them with plenty of opportunities to burn off their energy. Consistent and positive training methods are also important to ensure they become well-behaved and obedient companions.

Two hours per day, with extra time for training and mental exercise on top, will keep the White Swiss Shepherd happy and content. Young dogs should be exercised carefully, avoiding stairs, steep hills and excessive twisting turning and jumping, to avoid damage to still-forming joints.

The adult White Swiss will really benefit from a physical job to do as their ancestors worked livestock, although not herding in the way a Border Collie might, gathering animals into a group and then moving the group. Instead, their role was as a living fence, pacing out an invisible boundary continuously to prevent sheep crossing that boundary, and thus keeping them to the land they were meant to be grazing. This job required plenty of stamina as where other livestock guardians would stand and watch, the Shepherd would be constantly on the move.

Health concerns and how to keep your White Swiss Shepherd healthy.

Like all breeds, the White Swiss Shepherd is prone to certain health issues. These can include hip and elbow dysplasia, eye problems, and allergies. To keep your White Swiss Shepherd healthy, it’s important to schedule regular check-ups with a veterinarian and to keep up with their vaccinations and preventative care. Providing a healthy diet and regular exercise is also important for their overall health and well-being. It’s also recommended to research and choose a reputable breeder who conducts health screenings on their breeding dogs to reduce the risk of inherited health issues.

Best Family Dog Breed

Better suited to the family with older children, and the quiet home – this is not a breed that would cope well with a constant traffic of children's friends, or indeed unknown adult visitors. Big enough to be rather clumsy when young and at risk of knocking over and flattening very small children! Consider the amount of hair shed too, this is not the dog for the houseproud or the allergy sufferer!

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.

Ideal Owner

The White Swiss Shepherd will appeal to those who like German Shepherds and some of the other larger pastoral and working breeds. Ideal owners will have relevant experience in working with and training clever pastoral types, and should have plenty of time for the exercise and entertainment this breed needs – and enjoy a dog who is totally devoted to them and is largely disinterested in anyone else. The Swiss Shepherd also sheds like a GSD, so investing in a decent vacuum cleaner is vital!

Key Facts

Lifespan: 10 – 12 years

Weight:25 – 40kg

Height:53 – 66cm

Colours: The coat only comes in white and should not have any hint of biscuity, yellow or fawn shading

Size:Large

Rating

Family-friendly: 5/5

Exercise needs: 5/5

Easy to train: 5/5

Tolerates being alone: 3/5

Likes other pets: 2/5

Energy level: 4/5

Grooming needs: 5/5

Shedding: 5/5

Ratings information source Purina.co.uk