White Swiss Shepherd Dog

The White Swiss Shepherd Dog is a large herding breed bred up in Switzerland from white-coated German Shepherd stock. It keeps the athletic build and working drive of that ancestry, but carries an all-white coat and a softer, more sensitive nature. A full-grown dog stands tall and covers ground with an easy, sweeping gait.

This is a people-focused dog that settles into a household and stays close to its own. It can be standoffish with strangers without ever turning aggressive, and its sharp mind and eagerness to please make it quick to train, though a heavy hand does more harm than good with a dog this sensitive.

It is an active breed that wants exercise for both body and mind every day. It suits an owner who has the time, the routine and the company to give it a proper place in family life rather than a spot in the garden on its own.

Who it suits

This dog suits an active household that can keep up daily exercise and ongoing training. It gets on best with owners who are around most of the day or can bring it along with them, since long stretches alone do not suit it. A first-time owner can manage the breed well enough, provided they are ready for its energy and its need for calm, consistent handling. It is not the right match for anyone after a low-maintenance dog that is happy to potter along on its own.

White-coated pups turned up in German Shepherd litters from the earliest days of that breed, in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The white coat is a recessive gene that was there in the foundation stock all along, and for a good stretch of the 20th century these white dogs were registered simply as German Shepherds in a number of countries.

That changed as kennel clubs, and the German Shepherd standard itself, began to treat a white coat as a fault or an outright disqualification. White-coated dogs were gradually squeezed out of German Shepherd breeding programmes, so enthusiasts kept them going as a breed apart.

White German Shepherds made their way from North America to Europe, and breeders in Switzerland set up a dedicated breeding base for them there. Switzerland became the country most associated with the breed's recognition, which the name reflects to this day.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognised the White Swiss Shepherd Dog as its own breed in the early 2000s, with Switzerland named as the country of origin. The Irish Kennel Club recognises the breed under FCI rules, and since gaining recognition it has built up a following across Europe, Ireland included, both as a working dog and a family companion.

The White Swiss Shepherd Dog has the strong, slightly long-backed build typical of a herding breed, with a level back, a deep chest and a bushy tail carried low when at rest. The head is wedge-shaped, with erect ears set forward and a dark nose. Taken together, the dog gives an impression of power carried lightly, moving with real reach and drive.

Coat and colours

The coat is always white, and that is what defines the breed. It comes in two lengths: a medium coat and a long coat, both with a thick undercoat that stands up well to wet, cool weather, of the kind Ireland has plenty of. The medium coat lies close and dense, while the long coat carries light feathering on the legs and tail. Dark pigment on the skin, nose, lips and eye rims sets off the white coat by contrast. Shedding is steady right through the year, and the undercoat blows out more heavily at the change of seasons.

The breed is loyal and affectionate with its own household, and tends to form a close bond with whoever it lives alongside. It is attentive and keen to please, so it is a cooperative dog to train and easy to live with day to day. Many are patient and gentle with children when they are raised together.

With people it does not know, the breed tends to hold back and watch rather than greet warmly on first meeting. It notices changes around it and makes a capable watchdog on that account, though it was never bred for guarding or aggression. Proper socialisation from early on helps it stay settled and confident around new faces and new situations.

It generally gets on well with other animals, particularly if introduced to them young. Its herding background can show through as a habit of following or gathering the family together, and its sensitivity means it reads an owner's mood closely. Tension in the house or a rough hand tends to make it anxious rather than defiant.

Grooming

• Brush two to three times a week, more often when the undercoat blows out at the change of season
• Bathe only when needed, since washing too often strips the coat of its natural oils
• Check and clean the ears regularly, as the erect ears can gather debris
• Trim nails every few weeks and brush teeth several times a week

Exercise

• Give at least an hour or two of activity a day, split between lead walks and free running
• Add mental work such as obedience, scent games or trick training to keep the mind occupied
• Provide a securely fenced garden or field for off-lead running where you can
• Consider dog sports such as agility, tracking or herding trials to put the breed's drive to use

Environment

The breed settles into most homes once it gets enough exercise, though a house with a secure garden suits it best. Ireland's cool, damp climate poses no bother to a dog with a coat this thick, though it still needs shade and water on the odd warm day. It is not a dog that does well left on its own for long stretches, and isolation can lead to barking, restlessness or destructive behaviour.

Feed a complete, balanced diet made for large, active breeds. Look for quality animal protein and enough fat to fuel its energy, and pick a formula suited to the dog's life stage. A large-breed puppy formula helps keep growth steady, which protects the joints while they are still developing. Keep fresh water down at all times, and adjust portions to keep the dog at a lean, healthy weight.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about 10 per cent of the day's calories, so they do not throw the diet out of balance. Use small, low-fat treats for training. Most dogs on a good complete food need no supplements, but a vet may suggest joint support, such as glucosamine, or omega fatty acids for the coat and joints. Bring in any new food or supplement gradually.

The White Swiss Shepherd Dog is on the whole a healthy, hardy breed, with a typical lifespan of 12 to 14 years. As a large, active dog with herding ancestry, it carries some of the health risks common to dogs of its size and background. Buying from a breeder who screens breeding stock for hereditary conditions cuts down the odds of inherited problems.

Preventive care

• Keep up with annual vet checkups and core vaccinations
• Maintain a lean body weight to protect the joints
• Keep on top of parasite control for fleas, ticks and worms
• Feed measured meals and hold off on hard exercise straight after eating, to lower the risk of bloat
• Ask about hip, elbow and degenerative myelopathy screening when choosing a pup

This is an intelligent breed that is keen to work alongside its owner, and that puts it among the more trainable herding dogs going. It picks up commands fast and enjoys having a job to do, whether that is obedience, agility or scent work. Because it is a sensitive dog, it does best with patient, encouraging handling. Harsh corrections or raised voices tend to shut it down and chip away at its trust. Early socialisation matters too, so the dog grows up confident around people, animals and unfamiliar settings.

Basics

1. Start socialisation in puppyhood, with a range of people, places, sounds and other dogs
2. Teach foundation cues such as sit, down, stay and recall in short sessions
3. Reward the right response straight away with food, play or praise
4. Keep sessions short and frequent rather than long and repetitive
5. Add mental challenges and dog sports as the dog matures, to keep it engaged

Responsible breeding of the White Swiss Shepherd Dog puts health, temperament and conformation to the breed standard first. Dogs can reproduce earlier, but most breeders wait until full maturity at around two years, so health screening can be finished and the dog is grown both physically and mentally. Both parents should be tested for hereditary conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia before mating.

Bitches come into season roughly twice a year. Gestation runs to about 63 days, after which the dam whelps the litter. Litters tend to run moderate to large for a dog of this size.

Newborn pups arrive blind and deaf and rely entirely on the dam for warmth and feeding. Their eyes open at around two weeks, and the litter is up and about, curious, not long after that. The stretch from three weeks to around twelve weeks matters most for socialisation, so pups should be handled gently and shown everyday sights and sounds. Most pups go to new homes from about eight weeks old, once weaned and given a first check by the vet.

How to register a White Swiss Shepherd Dog in Ireland

A dog warden with a scanner can only follow the record, and a White Swiss Shepherd Dog whose record is current is home the same day. Register your dog free with United Pet Club: your contact details, his photo, and his chip number together on one profile that never lapses and never bills you.

The implant is the vet's job; the record is down to you, and the 2015 rules assume you'll keep it current. Register the microchip free on the lifetime plan: whatever brand the vet reached for is grand, a house move costs nothing to record, and the number stays searchable day and night. Create your free account and have the pair of jobs done before the tea goes cold.