White Swiss Shepherd

Very intelligent, energetic, and affectionate. White Swiss pays a lot of attention to the owner. He is less sensitive than the German Shepherd but has excellent guarding abilities and can deter intruders. But, as a rule, the Swiss are too soft for attacks and aggression.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The White Swiss Shepherd is considered a dog of international origin and development. Several countries have had a noticeable influence on the formation of this breed.

The white sheepdog is a herding dog native to the United States, Canada, and England. Its heredity can be traced back to Germany. The White Shepherd Dog originated from the German Shepherd dog’s white subspecies and is a direct descendant of that breed. It thus shares the same common ancestry with the early German Shepherds.

Switzerland was the first country to recognize the white sheepdog as a separate breed officially. Therefore, the government is considered the country of origin. After that, in many countries, the breed’s name was changed to the White Swiss Shepherd.

Appearance

The white shepherd dog is a shepherd dog because it can be taken “for its own” among sheep’s flock by its color. Earlier, this fact was of great help to Swiss shepherds, who could take a snow-white dog of this breed for a shepherd.

The dogs are of medium size, but at the same time strong enough. They have relatively coherent and clear body outlines. Such a dog’s height ranges from 50 to 60 cm and weight from 25 to 40 kg, depending on gender and genetics.

Character

Very intelligent, energetic, and affectionate. White Swiss pays a lot of attention to the owner. He is less sensitive than the German Shepherd but has excellent guarding abilities and can deter intruders. But, as a rule, the Swiss are too soft for attacks and aggression.

This dog loves to be at the center of family life and is sad if he is locked up alone or left outside for a while. White Swiss Shepherds will happily accept dogs and other pets as part of their family pack. However, they may show aggression toward other dogs they don’t know very well.

The White Swiss Shepherd has a high energy level, so it needs enough space to move around and explore easily. That’s why a cozy backyard in the country house would be the ideal place for her, rather than a tiny apartment in the city.

Care

Owners should be prepared to brush a thick coat every day. And if this is not done quickly enough, lumps will form from the coat. Naturally, any dirt is immediately visible in its shiny white color. Therefore, the white Swiss Shepherd needs regular bathing. You will need a mild dog shampoo that will not dehydrate the skin and will not ruin the coat’s quality for proper care.

Training

The sheepdog breed as a whole has a high level of trainability. The white Swiss has this trait as well. And for the trainer to succeed, the dog must recognize the person’s dominant position. Therefore, the key to a dog’s strong personality will be its owner’s self-confidence.

However, it would be best if you never resorted to rigid training approaches. They are counterproductive with a brilliant breed such as this. The white Swiss will refuse to cooperate if he feels neglected. It would help if you appreciated his efforts.

Common Diseases

The White Swiss Shepherd tends to some diseases:

• allergies;
• rupture of the cruciate ligament;
• dysplasia of the elbow joint;
• epilepsy;
• exocrine insufficiency of the pancreas;
• hemophilia;
• hip dysplasia;
• megaesophagus.

Nutrition

The White Shepherd is a large breed of dog, so it’s best to feed him high-quality dog food for such dogs. There are food formulas designed specifically for active species. These are the ones that should be used in the diet of a white shepherd dog. Attractive options would also be a combined or natural food – lamb, beef, vegetables (carrots, zucchini, pumpkin).