White Swiss Shepherd Dog

About the breed

The White Swiss Shepherd Dog is a herding dog with a white double coat, recognised by the FCI on a definitive basis since 4 July 2011 as a breed in its own right (standard No. 347, country of origin Switzerland). Its ancestors were white dogs of German Shepherd descent, which is why many people look for a “white German Shepherd”; under the FCI, however, these are two breeds with separate standards. The standard describes it as a companion and family dog, but in daily life it is a shepherd that needs company, exercise and work. In the FCI’s French name it is the Berger Blanc Suisse.

From white German Shepherds to a breed of its own

The Swedish Kennel Club (SKK) states that the breed’s history is the German Shepherd’s history up to 1933, when the colour white was banned in Germany; white dogs then largely disappeared from Europe while breeding continued mainly in the USA and Canada. According to FCI standard No. 347, the first dogs were imported to Switzerland in the early 1970s, and the American male Lobo, whelped on 5 March 1966, is regarded as the progenitor of the breed there; since June 1991 Switzerland has registered them as a new breed.

The FCI accepted the breed provisionally on 26 November 2002 and definitively on 4 July 2011. That Switzerland is the country of origin does not mean every ancestor was Swiss: according to the Swiss magazine Hunde (2003), the country that applies to the FCI for recognition usually becomes the country of origin. The same article, hosted on the Swiss breed club’s website, describes the 1933 event as the exclusion of white shepherds from breeding; the UK breed club adds that Switzerland was the first country to recognise the breed officially as a distinct one, so it is credited as the country of origin. The Kennel Club in the UK recognised the breed with effect from 1 October 2017.

How the White Swiss Shepherd differs from the German Shepherd

Under the FCI the two breeds differ in colour, standard and purpose, while their measurements are similar. Standard No. 166 for the German Shepherd states that the colour white is not allowed and lists white hair colour as a disqualifying fault, even with dark eyes and nails. Standard No. 347 prescribes a single colour: white. The other differences (the first figure is for the White Swiss Shepherd, the second for the German Shepherd):

• height at the withers: 58–66 cm (males) and 53–61 cm (females) against 60–65 cm and 55–60 cm;
• weight: about 30–40 kg and 25–35 kg against 30–40 kg and 22–32 kg;
• coat: a double coat of medium length or long against a double coat and a long double coat;
• purpose: companion and family dog without a working trial against a working and service dog with a working trial.

The breed club in the UK (White Swiss Shepherd Club of the UK) adds that the White Swiss Shepherd differs somewhat in conformation and movement from the German Shepherd seen in today’s show ring. More on the other breed is on the German Shepherd page.

Appearance: measurements, two coat types and dark pigment

The standard describes a medium-sized, powerful, well-muscled dog of rectangular build with erect ears; at 58–66 cm at the withers and up to 40 kg, it is nevertheless a big dog in daily life. There are two coat types, medium-length and long; the standard does not mention a short coat. Both have a dense double coat with abundant undercoat, and the long coat forms a mane at the neck and “trousers” on the back of the legs, though the length must never be exaggerated.

The colour is white, but the pigment must be dark: nose preferably black (a “snow” or lighter nose is accepted), eyes brown to dark brown. A slight fawn overlay on the ear tips, back and upper tail is a fault and a distinct one a severe fault, as are drop or semi-pricked ears. Total loss of pigment in the skin and on the pads, and albinism, are disqualifying faults, so a white coat is not the same as albinism.

Temperament: sociable and devoted, but not a sofa dog

The standard describes a lively, balanced, attentive and trainable dog, friendly and discreet, devoted to its owner and never afraid or aggressive without provocation; aggressive or overly shy dogs are disqualified. That is a description of the ideal dog, not a guarantee for every puppy. The SKK warns that the breed is often described as a family dog, but its herding and guarding background shapes it more strongly than buyers of pure companions expect; it can be neutral towards strangers. The UK breed club says a dog without regular exercise can soon become vocal, bored and possibly destructive.

Social confidence is decisive. The Swedish breed club (Vit Herdehundklubb) reports that in mental tests most dogs show some social insecurity in parts of the test, and warns that social unavailability or lasting fear, like fear of gunshots, is highly heritable. The parents’ temperament therefore counts almost as much as their health.

Family, children and other animals

It can be a good family dog if someone is at home for much of the day and the dog is not left alone for long hours. The standard classes it as a family dog, and the UK club describes friendliness towards children and recommends the breed to families where someone is usually present. A dog weighing up to 40 kg can knock over or frighten a child with the best of intentions, so play should be supervised by an adult. The standard praises high social competence, but that calls for early introduction to children, other dogs and different places; getting on with a cat or another animal depends on socialisation and the individual, not on the breed.

Beginners, training, exercise and apartment living

It is not the easiest choice for a complete beginner, even though the standard calls it trainable. The SKK says the breed is easy to teach and versatile, which demands an engaged handler; it is also used as a social service dog and an assistance dog. A first-time owner has a good chance if prepared for structured work, a dog school and consistent rules from the first week.

It needs exercise and mental work every day: the SKK describes it as a very active dog suited to most working and sport disciplines, and the UK club mentions agility, obedience and flyball. A realistic plan includes several outings, free running in a safe place and some structured work such as searching, tracking or obedience. An apartment is not an obstacle in itself if the dog is not alone for long hours; the owner’s time and willingness matter, not the square metres. A house with a garden supplies space only, not work with the dog.

Caring for the white coat

The coat sheds heavily, but care is fairly simple. The UK club classes the breed as a heavy shedder that is easy to groom; for the long coat the SKK gives a thorough brush once a week and somewhat more often during the moult, especially behind the ears and on the back of the thighs. A white coat does not mean less hair; anyone with an allergy should think about that before buying.

Health: hips, elbows and genetic tests

With this breed it is sensible to keep an eye on hips and elbows and to know the parents’ genetic test results. A French study of screening radiographs (Baldinger et al., 2020) found that the share of dogs with hip dysplasia (grades C–E) fell from 34.6% to 20.3% between 1997 and 2017. The Swedish breeding database has recorded 1083 hip results since 2000, 80% of them normal (A or B), and 1060 elbow results, 85% ED 0 and 12% ED 1; the Finnish breed club puts hips graded A or B at about 70% for dogs born 2012–2023, with 7% graded D (53% of those dogs had been screened).

Among hereditary conditions, degenerative myelopathy (DM) and the MDR1 mutation are mentioned. The UK Kennel Club explains that the DM test assesses risk rather than giving a definitive diagnosis, while the MDR1 mutation makes affected dogs markedly sensitive to some drugs, for example ivermectin and loperamide. The White Swiss Shepherd Club of America published 2024 results for 131 dogs tested for DM (81.7% normal, 17.6% carriers, 0.8% affected) and 99 dogs tested for MDR1 (91.9% normal, 8.1% carriers, none affected); these are results submitted to the club, so they may not hold for the whole population. The UK club also lists bloat among the breed’s health issues, and the American club notes occasional heart stenoses and recommends a cardiac exam before breeding.

Skin, digestion, cancer and a small population

In the Finnish breed club’s survey (532 dogs born from 2012), 30% of dogs had symptoms on the skin, paws or ears, and atopy or allergy had been diagnosed in 12%. In the Swedish survey, 34% of owners who answered reported skin problems or itching and 21% stomach or bowel problems. According to Finnish Kennel Club records (2010–2025), cancer is the most common cause of death after old age (229 against 280 of 1207 recorded deaths), although recording the cause of death is voluntary. The Swedish club describes a small population with little genetic variation and average genetic inbreeding of around 27–28% in tested dogs, so checking the parents’ health and choosing a breeder who limits relatedness matter all the more.

Lifespan: the sources disagree

There is no single reliable figure for the whole breed, and the two sources quoted measure different things. The UK breed club gives 12–14 years, but without citing a source. The Finnish Kennel Club records a mean age at death of 8 years 11 months for 1207 dogs that died between 2010 and 2025; for deaths from old age it was 12 years 2 months, and for cancer 9 years 5 months. Those data come from one country and include dogs that died or were euthanised younger, so they are not a life expectancy. We therefore use an approximate range of about 9 to 14 years.

What to ask a breeder

Ask for written results for both parents and meet both, not only the mother. Ask about hip and elbow scores, DM and MDR1 tests (the UK club says its members carry them out), a heart examination, an assessment of the parents’ temperament and the litter’s coefficient of inbreeding; the Swedish club lists puppies for referral only from litters whose pedigree-calculated inbreeding coefficient is 0.4% or lower. Programmes differ: in Finland both parents must have official hip, elbow and spine (LTV) results and a valid eye examination at mating, while in Sweden puppies of parents without a known hip status cannot be registered. The FCI standard says that only functionally and clinically healthy dogs should be used for breeding. Discuss tests and medicines with a vet, and find breeders in the breeders directory.

Who it suits and who it suits less

It suits active households where someone is home for much of the day and there is time for daily exercise, mental work and regular brushing; the condition is a breeder who shows both parents’ results. It suits less those who are away most of the day, want an undemanding dog, or are first-time owners without readiness for a dog school and steady work. The conditions for living together well are early socialisation, consistent training and a responsible choice of puppy.

Pros & cons