The White Swiss Shepherd Dog is a cousin of the German Shepherd Dog. However, unlike this guard and police dog, it was bred to be suitable for living with families. At first, white sheepdogs were not considered defective, on the contrary, they had many admirers. It was only during World War II that they were considered worse. Then it practically led to the extinction of the breed. However, at some point, people finally decided to breed white shepherd dogs separately from German shepherds. Thanks to this, now we can take care of such a pooch also in Poland.
The White Swiss Shepherd Dogs are very similar in silhouette to the German Shepherd Dogs but their backs are different. The Swiss Shepherds are more upright than the latter.
An adult male dog measures 58-66 cm and a female is 53-61 cm. They weigh respectively: a male 30-40 kg and a female 25-35 kg. Their life expectancy is 10-13 years.
The White Swiss Shepherd Dog is a medium-sized, powerful, well-muscled dog with a moderately strong bone and an elongated, elegant silhouette. The White Sheepdog has erect ears, long or short coat, always with an undercoat. It is a lively, never nervous, alert dog. It can behave in any situation and becomes strongly attached to its owner. It does not seem to be fearful or aggressive without a reason. It is a happy, easy-to-learn, working and sporty dog, suitable for a wide variety of tasks. High intelligence allows it to adapt easily to different situations.
In addition, this animal is gentle and willing to cooperate with humans. These are great advantages that make this breed suitable for companionship for most people. These dogs can be easily raised even by those who know little about dogs. However, it should be remembered that this quadruped requires early socialization, a lot of exercise, and human presence and attention. The Swiss Shepherd Dog is not a suitable breed for nervous and impatient people - they are sensitive dogs. Undesirable human behavior can make the dog withdrawn and fearful, and in extreme cases even aggressive. Unfortunately, as with other breeds, the mistakes we make in the upbringing at the beginning are difficult to eliminate later.
The White Swiss Shepherd Dog is a multi-purpose breed. However, it will not be an ideal dog in sports such as agility or frisbee. It will be perfect as a companion for people who like sports and an active lifestyle. This dog will do great in such disciplines as dogtrekking, skijoring or canicross. Dogs of this breed will be perfect guides for a blind or partially sighted person. They can also take part in dog therapy classes.
This sheepdog is attached not only to its owner, but it loves everyone, especially children. It gets along perfectly with younger caregivers, is patient, gentle and full of delicacy even when playing. However, children should know what they can afford when playing with the pooch, especially with a puppy, because the Swiss Shepherd Dog has a low pain tolerance. This dog is calm, does not attack people, more often shows distrust and keeps distance. It makes a good watchman - if it senses a threat, it will not hesitate to react.
Its characteristic feature is sensitivity. It becomes very attached to its owner, and does not tolerate parting with him. It likes to feel needed, so it is happy to help people. However, due to the pet's sensitivity, you shouldn't shout at your dog. It also should be trained using more gentle methods than, for example, the German Shepherd Dog.
- Coat
Despite the color in the breed's naming convention, the coat is often also cream-colored. The White Swiss Shepherd Dog can be of the long or shorthair variety. Caring for both is just as easy and takes little time. You should brush your dog every third or fourth day, so that no felts that block the air flow to the skin are formed. Unfortunately, if you want to raise such a sheepdog, you should bear in mind that it sheds a lot twice a year. During this time, the dog should be combed much more often, even up to 2 times a day.
The need to wash your pet depends on how dirty it is. Usually it should be bathed every 2/3 months. However, if it is prone to intensive dirtying, it should be done more often.
- Ears
The ears are erect, medium-sized. Otitis can easily occur in sheepdogs, so it is necessary to check their eyes frequently and maintain their hygiene by washing with special liquids.
- Eyes
The eyes of this breed are dark, almond-shaped. As with any dog, purulent discharge must be removed. The Swiss Shepherds are not prone to eye disease but you should check their eyes from time to time to see if there is anything wrong with them.
The color of this dog's coat, as the name suggests, is white.
- Medium-long hair is dense, close-fitting, with a profuse undercoat. The topcoat should be hard and straight. Slightly wavy hair allowed, provided it is hard.
- The long coat is dense, close-fitting, with a profuse undercoat. The topcoat must be hard and straight. On the neck, long hair forms a distinct mane, and on the thighs - trousers and abundant putty. The hair should never be too long. A slightly wavy hair is allowed, provided it is hard.
The most common disease in sheepdogs is hip or elbow dysplasia.
Other diseases that may occur in this breed:
- atopy
- juvenile osteitis
- spondylosis
- traumatic pyoderma
- degenerative myelopathy
- expansion and torsion of the stomach
During the period of intensive growth, White Swiss Shepherd puppies should receive a well-balanced food, rich in vitamins and the right nutrients. Due to the high activity of this breed, it must be a highly energetic feed. A good solution is to give your dog a ready-made dry food or switch to the Barf diet. In this diet, we are sure what food our dog receives. It is the owner who composes the meals. This diet is based on the provision of raw products from livestock and more. Before implementing this diet, it is worth getting acquainted with it in detail.
