| White German Shepherds: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about White Shepherd personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the White Shepherd, including these excerpts:
"White German Shepherds need the same physical and mental exercise as dark-colored German Shepherds, but have been bred with an overall softer, more mellow, more sensitive personality.
Because of this sweeter temperament, timidity is possible, and White Shepherds need a great deal of early socialization to build a confident attitude.
Though they seldom have dominant personalities, White German Shepherds can be hard-headed, and all large working dogs need a confident, consistent owner who will establish and enforce rules.
White German Shepherds can be quite vocal."
History
White has always occurred naturally in German Shepherds, but was disqualified by the GSD Club of America in the 1960s. They believed that herding and guardian dogs should be dark to be more easily distinguished from the sheep and less easily detected by criminals in the dark.
White dogs can be registered with the AKC as German Shepherds and shown in AKC performance events (obedience, tracking, agility), but NOT in conformation classes. The UKC allows White Shepherds to be registered as their own breed and to compete in conformation classes with other White Shepherds. The American White Shepherd Association also holds its own events.
Size
22-26 inches and 65-110 lbs |
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White German Shepherds
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- There are energetic Shepherds, and placid Shepherds.
- Hard-headed Shepherds, and sweet-natured Shepherds.
- Serious Shepherds, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Shepherds, and Shepherds who love everyone.
| If you acquire a White Shepherd puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
Now let's look at some common characteristics for this breed...
- Is very similar to a German Shepherd, but usually with a "softer," more mellow personality
- Is natural-looking and athletic
- Is one of the most capable and trainable breeds in all of dogdom, eager to learn and to work and excelling at the highest levels of competition
- Makes a sensible guardian and is not inappropriately hostile
A White German Shepherd may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- Providing brisk walks every day and all-out running as often as possible
- Providing mental stimulation (training and other organized activities) to prevent boredom and destructiveness
- Rowdiness and exuberant jumping when young
- Skittishness or shyness in some lines, or when not extensively socialized
- Aggression toward other animals
- Heavy shedding
- Legal liabilities (public perception, future breed bans, insurance problems, increased chance of lawsuits)
- Serious health problems
A White German Shepherd may not be right for you.
| If I were considering a White Shepherd... |
My major concerns would be:
- Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. White Shepherds don't need miles of running exercise but they MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by destructive chewing.
| If you simply want a pet for your family, and don't have the time or inclination to take your dog out for plenty of exercise, or to get involved in advanced obedience, or agility (obstacle course), or tracking, or pulling a cart or sled, or a similar canine activity, I do not recommend this breed. Their intelligence and capabilities are wasted when they have nothing challenging to do. |
- Providing enough socialization. White Shepherds need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." Then they can recognize the difference when someone acts abnormally. Without careful socialization, they may be suspicious or timid of everyone, which is very difficult to live with and could even lead to biting.
- Bounciness. Young White Shepherds (up to about two years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people. If you have small children, or if you or anyone who lives with you is elderly or infirm, I do not recommend White German Shepherd puppies.
| To teach your White Shepherd to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My White Shepherd Training Page discusses the program you need. |
- Animal aggression. Most White Shepherds are fine with the pets in their own family, but some are dominant or aggressive toward strange dogs of the same sex. Some have strong instincts to chase cats and other fleeing creatures.
- Heavy shedding. White German Shepherds shed a LOT. You'll find hair and fur all over your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, under your furniture, on your countertops -- even in your food. Frequent vaccuming will become a way of life.
- Legal liabilities. Because of their similarity to German Shepherds, White Shepherds may end up targeted for "banning" in certain areas, or refusal of homeowner insurance policies. The legal liabilities of owning any breed that looks intimidating and has a history as a guardian dog should be seriously considered. People are quicker to sue if such a dog does anything even remotely questionable.
- Multiple clubs. There are several White Shepherd clubs, each claiming to be the only "true" organization for the breed. Each group supports its own standard and differing opinions about appearance, size, and temperament. Unfortunately, political backbiting abounds and you'll have to do a lot of research to pick your way through a minefield of claims, counterclaims, and accusations, some valid, some petty.
Also unfortunately, White German Shepherds have had a period as a "fad" breed, with lots of breeder ads filling the pages of dog magazines. Whenever this happens, you can count on plenty of unknowledgeable breeders being part of that crowd as they leap into breeding without enough thought or experience. The result is a breed which has gone off in several different directions in appearance, temperament, and health. It's hard to really know what you're getting.
- Serious health problems. From hip and elbow problems, to bone diseases, to stomach disorders, to skin conditions, German Shepherd health can be really iffy.
| If you're considering an adult White Shepherd... |
There are plenty of adult White Shepherds who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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Copyright © 2000-2006 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author. |
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