White Swiss Shepherd Dog
A gentle, white shepherd: attentive, friendly and eager to work with its family, with a softer edge than many working shepherds.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 60–66 cm · Females 55–61 cm
- Weight
- Males 30–40 kg · Females 25–35 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Double coat, medium, long
- Colours
- White
- Bred for
- Herding, Companionship, Guarding
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- FCI
- Group 1, no. 347 · Sheepdogs & cattle dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 4/5 – High |
| Grooming effort | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a gentle, trainable large dog
- enjoy active outdoor life and dog sports
- have time for daily walks and training
Think twice if you …
- dislike white hair on everything
- live in a small flat
- are away for long hours
Care
Temperament
Friendly, sensitive and attentive, with a calm, steady nature. It is watchful and will alert to strangers but is rarely aggressive. It bonds closely with its family.
Exercise
An hour or two of daily activity, including training, suits it. Tracking, obedience, agility, rescue work and hiking are all good choices.
Grooming
Brush a few times a week and daily during the heavy seasonal moult. The white coat sheds mud easily once dry.
Training
Learns quickly and responds well to gentle, positive methods. Harsh handling makes it unsure; consistency builds confidence.
Health
Hip and elbow dysplasia, MDR1 drug sensitivity, degenerative myelopathy and some digestive sensitivities are reported. Ask the breeder for the parents' hip, elbow and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Spine
DNA tests
- MDR1 (ABCB1)
- DM (SOD1)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The White Swiss Shepherd Dog descends from white German Shepherds, which were excluded from the German Shepherd standard. Breeders in North America and later in Switzerland kept the white line going, and it was recognised by the FCI under Swiss patronage, provisionally in 2003 and definitively in 2011.
It is an affectionate, attentive dog that likes to be close to its people. It is usually friendly and balanced, alert without being nervous. It needs daily exercise and training, and it sheds a great deal. In an active home it is a pleasant all-round companion and a capable partner in many dog sports.
Did you know?
The breed's first registered dog in Switzerland was an American-born white shepherd named Lobo, imported in the 1960s.