postheadericon Introductory Facts About White Haired German Dogs






by Heinz Kaufmann


German Shepherd breeding began a long time ago. This process resulted in a whole new range of breeds of companion and show dogs, Swiss Shepherd or Berger Blanc Suisse as well as the White German Chocolate puppy or the American/Canadian White Shepherd.

Known to be wolf dog hybrids, German Shepherds are graceful and smart species. Varieties of species of the White German Shepherd were first recorded in 1882.

Though some records point that White German Shepherds were first reported in 1917 from Ann Tracy's pack of hounds. Later on, in the 1920s, a person named H.N. Hanchett brought in these types to the United States. It has also been recorded that the first 15 years of white shepherd breeding produced mostly white puppies.

Though common, the white German Shepherds are still differentiated from the original line of German Shepherd. Max Von Stephanitz, the well known German Shepherd breeder also had white ones in his dog pack. This has been crossed with the original German Shepherd types which then brought about the Shiloh Shepherd.

Believe it or not the white type was prohibited under the US's GSD Breed Standard in 1933. In 1968, it was banned from becoming a show dog. During that time, the subtype's prohibition carried an elimination of these dog types in Europe.

The major reason for this change was that the white color was mistakenly regarded a condition of albinism that resulted as genetic health defects as well as paling of the breed color. Nevertheless, with genetic research today it has come to notice that the actual code for white coats is present in the MC1R gene locus. This gene is responsible for the overall color conformation and has nothing to do with albinism.

In 1969, an organization set out to advocating the White German Shepherd was formed. In 1977, the group expanded internationally starting from Germany then the entire Europe. The White German Shepherd was categorized as another breed on countries like Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland.

White German Shepherds do not have abnormalities. They definitely don't have discolored eyelids, eyes and nose which are the characteristics of dogs having albinism. Their coats are usually silvery white and some variations of gray. They also have longer coats around their necks.

The nose of the white German Shepherd should be black. The snow nose tends to fade in the winters and this is an acceptable trait only if the nose becomes darker in warm weather and does not remain pink. The White German Shepherd puppies are very obedient and reactive to training therefore making excellent house pets for children and families.




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