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White Shepherd Merlin Training

This is the latest video of Merlin and I working together. Thank you to my friend Irma for doing both videos of me working with my white German shepherds - Merlin and Tala.

Why a White German Shepherd?

So you want a white German shepherd, or, in Australia they are most commonly known as white Swiss shepherds. Read about this confusion earlier in this blog.

A white shepherd is similar in temperament to German shepherd – some are aggressive or shy and others are outgoing and friendly. It is important to research the lines of the puppy you purchase so you have some idea of what types of temperaments and any health problems that have arisen within that particular line. That way you can make an informed decision.

Particularly look for hip and elbow dysplasia in the lines. This is something you do not want, and while there is a chance your pup may not be affected, these diseases are heartbreaking and best avoided. Make sure you see the hip and elbow scores of all the dogs in your pup’s line. The best scores for elbows are 0:0 and for hips the same, but these score cause political as well as health issues when it comes to the white German shepherd in Australia and is a subject for another series of articles.

If, regardless of everything you still have your heart set on a white shepherd then think about the commitment you are making to a living bering. Why do you want a white German shepherd? Are you prepared to:

1. spend a lot of time with your dog?
2. train your white shepherd?
3. have your white shepherd inside and as part of your family?
4. clean up white hair almost daily?
5. exercise your white shepherd regularly?
6. spend the next 15 years looking after your white shepherd?

If you answered yes to all these questions then a white German shepherd could be the right dog for you. Also consider the following facts about white shepherds, are you prepared to take the appropriate action or put in the training if your white shepherd:

1. is aggressive towards other animals
2. rowdy and express joy by jumping on everyone
3. is an incessant barker
4. digs up your backyard

A Well-balanced White German Shepherd Puppy

To ensure your white shepherd grows into a well-balanced dog mental stimulation, exercise and socialization are the three most important things when puppy comes home.

If you are not prepared to put the effort and time into your shepherd then this breed is not for you. Seriously, any shepherd needs time and consistent training and patience, especially during the first 3 years of its life.

And shepherds excel at working for you and look to their pack leader for direction and leadership. There is nothing a shepherd loves more than spending time with their human – learning tricks, going for walks, training at dog obedience, playing ball, learning agility, a run on the beach.

Young German shepherds are exuberant and show off their joy for life by bouncing around and they may not suitable for households with small children or elderly family members unless they are supervised.

Shepherds, white or otherwise were never born to be locked in backyards with little human interaction. This is a surefire way to end up with behavioural problems such as separation anxiety and incessant barking. Do yourself a favour, if you want a German shepherd be honest with yourself. Do you really have the time your shepherd needs to become a well-balanced, sociable member of our society. If not, a dog may not be the right choice for you at all, but certainly consider other breeds.

And most of all - love your shepherd.

FCI White Swiss Shepherd Breed Standard

FCI-Standard N° 347 / 18.12.2002 / GB
WHITE SWISS SHEPHERD DOG
(Weisser Schweizer Schäferhund)
(Berger Blanc Suisse)
Translation: Mrs. R. Binder.
Origin: Switzerland.
Date of publication of the original valid standard: 26.11.2002
Utilization: Family and working companion dog with distinctive friendly nature to children; attentive watchdog, cheerful and quick to learn.
Classification FCI: Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs).
Section 1 Sheepdogs – Without working trial.
Brief Historical Summary: In USA and Canada white shepherd dogs have gradually become to be accepted as a distinct breed.
The first dogs of this breed were imported into Switzerland in the early 70ies. The American male “Lobo”, whelped on 5th March 1966, can be considered as the progenitor of the breed in Switzerland. The descendants of that male registered with the Swiss Stud Book (LOS) and other white shepherd dogs imported from USA and Canada, gradually multiplied. There exists now a big number of white shepherd dogs, pure-bred, over several generations, distributed throughout Europe. For that reason, since June 1991, these dogs have been registered as a new breed with the appendix of the Swiss Stud Book (LOS).
General Appearance: A powerful, well-muscled, medium-sized, white shepherd dog with erect ears, double coat or long double coat or long double coat; elongated shape; medium sized bone and elegant, harmonious outline.
Important proportions:

• Moderately long rectangular shape: body length (from the point of shoulder to point of buttock) to height at withers = 12:10.
• The distance from the stop to the nose leather slightly beyond the distance from the stop to the occipital protuberance.

Behaviour/Character: Lively, without nervousness, attentive and watchful; towards strangers sometimes slightly aloof but never apprehensive or aggressive.
Head: Strong, dry and finely chiselled, in good proportion to the body. Seen from above and from the side wedge-shaped. Axes of skull and foreface parallel.
Cranial Region:
Skull: Only slightly rounded; indicated central furrow.
Stop: Slightly marked, but clearly perceptible.
Facial Region:
Nose: Medium-sized; black pigmentation desired; snow nose and lighter nose accepted.
Muzzle: Powerful and moderately long in relation to the skull; nasal bridge and lower line of muzzle straight, slightly convergent to the nose.
Lips: Dry, closing tightly, as black as possible.
Jaws/Teeth: Powerful and complete, scissor bite. The teeth should be set square to the jaw.
Eyes: Medium-sized, almond shaped, placed a little obliquely; colour brown to dark-brown; eye lids well fitting with black eye-rims desirable.
Ears: Erect ears, set high, carried upright, parallel and directed forward; in the shape of an oblong, at the tip slightly rounded triangle.
NECK: Medium-long and well muscled, with harmonious set on at the body, without dewlap; the elegantly arched neckline runs without disruption from the moderately high carried head to the withers.
BODY:
Strong, muscular, medium-long.
Withers: Pronounced.
Back: Level, firm.
Loins: Strongly muscled.
Croup: Long and of medium breadth; from the set on gently sloping to root of tail.
Chest: Not too broad; deep (about 50 % of the height at the withers); reaching to the elbows; ribcage oval; well extending to the rear. Prominent forechest.
Belly and flanks: Flanks slender, firm; underline moderately tucked up.
TAIL: Bushy sabre tail, tapering to the tip; set on rather deep; reaching at least to the hock joint; at rest, it hangs either straight down or with a slight sabre-like curve in its last third part; in movement carried higher, but never above the topline.
LIMBS:
Strong, sinewy, medium bone.
Forequarters: Straight, seen from the front; only moderately broad stance; seen in profile, well angulated.
Shoulder: Shoulder blade long and well laid back; well angulated; whole shoulder strongly muscled.
Upper arm: Adequately long, strong muscles.
Elbows: Close fitting.
Forearm: Long, straight, sinewy.
Pastern: Firm and only slightly oblique.
HINDQUARTERS: Seen from the rear straight and parallel; standing not too wide; seen from the side with adequate angulations.
Upper thigh: Medium-long, strongly muscled.
Lower thigh: Medium-long, oblique, with solid bone and well muscled.
Hock joint: Powerful, well angulated.
Hock: Medium-long, straight, sinewy; dewclaws should be removed, except in countries where their removal is forbidden by law.
Feet: Oval, hind feet a little longer than forefeet; toes tight and well arched; firm black pads; dark nails desired.
Gait: Rhythmical sequences of steps with even drive and enduring; front legs reaching out far, with strong thrust; trot ground covering and easy.
Skin: Without folds and wrinkles; dark pigmentation.
COAT
Hair: Medium length, dense, close-lying double coat or long double coat; abundant undercoat covered with hard, straight protection hair; face, ears and front of legs are covered with shorter hair; at the neck and the back of the legs the coat is slightly longer. Slightly wavy, hard hair is permitted.
COLOUR: White.
SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at Withers: Dogs 60 - 66 cm. Bitches 55 - 61 cm.
Weight: Dogs: ca. 30 - 40 kg Bitches: ca. 25 - 35 kg.
Typical dogs with slight under or oversize should not be eliminated.
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
MINOR FAULTS:
Slight deer colour (light yellow or fawn shading) on ear tips, back and upperside of the tail.
Partial loss of pigment of flecked appearance on nose leather, lips and/or eye rims.
SERIOUS FAULTS:
Heavy appearance, too short build (square outline)
Masculinity or femininity not clearly defined.
Missing more than two PM1; the M3 are not taken into account.
Drop (hanging) ears, semi-pricked ears, button ears.
Strongly sloping backline.
Ringtail, kinky tail, hook tail, tail carried over back.
Soft, silky topcoat; woolly, curly, open coat; distinctly long hair without undercoat.
Distinct deer colour (distinct yellowish or tawny discolouring) on eartips, back and upperside of the tail.
ELIMINATING FAULTS:
Overly shy or aggressive.
One eye or both eyes blue, protruding eyes.
Entropion, ectropion.
Over or undershot mouth, wry mouth.
Total loss of pigment on nose, lips and/or eye rims.
Total loss of pigment in the skin and on the pads.
Albinism.
NB: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

I have posted this breed standard as this is the worldwide accepted breed standard for the White Swiss Shepherd and is the breed standard the ANKC recognizes.

However, there are many backyard White Swiss and White German Shepherd breeders in Australia claiming to use this standard in their breeding programs. And, the White Swiss Shepherd Dog Club of Australia claims that all its breeders breed to this standard. This is all well and good, and may be true BUT this organization and its breeders are not breeding from purebred dogs assessed by the FCI as their dogs do not have FCI (or ANKC) pedigrees in the first place. These people have made their own assessments based on the FCI Breed Standard, register the dogs as purebred and then sell them to the Australian public as purebred dogs with papers. And much of the Australian public is none the wiser as to whether they are buying a purebred dog or not.

Many puppy buyers do not care whether they buy a purebred or not but at least the puppy sellers should tell them they are not buying an ANKC registered and papered purebred dog.

My Beautiful Grandmother

Hazel Norton (March 16, 1914 - April 17, 2009)

This is one of my favourite photos of my grandmother, Hazel Norton.

You are in my heart

You walk with me

I hear you

I love you

I miss you

kym

White Swiss Shepherd Dog Acceptance

Press Release from ANKC

Now that the ANKC has recognised the White Swiss Shepherd Dog it is essential that all Members and Data Entry personnel understand that this recognition does not apply to White German Shepherd Dogs or White Swiss Shepherd Dogs that do not have a complete Export certificate with all dogs in the background registered as White Swiss Shepherd Dogs.

In accordance with ANKC regulations White German Shepherd Dogs cannot be registered as White Swiss Shepherd Dogs.

Imported White Swiss Shepherd Dogs MUST have all dogs in the background of their Import Certificate registered as White Swiss Shepherd Dogs in compliance with ANKC Regulation Part 6 Clause 3.4.

If one or more of the dogs in the background of the Import Certificate is registered as a German Shepherd Dogs the dog cannot be registered on the ANKC Main or Limited Register.

If in the future people wish to have White German Shepherd Dogs recognised they will have to do so as a completely new separate breed with a NEW Name, and comply with ANKC Regulation Part 6 Clause 9.2 and all its sub – clauses.

The only dogs born in Australia that can be registered as White Swiss Shepherd Dogs are those dogs resulting from the mating of two imported White Swiss Shepherd Dogs that have been registered with the ANKC on their Main Stud register, or further generations resulting from such matings.

ANKC National Breed Standard Coordinator 30 May 2008

Why Speak out about the Australian White Swiss Shepherds

You may be wondering why I have something to say about the distinction between the Australian White Swiss Shepherd and the ANKC registered White Swiss Shepherd.

My main reason is I know what happens when dealing with the people involved in non-ANKC sanctioned white shepherd organisations - I know from personal experience.

When I decided Merlin was my new best friend he came with the promise of registration papers. In my ignorance I automatically assumed they were ANKC registration papers as I know no other organisation can issue pedigree papers for purebred dogs.

Boy ... how wrong can you be? Very, very wrong. This was the beginning of a 12-month saga.

I took Merlin home and we fell head over heels in love with each other. After a few months when his registration papers failed to arrive I rang the breeder and we had a discussion. The result was the papers are one the way.

I waited another 6 weeks, or so, and rang the breeder again. I asked why it was taking the ANKC so long to send me purebred papers for my puppy. It was during this conversation I found out they were not ANKC papers at all, but White Swiss Shepherd Dog Club of Australia registration papers. By this time Merlin is nearly 9 months old and I am beginning to get very irritated by the stories so the breeder gives me the phone number to contact at the club.

I finally get hold of the club representative and hear a long story about the situation. We have a conversation and I am assured that Merlin's registration papers are on the way to me. While I understand they are next to useless for anything I wanted them regardless of anything - I had bought a papered dog.

Another 6 weeks or so go past and nothing arrives in the mail. So I ring the breeder again and get told to ring the club. For 2 or 3 weeks I ring and leave messages until I finally get through. By this time my patience has worn out and I am sick of getting the run around. I pretty much tell the club that I want my papers and I expect them in the mail in the next couple of days.

They finally arrive, 12 months after Merlin and I joined forces to share out lives together.

It became the principle of the whole thing in the end after I realised the papers were next to useless. See Merlin's Clayton's White Swiss Shepherd Dog Club of Australia pedigree line here. The original papers do come presented on nice paper and I will scan in an image when I get a chance.

The white shepherd has a murky history here is Australia and the varying names have pnly confused the issue further. There is only one purebred white Swiss shepherd in this country and only the ANKC has the power to register it as a purebred dog in Australia.

If it does not matter to you whether you buy a purebred dog ot not - well at least you know the difference and can buy your gorgeous white shepherd puppy fully informed.