-
 Are
white German Shepherds albinos?
- How does
the white German Shepherd differ from the standard
colored German Shepherd?
- Are
white German Shepherds AKC (American Kennel Club) or CKC (Canadian
Kennel Club) registerable?
- Are
white German Shepherds registerable with UKC (United Kennel Club)
as German Shepherd Dogs?
- Can white
German Shepherds be shown in conformation competitions?
- Can Whites still
be shown in CKC conformation ring at this time?
- Can
white German Shepherds be shown in AKC obedience trials?
- My dog's nose
turns lighter (or pink) in the cold. Is he sick?
- Since
white is a disqualifying color under the German Shepherd Dog standard,
why would I want to own one?
NO.
Albino, as defined by Webster's Dictionary is "an organism
exhibiting deficient pirmentation; . . . and usually has a milky,
translucent skin, white or colorless hair and eyes with pink or
blue iris and deep-red pupil." The dark pointed white German
Shepherd Dog possesses pink to black skin and eyes which can range
in color from a gold to a very dark brown and should not be confused
with an albino. Other white coated breeds, such as the Samoyed,
the Great Pyrenese, the Kuvasz, and many others, also possess white
coats and are not albinos.
Back
to Top
White shepherd breeders strive
to produce a dog that is as sound
structurally as the colored dogs of the 1960's ....having less extreme
angulation as our colored cousins do today.
Back
to Top
Yes. If both of the
parents (regardless of color) are registered with the AKC or
CKC as German Shepherds, then any resulting puppy would be fully
registerable as a German Shepherd Dog. Neither AKC nor CKC restrict
registration of a German Shepherd based on its color.
Back
to Top
Yes. While UKC has approved
a new breed of dog called the "White Shepherd," your white
German Shepherd Dog may still be registered as a German Shepherd
Dog with UKC and may be shown in the conformation ring as a German
Shepherd Dog.
Back
to Top
No. As of 1968, when
the German Shepherd Dog Club of America changed its breed standard
to list the color white as a disqualifying fault, the white German
Shepherd has been disqualified from the AKC breed (conformation)
ring. The CKC then followed suit in 1998. However they can be showen
in Canada and America with White Shepherd Club of Canada, American
White Shepherd Association, Rare Breed Clubs, and UKC
Back
to Top
No
as of January 1998 whites have been disqualified due to their
white coat color, following the American earlier lead of 1968.
Back
to Top
Yes. As a registered
German Shepherd Dog, a white GSD is fully eligible to compete
in obedience trials, tracking trials, temperament tests, herding
events, and any events sponsored by AKC for German Shepherd Dogs.
White GSDs have continued to be shown successfully in all phases
of obedience work despite discrimination against them in the breed
ring. In 1968, a white German Shepherd, Frau Kim Von Weisshund,
U.D., was the top obedience German Shepherd in the country. Other
white dogs have placed among the top obedience German Shepherds
in the country over the years.
Back
to Top
No. A "snow-nose" (fading
of nose pignemt caused by seasonal changes) is common among lighter
coated breeds, including the white German Shepherd. Sometimes (although
it has never been scientifically proven) dogs who drink and eat
from plastic dishes and bowls tend to have lighter noses and removing
the plastic may help restore the pigment.
Back
to Top
As with any German
Shepherd, responsible ownership is called for. However, once
you have chosen the German Shepherd as your breed, unless you are
specifically purchasing your German Shepherd Dog for AKC conformation
competition, there is no reason not to own a white. As stated herein,
the white German Shepherd is fully eligible for AKC and CKC registration
and for all AKC and CKC obedience competitions and awards. The color
of your dog is a matter of personal preference. Many people, not
influenced by the prejudice of the German Shepherd Dog Club and
its far-reaching effect on the dog world, would actually choose
a white dog for its sheer beauty and presence.
Back
to Top
You will find that white German Shepherd owners are active in many
phases of the dog world, including obedience clubs and all levels
of obedience competition, judging, stewarding, and conformation
showing of other breeds as well as conformation showing within the
white German Shepherd Dog club. The support and comradery among
white German Shepherd owners is stronger than that among many of
the more widely accepted breeds.
Back
to Top
|
