The
breeding standard for the White Swiss Shepherd Dog
Breed is Standard No 347 accepted by the FCI
(Federation Cynologique Internationale "World
Kennel Association") on 18 December 2002.
It might also pay to mention that the White Shepherd
is not yet an accepted breed in Australia according
to the ANKC
(Australian National Kennel Council)
The White Swiss Shepherd Dog or Berger
Blanc Suisse is not an albino version of the German
Shepherd.
Furthermore, small differences have
evolved over the past years, since both breeds have
been kept and bred separately. The most obvious distinction
is the more horizontal (gradually sloping) back.
The FCI
scheme is in place for canine governing bodies
around the world to register locally bred whites as
the new breed, the "White Swiss Shepherd Dog",
is as follows:-
- The dog must be over the
age of 1 year and one day old.
- The dog must have a three
generation pedigree of all white ancestors.
- The dog must fit within
the FCI
Breed Standard 347 for the White Swiss Shepherd
Dog ("Berger Blanc Suisse").
This scheme has been used in several
countries around the world successfully from the inception
of the breed's official recognition in 2002, and originally
dogs known as German Shepherd Dogs (colour white),
have been re-registered as White Swiss Shepherd Dogs,
given they have fulfilled the above requirements.
Dogs then registered as White Swiss Shepherd Dogs
are not permitted to be bred back to German Shepherd
Dogs as this would be considered cross-breeding. There
would be a set grace period for dogs to be assessed
for the acceptance into the White Swiss Shepherd Dog
breed.
Utilization
Family and working companion dog with distinctive
friendly nature to children; attentive watchdog, cheerful
and quick to learn.
F.C.I Classifications
Group 1: Sheepdogs and
Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs).
Section 1: Sheepdogs;
Without working trial.
General Appearence
A powerful, well-muscled, medium-sized,white shepherd
dog with erect ears, double coat or long double coat
orlong 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.
***Click
here for diagram of shepherd body parts***
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 fittingwith 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 saber-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 angulation.
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; darknails
desired.
Gait
Rhythmical sequence 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.
|
Height
at withers : |
Males
60 - 66 cm |
| |
Bitches
55 - 61 cm |
|
Males :
ca. 30 - 40 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 serious- ness with which
the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion
to its degree.
Minor Faults
Slight deer colour (light yellow or fawny shading)
on eartips, 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-prickedears, 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.
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
