Group 1
FCI-number 347
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 F.C.I :
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 noseleather 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
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; dark nails 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.
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
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
noseleather, 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
Tanggebit
Sissorbite Overbite
Underbite
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.