White Swiss Shepherd Dog | Breeds A to Z

Breed characteristics

Size: Large
Exercise: More than 2 hours per day
Size of home: Large house
Grooming: More than once a week
Coat length: Medium & long
Sheds: Yes
Lifespan: Over 10 years
Vulnerable native breed: No
Town or country: Either
Size of garden: Large garden

The White Swiss Shepherd Dog was recognised by The Kennel Club in October 2017 but was originally recognised as a separate breed in Switzerland in 1991.

In the German Shepherd Dog breed, white dogs have always existed but the colour was frowned upon and listed as a disqualifying fault in the German breed standard. It is generally accepted that the Swiss White Shepherd has been developed from a white strain of that breed and there is an obvious similarity. It was in the USA that the white strain was first registered by the American Kennel Club in 1917 and it was from here that the first imports to Switzerland arrived in the early 1970s. The male named Lobo, born in 1966, is credited as the patriarch of the breed there. Further imports from the USA followed to expand the gene pool and thus the strain was developed, eventually being recognised as a separate breed by the Swiss Kennel Club in in 1991 and later by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

The breed now enjoys popularity in many countries, not only as a show dog but as a companion where its devotion to its owners and its intelligence and trainability has endeared it to many.

The White Swiss Shepherd exists in two coat types - the medium coat and the longhaired.

Read the breed standard

Images for this breed

Pastoral breed group

The Pastoral Group consists of herding dogs that are associated with working cattle, sheep, reindeer and other cloven footed animals.

Usually this type of dog has a weatherproof double coat to protect it from the elements when working in severe conditions. Breeds such as the Collie family, Old English Sheepdogs and Samoyeds who have been herding reindeer for centuries are but a few included in this group.

Colour Watch

Category 0: Breeds with no NBS colour registration options.

Read more about Colour Watch.

Breed Standard colours

Breed standard colour means that the colour is accepted within the breed standard and is a traditional and well-known colour in this breed.

Breed standard colours in this breed include:

White

Other colour/s

'Other' means you consider your puppy to be a colour not currently known within the breed and one that does not appear on either the breed standard or non-breed standard list. In this instance you would be directed through our registrations process to contact a breed club and/or council to support you on identifying and correctly listing the new colour.

Non-breed-standard colours

Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.

Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog, health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.

Whether you’re thinking of buying a puppy, or breeding from your dog, it’s essential that you know what health issues may be found in your breed. To tackle these issues we advise that breeders use DNA tests, screening schemes and inbreeding coefficient calculators to help breed the healthiest dogs possible.

More about health

Priority health schemes and tests

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeders must use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice. All other breeders are strongly advised to also use these.

Important health schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice.

DNA profiling
Check inbreeding calculators

Currently there are no additional health screening schemes or DNA tests for this breed. You may want to speak to your breeder, vet or local breed club about any health issues in the breed.

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

Have any questions about health in your breed?

If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.

Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.

To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email

Health (The Kennel Club)

Breed watch

Category 1

Currently no points of concern specific to this breed have been identified for special attention by judges, other than those covered routinely by The Kennel Club's breed standard.