White Swiss Shepherd Dog: breed description and breeding

The white shepherd at one time was considered a rejected subspecies of the German breed. This has nothing to do with this BSO. Previously, a Swiss shepherd dog was known around the world under the name of the American-Canadian Shepherd, which reflects its history.

FCI in the 21st century classified BSO as a shepherd’s, service dog.

How did it happen that animals known since the 19th century received the status of an officially recognized breed only in the 2000s? At the same time, they do not bear their name in honor of Germany, when animals are closely related to the German breed.

Let's find out what the features of the BSO are, the rules for caring for the pet, its nature, methods of upbringing, and also find out how the owners respond about their pets.

The history of the BSO is closely linked to the German Shepherd, as the animals are very similar in appearance. The first representatives of the white Swiss shepherd were put on public display in 1882 in the city of Hanover. One of them had snow-white wool. It is believed that this dog is the progenitor of the breed. In the following centuries, the breed of white dogs gained popularity. Breeders tried to bring out the most workable animal, however, there were no uniform requirements, what qualities it should have.

Almost at the beginning of 1900, cavalry captain Max von Stefanitz created a single direction in the selection of shepherd dogs. A dog named Hector, who, according to the captain, possessed all the qualities of a shepherd and service dog, was acquired by Stefanits. In the XX century, shepherds are used with might and main in security services, in the army.Over time, shepherd dogs were brought to the territory of Britain, Canada, and the USA. Breeding work is now underway in several countries around the world. They did not pay attention to the color of the dogs; only the working qualities of the animal were important.

When the Nazis gained power, the BSO stopped passing by the standards of service dogs. Its discrepancy was attributed to the color of the coat, which is why animals began to be rejected. New standards were also supported in other countries where white shepherd dogs were bred. In the 1960s, animals completely became "outlawed."

At the same time, breeders from America did not share the views of their colleagues. The Americans registered the breed as an independent, giving it the name of the American-Canadian Shepherd. The only prohibition that concerned the BSO is mating with the German breed. The peak of the popularity of a shepherd dog occurred in the era of television, well-known people of pop, creativity, business began to contain pets. These owners include the Rockefeller family. In 1970, a white shepherd was introduced to Switzerland. The ancestor of the breed in this area was the American male Lobo.

A few years later, white shepherd dogs were included in the register of dog clubs, as an independent breed. In 1980, purebred white shepherd individuals began to spread en masse throughout Europe. In the 21st century, a shepherd was brought to Russia. At the same time, FCI officially recognized the breed. The application was submitted including by the Swiss, and despite the fact that the breed already had a name, it was nicknamed the Swiss White Shepherd. That’s what it’s called now. And all because the USA and Canada are not part of the FCI.

The standard, adopted in 1991, has changed.

Today, the characteristics attributed to the BSO look like this.

• The size and growth of the shepherd must meet the standards of the German breed or exceed them by no more than 3 centimeters. Growth at the withers about 65 cm.
• The weight of the animal is in the same category as that of the Germans, from 30 to 45 kg, females weigh up to 35 kg.

Let's take a closer look at what a dog looks like.

• Head. The muzzle is elongated, the forehead slightly sloping. The ears are triangular in shape, erect, large. The eyes are almond-shaped, the color of the iris is from dark brown to dark golden hue. Scissor bite.
• Body. The body is developed, elongated. The back of the animal is straight, going downhill in the pelvic area. In some individuals, the slope is completely absent. The main thing is that the level of the croup does not exceed the level of the withers. Limbs correctly set. The muscles are traced, clearly visible on the hips.
• Tail. Elastic, long, saber, does not fold into a ring. It is covered with long light hair.

BSW wool cover can be divided into two types conditionally:

• Shorthair
• long-haired - The hair length should not exceed a value of 6 centimeters.

Hair hard, shiny, straight, undercoat of sufficient thickness, dense. In dogs belonging to the long-haired group, the hair in the chest and neck should be the longest, forming a mane.

Smooth-haired dogs (hair length no more than one and a half centimeters) are considered defective and rejected, such animals can not be bred.

In Europe, dogs with a medium-long coat are most in demand, while in America they prefer exclusively short-haired dogs.

BSO has only one color - white. In this case, the nose, paw pads, mucous membranes should be painted black.

If the dog has pink shades, then it is considered an albino. In such animals, there is no melanin in the blood, which is responsible for pigmentation of the skin. Albinos have blue eyes. These dogs are not allowed for breeding.

The shepherd is observant, behaves with strangers cautiously, accurately, does not reveal obvious aggression. The animal is efficient, attached to the owner. With a person behaves amicably, playfully. White shepherd dogs are quite obedient, but require training. A sharp mind, flexible character, low timidity, perseverance, good scent - these protective qualities allow you to use your pet in security services. Also, a shepherd can become a guide dog.

It is best to purchase BSHO puppies in kennels from breeders. So you minimize the risk of buying a pet received during inbreeding. Do not take newborn puppies. Such dogs require careful care, babies need to be properly fed, and puppies, due to their age, have not yet passed the course of socialization, which can subsequently result in poor dog behavior.

When choosing a breeder, pay attention to the following details:

• the experience of the breeder, nursery;
• read the reviews of people who turned to him, find out his reputation, whether the breeder is a member of any clubs, unions, commissions;
• check the duration of the breeding experience of a particular breed with the selected breeder;
• puppy seller must participate in exhibitions, competitions of dogs-parents;
• the breeder should not shy away from questions about raising a puppy, hide information about the baby’s parents.

After meeting with the breeder, you can start choosing a puppy. Keep in mind that the chosen baby may manifest inherited diseases, develop pathologies.

What ailments can BSHO have:

• deafness;
• dysplasia;
• bulging eyes;
• heterochromia or blue eyes;
• entropy;
• malocclusion;
• lack of pigmentation on the nose, mucous membranes, skin;
• heart failure (congenital);
• mental problems (aggression or passivity);
• albinism.

Before buying, you should watch the puppy, its character, and also see how the dogs-parents behave. Find out if animals were trained, what is their socialization in society, whether they often participate in competitions. The puppy must be active, agile, eat well. You can ask the breeder to do a Campbell test. This test is carried out at the club where the seller is located, or through the cynological community.

Be sure to conclude a bilateral contract of sale. You should have papers describing all your rights to the dog, its breeding and so on. The puppy must have a veterinary passport ready.

To keep a pet in the apartment, it is recommended to purchase a kit to care for him. It includes:

• various combs;
• shampoos;
• clipper;
• oral care products;
• lotions for cleansing the ears, eyes;
• cotton pads, sticks.

Let's take a closer look How at home is the care of the shepherd.

Let's start with the hair of the animal. As a rule, caring for a fur coat is uncomplicated, problems can occur during molting. During this period, it is necessary to comb the pet’s hair several times a day with a puncher or use a furminator. Special sprays are also suitable for driving wool, however, this method is used only on long-haired breeds. The hair of the short-haired shepherd dogs is first treated with a comb, then with a curler or a comb-mitten made of rubber.

It is necessary to comb out or remove all the tangles, then finish the procedure for caring for wool with a brush from natural bristles.

Despite its snow-white coat, dogs are recommended to take baths twice a year or the day before the show. Washing paws after a walk can occur every day, however, dry cleaning will be sufficient if contamination is minimal. To do this, use a dry shampoo or an ordinary dry rag.

Dog washing is done shepherd shampoos, the product can also be matched to the type of pet's hair. Allowed firming, toning shampoos. The pet is placed in the bathroom, the coat is wetted with warm water, without affecting the eyes, ears, nose. The shampoo is rubbed in the palms and applied to wet hair. The product thoroughly soaps and rinses. Once will be enough. After that, the dog can be sent for drying or additionally treated with wool conditioner, balm.

You can dry the fur coat with a hairdryer or just with a towel. After the dog dries, the coat must be combed.

The appearance of tartar or plaque is considered not only a cosmetic defect, these formations can lead to diseases of the oral cavity in the future. A pet’s teeth should be cleaned once a week with a dog’s toothbrush, using a special powder or paste that is intended only for canines. Cleaning is done sweeping movements starting from the base of the tooth.

Eyes are treated with lotions. The liquid is applied to a soft cloth, cotton pad or napkin. Processing takes place every day, after a walk. Do not rub the area around the eyes - this can lead to irritation. The movements should be light, smooth, as if soaking.

Shepherd’s ears are cleaned several times a month using a cotton swab and a dog’s ear cleanser. If there is no access to a veterinary pharmacy, the lotion can be replaced with hydrogen peroxide. After the cotton wool on the stick was moistened with a product, it must be wrung out. Ear cleaning takes place near its edges, along the entire inner surface, without lowering the wand inside the auricle. The movements are also light, not pressing.

The claws of the pet are cut using a clipper. The best tool to purchase guillotine type. Claws are trimmed once a month or less, it all depends on how often the dog walks. Animals that walk on hard surfaces practically do not need to cut their nails, as the nail plates themselves grind onto the surface of the road. The burrs after cutting can be removed with a nail file.

If you decide to knit BSHO, then the best days for mating will be the period between 11 and 15 days of estrus bitch. The first pregnancy of a female should be in the second year of her life. It is advisable to introduce her to an adult male; males should not be younger than two years old.

Before mating pets you need to walk and not give them food during the day. The couple meets in the territory of the male. After mating, dogs get greasy. This process cannot be interrupted if the animals are worried, it is necessary to calm them, hold them, iron them. If gumming did not occur, then after a day or two, the couple are brought together again.

Pregnancy lasts 56–72 days.Bitch brings 3-5 puppies, with age, the number of litters increases. During pregnancy, the female must be brought for examination to the veterinarian. Two to three days before the birth, it is worth notifying the doctor of an impending event, so that in the event of a difficult birth, the veterinarian can provide assistance. As a rule, childbirth is easy, without complications. Newborn puppies need to be cleaned of the afterbirth and make a metric. Care for the babies will fall on the shoulders of the bitch.

The white shepherd is allowed to feed with natural food and dry food.

In the first case, food should be served at room temperature, soups should not be too thin or thick. Food is served twice a day at the same time. Snacks are not allowed between meals.

If it is more convenient to feed the dog with dry food, then it should be not lower than the premium segment. However, expensive brands can not guarantee that the food will suit the pet, the same applies to cheap feed. First, the dog should be given the selected product in small portions to make sure that there are no allergic reactions or other irritations. If everything went well, you can safely use the selected brand.

Puppies feed up to two months five times a day. At six months, food intake is reduced to three times a day. Individuals older than six months eat twice. Important: with a decrease in the number of meals, the servings themselves increase. After feeding, the remaining food in the bowl is removed.

A selection of natural foods for feeding a white Swiss Shepherd.

• Most of the diet - about 70% - should consist of protein foods, such as lamb or beef. Meat is allowed to be given raw.
• Various vegetables are served in unlimited quantities. Vegetable oils can be added, preferably sunflower.
• Porridge from cereals. Suitable rice, buckwheat, oatmeal. Porridge is mixed with chopped meat in the proportion of 70% meat and 30% grain (you can mix two types of cereals, 15% x 15%).
• Low fat cottage cheese.
• Easy kefir.
• Boiled whole eggs or just yolk. Not more than twice a week.
• Boiled peeled sea fish is suitable for adult dogs.

Vitamin-mineral complexes are also allowed to be added to food. However, before that, it is worth consulting with a veterinarian, since an excess of substances can have a negative effect on the pet's body.

If you want to introduce a new product into the dog’s diet, it’s worth doing gradually adding a selected ingredient a little over a week or two.

For the breed, socialization is crucial. Lack of attention, poor training or handling leads to aggression in the puppy, attacks on the person, the dog becomes a bite. The first basics of training come at six months of age. The puppy is taught to respond to his nickname, you can learn simple commands "sit", "lie". With the animal you need to communicate a lot, while behaving confidently, persistently, but do not punish. Teams are given clearly, loudly, reinforced by a treat.

It is advisable to conduct training in the form of a game, the duration of the lesson is not more than an hour. If the training is passive, without enough physical, mental stress, the dog can become shy, timid, damage to things in the apartment is possible.

It is advisable to long walks, cycling, letting the pet run after the stick or ball. A great solution would be platform with shells. On it you can practice jumping, running with obstacles, teach a dog to climb stairs.

The feedback from the owners of BSHO is positive. Dog owners note its balanced nature, not shyness, restraint, devotion. The pet is easy to learn, not very noisy.

Some owners complain of an unpleasant smell of wool, especially in the area of ​​paws. Of the minuses, heavy molting also stands out, house cleaning has to be done several times a day. It is also worth carefully choosing a shepherd puppy. There are individuals with a shy character. Dogs also need the attention of the owners, they do not like to be alone, but at the same time try not to be imposed.

The white Swiss Shepherd breed is described in the following video.