Berger Blanc Suisse

55-77 lbs
21-24"
Switzerland
White Swiss Shepherd, Snowy Shepherd

The Berger Blanc Suisse breed is a new breed of dog developed in Switzerland that has been officially recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale, the largest international federation of kennel clubs, but not yet by the United Kennel Club of England or the American Kennel Club in the United States. They are recently descended from German Shepherd Dogs with a recessive trait giving them an all-white coat, much like the White Shepherd breed, a breed recognized by the UKC. The Berger Blanc Suisse was developed separately and they tend to have backs that are more level than the White Shepherd and a much milder temperament.  

purpose Purpose
Shepherding, Companion Animal, Protection
history Date of Origin
2011
ancestry Ancestry
German Shepherd Dog

Berger Blanc Suisse Health

Average Size
Male Berger Blanc Suisse size stats
Height: 23-26 inches Weight: 66-88 lbs
Female Berger Blanc Suisse size stats
Height: 21-24 inches Weight: 55-77 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
  • Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) or Bloat
Minor Concerns
  • Small Incidence Of Hereditary Eye Diseases Such As Collie Eye Anomaly And Primary Lens Luxation
Occasional Diagnoses
  • vonWillebrand’s Disease
Occasional Tests
  • Eye examination
  • Chest X-rays
  • Blood Tests and Analysis
  • Hip and Elbow X-rays

Berger Blanc Suisse Breed History

The Berger Blanc Suisse is a fairly new breed of dog, officially recognized only by the Federation Cynologique Internationale, but very closely related to the White Shepherd, an all-white breed that is also derived from the original German Shepherd breed and recognized by the United Kennel Club. Both breeds are descended from the German Shepherd breed, a breed that inherited a recessive white gene from a dog named Greif. Initially, German Shepherds with white coats were preferred as they were easier to distinguish from wolves during the night but fell out of favor at some point in the 1930s, and white dogs were excluded from being shown or from breeding by the kennel clubs. Some people still preferred the white coats on the Shepherds, however, and they continued being bred in an attempt to distinguish them as a separate breed. In the 1970s White German Shepherd clubs devoted to breeding specifically for the white-coated German Shepherd were formed in the United States and in Canada. While not yet recognized as a separate breed by the American Kennel Club, the White Shepherd went on to be recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1999. Prior to the formation of these clubs, in 1967, Miss Agatha Burch brought a White German Shepherd by the name of Lobo White Burch with her to Switzerland. Ms. Burch then imported a female white German Shepherd by the name of White Lilac of Blinkbonny from the UK. These two dogs are considered to be the foundation dogs for the Berger Blanc Suisse, along with several other dogs imported from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. By 1991, the breed was distinct enough to have members registered as a new breed in the Swiss studbook and it was accepted on a provisional basis by the FCI in 2002, but it took almost nine more years before the breed was officially recognized, on July 5, 2011. 

Berger Blanc Suisse Breed Appearance

The Berger Blanc Suisse is a medium-sized working dog that looks very much like its predecessor, the German Shepherd Dog, although there are a few differences. There is a little more variation in the height for the Berger Blanc Suisse breed than for the German Shepherd and heights of approximately 23 to 26 inches are acceptable for males and 21 to 24 inches for females. This powerful and well-muscled breed is slightly longer than they are tall with a bushy, saber-shaped tail and a strong, clean-cut head that is wedge-shaped and finely chiseled. The Berger Blanc Suisse is less likely to have the sloping back that is commonly seen in today's modern German Shepherd Dogs as the White Shepherd began development before the sloped back was desired. Their almond-shaped eyes are typically brown or dark brown, usually with black rims, and per breed standards, their nose is always black, although the UKC standards for the White Shepherd breed allow for dogs with pink or cream-colored noses as well. Like both the German Shepherd and the White Shepherd, the Berger Blanc Suisse has medium-large triangular ears that stand erect and are set high up on the skull. 

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Berger Blanc Suisse eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Berger Blanc Suisse nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
white Berger Blanc Suisse coat
White
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Berger Blanc Suisse straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Berger Blanc Suisse Breed Maintenance

The grooming requirements for this breed are not complicated but can be somewhat time-consuming. The Berger Blanc Suisse should only be bathed a few times a year as excessive bathing can cause this dog’s skin to dry out and become irritated and in many cases, pet parents of this all-white breed may prefer to utilize special “bluing” shampoo to keep the coat sparkling white. This dog has a thick, double-layer coat consisting of a dense undercoat and a protective layer of either long or medium-length fur. This type of coat tends to shed moderately throughout most of the year and requires brushing several times a week, but during the change of seasons, they generally shed more heavily, requiring daily brushing. 

Brushes for Berger Blanc Suisse
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Dematter
Dematter
Comb
Comb
Deshedder
Deshedder
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Berger Blanc Suisse requires daily brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Berger Blanc Suisse Temperament

The Berger Blanc Suisse is typically a self-assured canine who is both attentive and good-natured. While this breed has a great deal of drive and protective instinct, common to most Shepherding breeds, they tend to be a bit more easy-going and gentler than either the modern German Shepherd dog or the White Shepherd, making them an excellent family pet. While they are generally very patient with children, they are strong, active, and fairly large and may occasionally cause bumps and bruises in their exuberance. This is also a very intelligent breed with a strong desire to please, making them easy to train although harsh treatment is more likely to encourage stubborn and willful behavior. It is important to remember that the intelligence of the Berger Blanc Suisse is combined with a great deal of curiosity, if they are not given some sort of mental stimulation, they will find it on their own, which may prove to be rather messy and possibly even destructive. 

Berger Blanc Suisse Activity Requirements

The Berger Blanc Suisse is a very active and athletic dog breed, and although they are slightly less driven than their German Shepherd ancestors they should still get at least an hour to an hour and a half of vigorous exercise each day. While walking and jogging are always appreciated, this dog is also highly intelligent and needs to exercise its mind as well. Alternative activities are agility training, herding activities, and competitive obedience, although their milder temperament makes them less suited to Schutzhund training. Swimming is also an excellent activity for this breed as it can help prevent canine hip dysplasia, a disorder common to many shepherding breeds.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
75 minutes
activity minutes

Berger Blanc Suisse Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.5 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

Berger Blanc Suisse Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Berger Blanc Suisse size stats at six months
Height: 21.0 inches Weight: 54.0 lbs
Female Berger Blanc Suisse size stats at six months
Height: 19.0 inches Weight: 46.5 lbs
12 Months
Male Berger Blanc Suisse size stats at 12 months
Height: 23.5 inches Weight: 69.0 lbs
Female Berger Blanc Suisse size stats at 12 months
Height: 21.5 inches Weight: 59.5 lbs
18 Months
Male Berger Blanc Suisse size stats at 18 months
Height: 24.5 inches Weight: 77.0 lbs
Female Berger Blanc Suisse size stats at 18 months
Height: 22.5 inches Weight: 66.0 lbs

Berger Blanc Suisse Owner Experiences

Toby
11 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I love this dog but it needs to much attention
5 years, 4 months ago
Toby
11 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I love this dog but it needs to much attention
5 years, 4 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd