White Shepherd

The White Shepherd started as a purebred German Shepherd Dog. The white color comes from a gene that all German Shepherd Dogs carry. There has been no other breed crossed with the German Shepherd Dog to produce the White Shepherd, however, for years the white coloring was considered a major fault and those dogs were culled from breeding programs and spayed or neutered. It was not until breeders in the United States and Canada found the white color to be appealing. The color of the German Shepherd Dog became an important factor and in the 1930s any white coloring was deemed unacceptable and any dog that was solid white could not be registered as a German Shepherd Dog. Then, by the 1980s breeders began purposefully breeding for pure white German Shepherd Dogs. The solid white Shepherds were excluded from conformation events and most breeding programs, therefore, the White Shepherd quickly evolved into its own distinct type and separate breed. Although the White Shepherd  is indistinguishable from his ancestor with the exception of color, he generates a lot of attention from lovers and haters of the breed. The German Shepherd Club of America refused to recognize the solid white Shepherds; therefore the American White Shepherd Association was created. While the White Shepherd is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, he has a solid fan base and is able to perform all the tasks that the German Shepherd Dog can. In 1999, the United Kennel Club recognized the White Shepherd as its own breed and he was allowed to compete in all UKC sanctioned events.