Standard FCI-Nr. 347 (18.12.02/GB)
Date of Publication of the Original Valid Standard: 26.11.02
Translation: Mrs. R. Binder
Origin: Switzerland
Utilization: Family and working companion dog with sistinctive 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 acepted 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 muliplied. There exists now a big number of white shepherd dogs, prue-bred, over several genetrations, 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).
Genereal Appearance:
A powerful, well-muscled, medium-sized, white shepherd dog with erect ears, double coat or long double coat; elongated shape; medium sized bone and elegant, harmonious outline.
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.
Craniel Region
Skull: Only alightly rounded; indicated central furrow.
Stop: Slightly marked, but clearly perciptible.
Neck
Medium-long and well muscled, with harmonious set on at the body, without dewlap; the elegantly arched neckline runs without desruption from the moderately high carried head to the withers.
Body: Stong, muscular, medium-long.
Withers: pronounced
Back level, firm
Loins: stongly 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: Stong, 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
Forarm: 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 wrinklees; dark pigmentation.
Coat:
Hair: Medium length, dense, close-lying double coat or long double coat; abundant undercoat covered with hard, straight protection har; face, ears and front or 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 seriousness 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 loseleather, lips and/or eye rims.
Serious faults:
Heavy appearance, too short building (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.
Soft, silky topcoat; woolly, curly, open coat; distinctly long hair without undercoat.
Ringtail, kinky tail, hook tail tail carried over back.
Distinct deer colour (distinct yellowish or tawny discolouring) on eartips, back and upperside of the tail.
Eliminating faults:
Overly shy or aggressive.
One eye or both eyes blue, protruding eyes.
Entropion, Ektropion
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
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.