The dog over there looks like a German Shepherd, has the pointed ears and expression of a German Shepherd, is the same size as a German Shepherd – but the dog is totally white, with a pink nose. What kind of dog is that? Believe it or not, they are called White German Shepherds (and often American White Shepherds or Berger Blanc Swiss). They are everything other German Shepherds are – except they aren’t recognized as German Shepherds by most kennel clubs in the world.

There is a strange color prejudice in the world of dog breeding. Despite having purebred parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, a White German Shepherd or a White Boxer are not considered breed standard. Then again, this is the same world that chops off many dog’s tails to a prescribed length or crops naturally floppy ears into pointed ones for purely cosmetic reasons. Perhaps the White German Shepherds and White Boxers are the luckiest breeds of all.

White German Shepherds need the care, training and attention that any German Shepherd should get. Like most German Shepherd types, they are heavy shedders, so get used to dog hair before you bring one home. Some White German Shepherds do not have the thick double layered coats of the German Shepherd breed standard, which makes their coats less likely to tangle and easier to brush. Bathing too often can make them shed worse, so only bathe when absolutely necessary.

German Shepherd puppies, whatever their color or hair thickness, are incredibly impressionable. Anything that happens to them tends to effect them all of their lives. White German Shepherds need to be introduced to many situations and activities before they are fourteen weeks old in order to make training easier. However, there have been many abused, abandoned or special needs White German Shepherds who were literally old dogs that learned new tricks.

Sadly, not everyone appreciates the uniqueness of a White German Shepherd, and many thousands are abandoned every year. Although there are many fine German Shepherd rescues, there are some groups devoted to specifically rescuing White German Shepherds. They will often take the time to get to know, train and medically help the dogs under their care before they consider putting them up for adoption.

If you are looking for a predictably good-hearted dog, don’t mind dog hair and have room in your heart, home and wallet, the White German Shepherd is for you. Please don’t buy one from a pet store, as they get all of their puppies from inhumane puppy mills. You can get a puppy from a breeder, but there are not as many breeders of White German Shepherds as for other German Shepherd types. Go to Petfinder.com and adopt a wonderful companion from one of the many dog rescue groups in this country.

Many owners of German Shepherd types of dogs would own no other breed. You should learn German Shepherd information before bringing a German Shepherd home.

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