If the motion passes, it will have been the members of the GSDCA who changed the standard to opne the door to allow whites to be shown. We won't know the results until the ballots are counted in October and the results announced at the annual meeting. Any member can generate a petition for a motion to be put on the annual ballot for a vote as long as it does not violate the by laws and constitution. That's what happened here. The officers and directors of the club have no say in it whatsoever other than each is given a ballot and allowed to vote the same as every other member. When motions are presented by a member as this one has been, they go on the annual ballot along with pros and cons offered by members. If 2/3 of the members voting pass a motion, the AKC will generally approve it too.

As far as I know, the American White club does not sanction IPO trials or promote man sports. So.........

Berger Blanc Suisse vs. White German Shepherd vs. White Shepherd?

 

I get asked this question all the time so I thought I would write a blog about it.   Before I get started, let me be clear that while I breed Berger Blanc Suisse (White Swiss Shepherd) dogs, my first dog was a White German Shepherd whom I loved greatly.  I think all of these breeds can make great dogs.  

Technically speaking, the Berger Blanc Suisse, White German Shepherd and White Shepherd are different breeds with different standards.   Berger Blanc Suisse is recognized by FCI in Europe, the White German Shepherd is recognized by the AKC (although the color is disqualified for show) and the White Shepherd is recognized by UKC.  Having said that, there is a lot of overlap in the history and characteristics of the dogs.  

In general, I would place the Berger Blanc Suisse and White German Shepherd on two extremes with White Shepherds in the middle as a transition between them (and depending on the breeder, with characteristics that could resemble either).

Disposition:

AKC German Shepherd standards refer to the breed’s strong prey drive and “fearless and direct” personality.   The breed is considered an excellent police and guard dog.   The Berger Blanc Suisse standard calls for a mellower, more gentle personality and the dog is not stereotypically considered for police work or guard dog work but, instead, does well as a therapy or service dog.   The personality of a White Shepherd represented by AWSA might reflect either and is likely dependent on the breeder’s standards and goals for their breeding program.

Physical Characteristics:

In terms of physical characteristics, the biggest difference between Berger Blanc Suisse and White German Shepherd would be hip angulation.    The Berger Blanc Suisse standard calls for a more upright stance (see illustration below) whereas the White German Shepherd standard would follow AKC’s German Shepherd standard for a more severe angulation (see photo below).   For more information see the exhibits below or our About the Breed page.  Berger Blanc Suisse standards also call for dark pigmentation (for example, a black rather than pink nose) whereas there is not a specific standard for pigmentation for White German Shepherds (nose can be pink and coat can be cream colored).  AWSA in the United States has done some great work documenting the history of the breeds on their site (http://www.awsaclub.com/history.html).   They call their dogs “White Shepherds” and this is also the name adopted by the UKC.   In my experience, this club supports some excellent breeders.  The physical appearance of the dogs they represent seem to range between White German Shepherds and Berger Blanc Suisse, depending on the breeder.

Illustration of breed standard for Berger Blanc Suisse from FCI’s official breed standard document:

 The photo below represents AKC’s breed standard for German Shepherd / White German Shepherd (the AKC site does not provide a white color example).

 

 

The photo below is from AWSA’s website, it reflects a stance that is somewhat between the highly angulated German Shepherd and the upright Berger Blanc Suisse. 

 

We hope that this article helps clarify the similarities and differences in these dogs.  

 

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Boy, SS, now I feel like running over my AKC CH with my car.I thought she was a pretty good dog til I read your posts today.

DP

Blitzen, as I'm sure you know, the point I was trying to make is the tendency of SOME AKC breeders to hide the faults in their dogs for the sake of winning trophies and getting big bucks for stud fees. The AWS maintians a health registry that makes this sort of deception more difficult. Wish ALL registries made breeders submit this sort of data!!

I'm not sure if AWS breeders are required to submit data to maintain membership in good standing. Anyone know?

Whte shepherd genetics project:

http://www.wsgenetics.com/

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No, of course I don't. But the GSDCC is not the one trying to change the standard...

BTW Hoofprint Kennels is here in Ontario...

The dog I asked about wasn't from Hoofprint.

Doesn't the GSDCC allow for members to petition to change the breed standard there? AKC clubs must provide that option in their by-laws. If your club does allow it, one day a few members there might get a wild hair and decide they want something changed.That doesn't mean the "club" as a whole wants to change it, it means that enough people were convinced to sign that petition and place it on a ballot from membership vote. As I understand it, the white thing is the idea of white owners who are GSDCA members and they are pretty much standing alone as far as the current membership goes. However, they do have a fairly large number of white shep owners behind them who are not happy with the AWS and who want to leave there and join the GSDCA. Last year or the year before, I've ofrgotten which, for the first time the standing rule that in order for a members' dogs to win the OB Victor or Victress, it couldn't have any disqualifying faults.  The BOD and officers could do that without membership ratification and they did.  But no one but the membership can ever change or revise the breed standard. I expect it's the same in Canada. If not it should be. Once again, this is not a club effort per se. it is the result of members wanting to see it happen.

Most of the ASL people I associate with title their dogs in AKC venues, breed only dogs with certified hips and elbows, know their DM test results, most dogs have CHIC certs and some have been health checked for cardiac and thyroid and have their DNA registered. The breeders you are talking about are not in the majority of the GSDCA members I know.