Dog
American White Shepherd Champions
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Pronunciation:
uh-mer-i-kuhn wahyt shep-erd
Breed Description:
The American White Shepherd breed of dog is a large sized breed that resembles the German Shepherd in every way except for the coat color. The body should be well-proportioned and it should be slightly longer than it is tall. The American White Shepherd should have the appearance of a strong and athletic dog with a wedge shaped head. The muzzle should taper to the nose and the ears should be large and erect, set high on the head and turned forward. The tail should be long and the topline should be sloped.
The coat of the American White Shepherd should be medium in length and should cover the dog completely. There should be a short, soft undercoat and the topcoat should be hard in texture with a stiffness to it. The only color accepted in the American White Shepherd breed standard is white with a black nose, lips and eyes.
Temperament:
The American White Shepherd breed of dog is known for their intelligent and courage. They are a very loyal breed that is affectionate with their owners and patient with children. They can make an excellent family pet and do well with children of all ages. The breed is known for being very calm and while they are affectionate, they are usually called stoic and reserved, especially to strangers. They do need a firm owner who can provide strong leadership and consistent training but with the proper owner, they can learn very easily. Naturally protective of their family, the American White Shepherd is a versatile breed that can do well both as a family pet or a hard working canine.
Height:
The average height for the American White Shepherd is between 24 to 26 inches for males and 22 to 24 inches for females.
Weight:
The average weight for the American White Shepherd is between 77 to 85 pounds.
Health Problems:
The American White Shepherd breed of dog is considered to have average health, however, there are a number of serious conditions that can affect an American White Shepherd. These are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, Pulmonic Stenosis, Persistent Pupillary Membranes, Osteochondrosis Dissecans, Hemangiosarcoma, Atrioventricular Valve Dysplasia, Macroblepharon, allergies, Panosteitis, Lupus, Distichiasis, Aortic Stenosis, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Degenerative Myelopathy, Bloat, von Willebrand's Disease, cataracts, Entropion, ectropion, Retinal Dysplasia, epilepsy, megaesophagus, teeth diseases and Congenital Spinal Diseases.
Living Conditions:
The American White Shepherd breed of dog can do okay in apartments but they do better in a home with a large fenced yard. It is important to note that if the dog is an apartment dweller, they need to be exercised properly to remain calm and peaceful when they are inside. The American White Shepherd can live outdoors but they do much better and have fewer problems if they live indoors with their owners.
Exercise:
The American White Shepherd breed of dog is a very energetic breed and requires at least 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day. They do have excess stores of energy and if they are not properly exercised they can become very destructive. American White Shepherds make excellent jogging companions. In addition to exercise, the American White Shepherd is very intelligent and needs to have exercises that challenge their mind on a daily basis or they will become bored.
Life Expectancy:
10 to 12 years
Grooming:
The American White Shepherd breed of dog does require a fair amount of grooming and you should expect to brush them two or three times a week at a minimum. During heavy shedding periods, expect to groom this dog every day and also be prepared for a large amount of hair in your home. The American White Shepherd should be bathed two or three times a year and the hair around the feet and under the ears should be trimmed on a regular basis to prevent matting and infections from occurring.
Origin:
The American White Shepherd breed of dog originated in Canada and the United States and while they are a distinct color, they are actually a descendant of purebred German Shepherd Dogs. Over the years, efforts have been made to breed a white German Shepherd so only dogs that had white coats or the white gene was bred until a pure white shepherd was developed. The breed is still considered to be purebred, however, the white coat color is not accepted by the German Shepherd breed standard and the breed is not accepted by any kennel clubs except the UKC. The American White Shepherd is still bred with a breed standard in mind and all purebred American White Shepherds are registered with the American White Shepherd Association. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
