WHITE GSD Question - Page 1

I have only seen a few White GSd's in my lifetime. Myself I was not impressed with the quality at all. In looking around on different websites of White GSD breeders I noticed several things that were the same as the ones I observed myself in the past. 1. The males have small "bitchy" heads. 2. Many are light-boned. 3. Many on the websites were longcoated or carried the gene. Has anyone observed the same or anything different? To anyone who likes the Whites, I have nothing against them at all, just curious.

I've seen whites that look as you've described, and I've seen whites that could just as easily have been mistaken for a white Siberian Husky...but I've also seen whites that had good structure, substance and secondary sex characteristics, too. They do tend to resemble the North American bloodlines in conformation moreso than the European lines, most likely because the color has been kept going in North America using the AKC/CKC bloodlines. The whites that tend to be light-boned with poor secondary characteristics seem to be more common from lines that have been bred strictly for the color; those which carry a variety of colors in their background tend to be more substantial. As for being or carrying the longcoat, that's just as prevalent in the non-white lines, so I can't lay any fault on the whites in that regard. Temperament-wise, I've met just as many spooky, nervy standard-fitting color dogs as I've come across whites with those faults; the good whites differ from their dark cousins in pigment only. I'm not into whites, but I'm also not into solid blacks, either--I like the patterned coats in GSDs.

DR-- I'm sure many caught that show with Cesar Milan and the white GSD. I remember thinking at the time, he was a fairly nice looking dog. If you get a chance, try and catch a rerun. His coat also had a nice, coarser texture--not fine hair. And, I would also say American looking with good pigment.

Will try to catch and see. Hoping I get a few websites mentioned to go look at.

DesertRangers, I will offer my opinion as why you may see those qualities in "whites" or any other variant bred solely for solid colour or a certain colour. My guess is that when a breeder strives to produce a certain colour only that the concern for the quality of all other physical traits is tossed from the window. Bob-O

Well guys, I have one white GSD and who who carry the white genes. SO far, I do not breed FOR the white, but I breed for temperament. I also LOVE the temperament of these dogs. My black/tan female, Gabby, is out of a german male and a white female, she's one of the best prey drive dogs I've ever had, with extremely good full mouth bite and very social and confident. When I bred her to my white male, Taz, they produced excellent prey drive dogs with excellent confidence too. I have several of Taz's pups working in Narcotics work and some (with the female, Gabby) who are just too much for the typical family too handle. These dogs are excelling in everything. They do not have small bitchy heads either. So..I do not breed FOR the color white, some of my lines just carry it! :) Peggy

Is there any problem with deafness within the whites?? I know that some white boxers are typically born deaf and when we bred bull terriers we would mate to colours on occasion to prevent deafness.

Bob O, Certainly you didn't mean that included breeding to improve pigment in your post.

I don't see where Bob even mentioned that, he was talking about anyone who breeds strictly for a certain color. Knightenhouse..Do you have a pic I can see? thanks I have been looking at websites including the American White GSD association. Most of them including the "titled" ones seemed to back up my first post. Of course there are exceptions. The one post that menioned this website was deleted for some reason?

just curios, what color does a black /tan crossed with a white shepherd?