Opinions on White GSDs - Page 2

Good morning! I happen to love white GSD's. The few that I have been around have all been good dogs. Here's the kicker...I've never had one. Our last GSD was a black and tan, basically from a puppy mill type of breeder (I just couldn't let her stay there so I bought her and brought her home). That dog (so far) has been my heart dog, the love of my life as far as dogs go. We had to put her down last August and I bawled my eyes out all weekend long. We finaly started looking for a new dog (GSD of course) a few months ago. What was recommended for us for the type of dog we were looking for (by several people who are supposed experts on GSD's) was a DDR line dog. We were looking for a family/companion dog. We got Stori 6 weeks ago and  couldn't be happier. She is absolutly beautiful and is smart as all get out. She comes from working lines (we were never sure what lines our last GSD came from) so she is at this point a little bit of a handfull (our only complaint) but I think she is going to be an absolutly awesome dog by the time she reaches two yeaers old. If you're interested I could send you some names of DDR line breeders that were recommended to me (including where we got ours from). I wish you the best of luck on your new pup no matter which type you pick.

Mick

Glad to hear you're happy with your new girl Mick.  Nice post!

Rook,

I like the looks of the whites but would not own one. I think you ought to look at an all black. They are stunning. IMO.

Yes Sock Puppet they are very beautiful as well :)  From what I had been reading, I was under the impression that an over all personality trait of the White GSDs was their mellow friendliness.  That they are good dogs to have if you have children. Their look was appealing as well and I wondered if i had stumbled on the complete package for us.   I have also been reading the same about DDR shepherds.  

~Rooka

No matter the color, they're still all GSDs

I don't know any white GSD breeders personaly, but yes some of them are quite strikingly beautiful specifically the long coated ones.

Either way you have quality white coat breeders, as well as bad ones, but I'm sure your perfect pup is out there somewhere.

Best wishes in finding him or her

Sangre

 Rooka,
I own a White German Shepherd Dog that I rescued 4-1/2 years ago. He was tied to a tree at the back of someone's property and left there presumably to die. He is the product of a divorce. Husband wanted the dog, the couple split up, the husband left the dog with the wife and kids and she didn't want him. It was the middle of the winter and he dug a hole in the ground to lay in to stay warm. A woman kept driving by to check on him at all hours of the day and night. She brought him food and water and eventually convinced the woman to turn him over to the local animal shelter. I have friends that volunteer there and they called me. I drove four hours to meet him and took him home. I named him Wilhelm.
He is an awesome dog and solid in every situation.
He is safe around children, other dogs, cats, and he is the alpha dog in a house with four other GSD's (three working line, one German showline) and an AmStaff. He runs a tight ship with the dogs, but, he is also very protective of them with outsiders who cross a line. He is a true alpha who keeps his pack in line, but, will not go overboard to the point of harming them. He took on two coyotes that tried to attack and kill one of my male GSD's when he was a pup. He will not do bitework. The first time I showed him a tug he sat in front of me and readied himself to be beaten (my guess is that his first owners didn't know how to read a newspaper, so, they used it on him). After a lot of bonding and watching my other dogs bite the tug he will now do so, as well. If you are looking for a White GSD that will do bitework you will probably have to look to breeders in Europe.
My dog came from somewhere near Greencastle, Indiana. I wish I knew who the breeder was because he/she produced, whether by design or fluke, a really nice German Shepherd that anyone would be proud to own.
I have also rescued three or four others and they were/are all nice dogs living in homes as excellent companions. One of these dogs, Ice, thwarted an in-process burglary while his very pregnant (8mos) owner was at home.
As others have suggested, if you do your homework, you should be able to find a great pup that will turn out to be a great dog.
My advice is to maybe try to stay away from the White showlines. They tend to be a lot like the American showline GSD's.
One other thing, Wilhelm has one black hair near his tail. He doesn't let it affect his self-esteem!
Best of luck to you!

They aren't all calm, mellow, and friendly. Be careful and do your homework. Some white dogs are total nutcases. Trust me, I live with one. We have a black/tan dog too and the black/tan dog is way more mellow. The white dog is reactive and has a very hard time calming down. She is also way more athletic and intense than the black and tan dog. She also sheds like 10 times more.

IMO,They are still German Shepherds and they can come with all the same possible flaws of any GSD.

Crimsonribbon, that looks like SuperDog in your avatar.  I'm assuming that's the crimsom ribbon?  Would your post the full sized pic?

I have fostered a few white shepherds and am not a fan. I have had them ranging from a complete couch potato a SPAZ with high prey and energy level but definitely was not clear heaeded in the least(typical spaz) .

All of which whom had many flaws structurally and temerament and the spaz passed away from liver failure.

Due to the fact they were bred purely for color in disragaurd to all other traits-   structure,temperament,imune systems,general health, and working ability. You end up with a wide variety of unsound dogs IMO. I would not
own one.