The color white is one of the original colors of the German Shepherd Dog breed.  The developer of the German Shepherd Dog breed, Max Von Stephanitz, owned several White German Shepherd Dogs.  As a matter of fact, one of the first German Shepherds imported into the United States carried the gene that produces the white coat color.

Horand von Grafrath was one of the founding sires of the GSD, bred to 24 different bitches (including 3 of his daughters), producing 53 litters, from which 140 offspring were registered with the VDS. Horand's grandsire was a white sheepdog named Greif. Horand is credited (or blamed) as the progenitor of the white GSDs.

"Dana" a WGSD in Germany

The color white was made a disqualification in the GSD Breed Standard by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America almost thirty years ago.   Up until that time, the white coated German Shepherd Dog was eligible to compete in conformation classes the same as the black, black and tan, and sable colors.  White german Shepherd dogs are still eligible to be registered with the American Kennel Club; however, due to the color disqualification, these dogs can no longer be shown in the conformation breed ring.  Owners can show  white dogs in AKC sanctioned obedience, tracking and herding trials. Also the White German Shepherd is allowed to show in most rare breed shows and to earn conformation titles with several independent kennel clubs.

"Sobaka" is owned by Nick Nichols.

"United Kennel Club Recognizes The White Shepherd"

The United Kennel club announced recently that it would recognize the White Shepherd, a breed developed in the last 30 years by breeders wanting to preserve the traditional German Shepherd Dog form with a striking white color.

The white color dates back to the beginning of the German Shepherd Dog breed more than 100 years ago.  Whites were fully accepted in Germany until the 1930's and in the American Kennel Club standard until 1968, the year the GSDCA abandoned the color.  After the GSDCA and the German Sieger Verein (the national breed association) disqualified the color, many Federation Cynologique Internationale countries followed their lead.

In response, the owners of white German Shepherd Dogs developed a separate standard for their breed.  Along with maintaining the white color, these fanciers insisted on a more traditional dog, without the extreme sloping topline and rear angulation in some types of the modern German Shepherd Dog.  In the 30 years since the white color was disqualified, subtle but definite differences in structure have become fixed in the white German Shepherd Dog population.

In Memory of Amigo and Raices

The white coat color is caused by a simple recessive gene not linked to any deficiency in health, temperament or structure.  White Shepherds are homozygous for this particular gene, so a pair of white dogs will produce the white color in 100 percent of its offspring.

UKC registered white German Shepherd Dog owners will have one year to elect whether to transfer dogs to the new White Shepherd breed.  No further cross breeding will be allowed.

Owners of White Shepherds are encouraged to join the new UKC United White Shepherd Club.  The club secretary, Diana Updike, may be contacted at 15020 Kipke, Redford, Mich. 48239; e-mail:  vontasz@yahoo.com.

"Cordelia" owned by Christine - Soothsayer German Shepherds.

For more information and registration applications, contact the UKC Registration Department, 100 E. Kilgore Road, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49002-5584; (616) 343-9020.  Applications can be downloaded from the World Wide Web site, www.ukcdogs.com. (United Kennel Club).

Article courtesy of Dog World Magazine, August 1999

Von Tasz Shepherds

WSCC/BIMBS U-CH U-CD Crystal's Li'l Pistol Von Tasz  AM/CN CD, FGDCH, WETT, DSA, NA, NAJ, HC, CGC, OFA (h&e), 88%vWF

"Luger" is owned by Michelle Koons.