Breeds / Large
White Swiss Shepherd Dog puppies
Lively, balanced and friendly, with high social competence and a strong wish to work with its owner. Never nervous or aggressive without cause, and easy to teach.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin Switzerland
- Adult weight 25 to 40 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 55 to 88 lb
- Adult height 53 to 66 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Medium to long double
- Typical lifespan 10 to 14 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Usually good
Where these come from:
- fci.be for adult weight and height, coat type and country of origin
- wisdompanel.com for life expectancy
- royalkennelclub.com for energy, grooming and the temperament ratings and health notes
About the White Swiss Shepherd Dog
The White Swiss Shepherd Dog is the European branch of the white German Shepherd, built from American and Canadian imports that reached Switzerland in the early 1970s and entered the Swiss stud book as a separate breed in 1991. It is a powerful, medium to large shepherd with erect ears and a double coat that comes either medium length or long, always white. Males stand 58 to 66 cm and weigh around 30 to 40 kg.
This is a working shepherd, so it wants a job. Reckon on more than two hours a day of walking, training or dog sport, and mental work alongside the mileage. The coat sheds steadily and needs brushing more than once a week. Trainability is high but the breed is sensitive, so heavy handed correction backfires quickly. People who buy on looks alone are unprepared for the drive, and for the noise and chewing a bored one produces.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a White Swiss Shepherd Dog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and it will need a job to do long before it needs long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, scored from x-rays under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
- Elbow dysplasia, graded under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
- Loss of genetic diversity, which the Kennel Club asks breeders to consider when choosing a mate
From White Swiss Shepherd Dog breed information at https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/pastoral/white-swiss-shepherd-dog-imp/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your White Swiss Shepherd Dog puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a White Swiss Shepherd Dog.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 25 to 40 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other large breeds
Previous: Whippet · Next: Whoodle
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.