At a glance the quick version
UKC standard gives 75-85 lb for males and 60-70 lb for females; Wikipedia gives 75-80 lb as the male ideal.
Coat and looks how to spot one
double coat, straight harsh outer coat with thick undercoat
A muscular, medium to large herding dog, a little longer than tall, with upright ears and a low-carried natural tail. The body outline is drawn in smooth curves. Its weatherproof coat has a dense, straight, coarse top layer over a thick undercoat.21
Personality what they are like
A steady, confident dog that is keen to take on any job it is given. It keeps both herding and guarding instincts, is warm with familiar people and tends to watch newcomers calmly from a distance before warming up.23
Daily activity how busy a day looks
An active, clever breed that needs daily walks plus mental work such as training, hiking or dog sports.3
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Sheds moderately all year and drops a lot of undercoat twice a year at the change of seasons, so regular thorough brushing is needed, more often during those periods.3
Home where they are happiest
Suits an active home with room to move and daily outings; being a herding and watchdog type, it does best with company and a job to do.32
Company who they like around
Bonds closely with its family and can get on well with children and other pets when socialised early; naturally a little reserved with strangers.32
The story where it all began
White puppies appeared in German Shepherd lines from the breed's early years, but Germany stopped registering white dogs in 1933 and the colour later fell out of favour. North American fanciers kept breeding them, founded a club for the white variety in 1969, and the dogs developed into their own type, which the UKC accepted as the White Shepherd in 1999.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The UKC standard states that honourable working scars should never count against a White Shepherd in the show ring.2
- 2
White-coated shepherd dogs were already recorded in Europe in 1882, well before the German Shepherd became a formal breed.1
- 3
A specialist club for white shepherds in the United States and Canada was set up as early as 1969.1
- 4
The Swiss White Shepherd breed descends from White Shepherds exported from North America.4
Recognised by the official bits
- UKC
- Recognised as a separate breed on 14 April 1999; Herding Dog Group.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a White Shepherd. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily during heavy sheddingevery 3 days
- Double coats insulate against cold and heat, so shaving is not recommended
- Bathevery 10 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- White Shepherd - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, history, size, coat
- UKC White Shepherd breed standard ukcdogs.comused for recognition, size, coat, temperament, fun fact
- DogTime - White Shepherd dogtime.comused for lifespan, exercise, grooming, social needs
- White Swiss Shepherd Dog - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for fun fact
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.