White GSDs

This might be a touchy subject, but I have a reason to ask:-

Has anyone ever come across a white GSD that wasn't DA?

Reason I ask - there are 5 GSDs in my area, and they are all white! I haven't seen another colour around here for about two years. And without exception, they are anti-social to say the least. Only one is allowed off lead (she looks glorious and moves like a dream) because she keeps herself to herself and doesn't go near any dogs, although if met face to face on a narrow path she is nervous and makes "keep away" signals. The other four are on leads always and kept well away from other dogs by their owners, although if met by chance close up (like aforementioned narrow paths) they launch into full-on attack on Kuchar. Unfortunately Kuchar is now learning to answer back! and nearly had me over yesterday.

Am I just unlucky?

I know a beautiful white GSD called Henrick and he hasn't got an ounce of DA in him and he met up with us for a big group dog walk at Rother valley a while back

He's the big white fluff ball behind harv

Thank you Ella! Guess it's something in the water around here then; good to know they aren't all the same!

Your pics are lovely - I wish I could trust Kuchar to run free like Harvey is - they are having such fun!

I wouldn't discount all white GSD there are some nice ones out there

and thanks

I think the majority are actually very nice, but the only one I've known was DA and HA. They're actually supposed to be mellower than other GSDs, apparently!

From what I've heard, they can be a bit timid though. Maybe that can cause fear reaction/aggression/overcompensation when handled by owners who aren't aware?

The aggressive Shepherd I knew was aggressive due to her owners. Huge dog called Honey, belonged to my friend. The first time I saw her, she took one look at me (in her house) and growled, at which point she got a hefty smack from her owner. Every time somebody went near her, she'd growl again, whether it was her owner or a guest.

She eventually warmed to me while I was sleeping over at my friend's house and pressed herself up against my legs. When I tried stroking her, my fingers got caught up in her coat because it was so knotted and tangled.

To sum up the amount of care given to her: she died young of an ear infection. She'd had the infection for weeks before they noticed and took her to the vet, who gave her ear drops. The infection came back at a later date and they didn't bother to check or take her to the vet until it was too late.

Poor dog was probably in a fair amount of pain.

My experience of white shepherds was of nervous dogs with a nasty streak in them - until about two years ago. I have since met a lot of very friendly, quite amiable white sheps. I think in the past I hadn't travelled much outside my own area and all the white sheps had originated from the same line, whereas now I have been on a few organised dog walks out of my area and my opinion on them has changed.

Are we talking white GSDs or Swiss Shepherds? They're 2 different breeds but look a lot alike. Then you also have the Samoyed that can be confused with both of the above - except for the curly tail.

I'm a member of a GSD forum (well, two actually!) and there are several people with white GSDs there. All of them seem to be well rounded, normal temperament dogs.

The biggest problem is that breeders who breed solely for colour will ignore4 health/temperament & so the pups may not be all they should be!

I think you do get some lines of white GSDs, bred solely for colour. Probably doesn't help the temperament.

Still, I should imagine the majority are friendly enough! I think most of it is probably down to owners who just don't understand how to handle a GSD.

You don't really see many Swiss Shepherds in the UK - or Samoyeds, for that matter. I think a Samoyed is more easily distinguishable, but from a distance I might confuse one with a GSD. Close up, probably not. Beautiful dogs

I'm reading up on the differences. Seems there's a Swiss Shepherd, White German Shepherd and White Shepherd     Basically to tell them apart you need to look at the toplines and many back yard breeders don't know one from the other and sell them wrongly labeled.
You need to learn something new everyday!

Sorry to have gone off topic ... again.

We used to have one and he was ok

Thank you all for all your answers!

The dogs I'm talking about are definitely GSDs. They look like your normal long-coated GSD, only white. Definitely not Samoyeds - I can tell the difference!

I agree that timidity (fear aggression) may be the problem here - but why, from 5 out of 5 dogs? I can't get close enough to their owners to engage in conversation; times we are accidently close the GSD is going bonkers (with Kuchar now yelling back) so a cosy chat between us owners is out of the question.

I can't help wondering about deafness - like in white cats and white boxers.

LyndaW wrote:
I can't help wondering about deafness - like in white cats and white boxers.

I don't think that applies - it's different genetics involved.

Lynne, he's lovely!

Are they related by any chance?

That's a good point, Theresa! I hadn't thought of that.

Shisa wrote:Are they related by any chance?

I have no idea! It's possible I suppose. If I can ever get near enough to an owner to be able to ask without all the shrieking and bawling between our dogs, I will!

Good luck

Yeah. My friend has two and both are very dog friendly, they live on a dog kennel yard. Both were later on like 3 or 4 so not puppies. One is very human aggressive though.

Just met the first short-haired GSD for ages today. Apparently it's a guide dog - it didn't have the distinctive harness but the girl with it is apparently practically blind and can only see a yard or so ahead of her. Stella (the dog) was marvellous - Kuchar was a bit sparky on meeting her (I think maybe from his previous experiences as aforementioned) but Stella wasn't worried and Kuchar calmed down quickly; it certainly did him good to meet a GSD who was calm and friendly.

That's great!