Desperately seeking white swiss shepherd puppies in UK....not from Europe as quarantine etc takes too long (10 months) Does any one know of UK availability???

They are not a separate breed here, just known as white GSD.

Pet passport: By importing a dog with pets passports, you have to be lucky enough to find a breeder who will not only keep the pup until it is 10 months old but also do all they can to train and SOCIALISE it! And that is easier said than done. There are  imports in this country that are nervous, unshowable etc because they lost out on the vital early socialisation as they didn't get enough by being kept by the breeder for so long. When you buy a young pup you do it all yourself, if it is in another country you can't control anything, just trust the breeder and hope for the best.........

It can be very costly too to get somebody look after the pup for 10 months(well 8months if it is not the breeder).
Having imported myself I have to say my girl stayed with my family and was socialised.
Even though it was my parents that looked after her and she was well looked after, socialised etc, there are things I would have done differently if the pup was with me.
Also, I love her to bits but I still feel we are missing little bit of the bond I would have with a pup I had from young, not from my side but from her side!
I also think for a sensitive souls like my breed it can be traumatising and take a little while for them to settle to their new life...
I know for a fact my girl took steps backwards when she came over here and started doing some behaviours she had already once grown out of.

I would love to have a Pumi, a breed I have been unable to find in UK but as I would like the pup to be for Agility etc.
I have to forget the idea as I would want my "hobby" dog from a pup...

Hi Annabelle,

if you're still around, it seems that what you're looking for is basically a white/cream German Shepherd Dg - our kennel club doesn't split the GSD into coat types or colours (we'll not dwell on that though or it's likely to go a little off topic :-p )

Be sure to source any prospective pup from a reputable breeder - that is one who does the appropriate health tests for the breed and also isn't sitting with a house or yard full of bitches and one resident stud to service them all :(  Sadly many breeds which produce coat types or colours that are not suited to the UK show ring are exploited and white long coated GSDs are certainly among them.

I'm guessing you used the word 'puppies' because you are hoping to have a choice from a couple of litters :)  Perhaps if you feel like dipping your toes back in the waters of the the forum you'll clear things up and may get more info / advice on which to base a dedicated search for your perfect companion :)

best wishes, Teri

This thread has been edited to remove the 'welcome' posts extended by certain members. Consequently, the thread may now seem a little odd in places, but the information included is important and I did not want to remove it all. Hopefully, this thread can remain on track now and help and/or advice be offered. Thank you to those members whom saw what was happening and tried to stop it. Lastly, if you do not have help to offer, then please do not post.

Hi Annabelle

I have just noticed your post. I have moved from the UK to Spain where the WSS is shown in the confirmation ring (both long and smooth coated). I also have searched for breeders of WSS in the UK but due to the breed WSS not being currently recognised by the KC, any dogs that have been imported into the UK in the past appear to have been re registered as GSD's.  I have purchased my first pup from a top conscientious breeder over here in Spain (and there are not many true WSS breeders here - due to the breed only having been FCI recognised since Nov 02).  I intend (if all future health checks are ok) to start my own line.  Current rules for importing into the UK makes it quite impossible to buy yourself a young pup of this breed.  My pup's pedigree is pure white through the generations and I have had to go back to the late 1940's to find coloured ancestry. Hopefully one day the Kennel Club may affiliate to the FCI and more of this wonderful breed will be seen in the show ring.  I wish you all the best of luck in obtaining one for yourself.  You may also be interested in taking a look at the pedigreedatabase site under White Shepherds.  You can see many years of breeding lines of the WSS with loads of photos!
Sue

> any dogs that have been imported into the UK in the past appear to have been re registered as GSD's

Sorry, but that is not true, if the dogs are FCI registered as Swiss White Shepherd Dog(not White Swiss Shepherds BTW)then they cannot be registered as GSDs in the UK, they would only be eligible for the Activities Register & they would be recorded as XB, this is what I was told by the KC staff when I was sorting out my Dutch friend's SWSD Authority To Compete(ATC) for her SWSD she had to apply for an Activities ATC & the breed is recorded as XB. This was on 22nd April, so not years ago.

It will be along time before the UK KC joins the FCI so don't hold your breath

Have a look at WALCSS - the white and longcoat shepherd society (just google for the link).

There are some fine conscientious breeders of white GSD's listed there.

http://www.pastorblancosuizo.com/ingles/inicio.php?htm=circular

I thought this FCI circular discussing re registration of the WHITE SWISS SHEPHERD DOG may be of interest.

Your link doesn't work & my Dutch friend has an FCI registered Swiss White Shepherd not a White Swiss Shepherd

Please do have another   http://www.messeschweiz.ch/users/bbs/fcicir77_bergers_blancs_suisses.pdf

This site may be of interest anyone who wants to do some research on White Swiss Shepherds.   http://www.eurobreeder.com/breeds/berger_blanc_suisse.html
Also you could contact a good friend of mine - she is the president of the Pastor Blanco Suizo (WSSD) club here in Spain - she is Dutch but speaks excellent German and English and would be extremely helpful.

For anyone in the UK who may by chance own a White Swiss Shepherd our first Breed Show is going to be held in Badajoz Spain end of October this year - it promises to be a fun show with breeders coming from around Europe.  Details can be seen on (CEBBS) website. Have a read!

So they are White Swiss Shepherd dogs - not Swiss White Shepherds :)

(and there was me, thinking Swiss White was like  brilliant white)

>So they are White Swiss Shepherd dogs - not Swiss White Shepherds

The FCI document certainly seems indisputable. MM, I hope your Dutch friend hasn't gone to the expense of having 'Swiss White Shepherds' on her official letterhead. How annoying and embarrassing that would be.

Teri
Wonder if you can help as you seem to be knowledgeable on this subject. DH came home last night saying a friend of his wanted a White German Shepherd dog as his neighbour has two (you know the scenario).  He asked me what I knew (which is zilch, I thought they were an anomoly (sp) sorry?! ;-)) Saw this timely post & thought I'd ask some questions & get some education!

Do these white dogs have health issues (hearing/sight etc.) sometimes associated with white dogs.  Are these dogs being bred reputably or are they being exploited through popularity etc.

Many thanks

White GSDs do not have hearing/sight issues sometimes associated with white dogs.
They have no more health issues than you can get in a 'standard' coloured GSD.
I know reputable breeders and non-reputable breeders - like you get in most breeds.
Some people say the 'whites' are more timid/fearful (mine is!) but then I know a few 'standard' coloured dogs that are too. I also know many white GSDs that are super confident and fine examples of the breed (albeit the 'wrong' colour). I'm sure it depends how they are brought up - mine is a rescue before anyone wonders how I managed to get a timid one!

thanks for the info.