i am getting a white german shepherd next week and i dont know if i should get papers or not  my thinking is that this type of breed is not recognised by the kennel club so therfore i should get none. but hubby seems to think i should who is right/wrong. please help in my dilemma.

Ideally you would get KC registration papers which have been endorsed "Progeny not eligible for registration". However, the breeder may not have registered the pup because white is a non-standard colour for GSDs. If the sire or dam are white too, it is unlikely that it was possible to register your pup.

I'm assuming you have seen evidence of the sire and dam's hip-scores, and that they were satisfactory - if not, be aware that you may well be getting a pup who will suffer in the future. Good health is infinitley more important than colour.
:)

A white GSD is a GSD (even though of non standard colour) so whether both one or none of the parents were white makes no differenece, if parents were registered then pups can be too.  Both parents should have been hip scored and have a score in the low teens or less, and the father should have been tested for Hamofilia (sp) A.

There is a club for White and Long Coated GSDs who run rallies etc, and I beleive are trying to encourage responsible ownership and breeding, as these non standard dogs are much exploited, being popular as pets at the moment.

What I was trying to point out (clearly badly!) is that many white GSDs aren't registered simply because they are a non-standard colour. In fact, I think it is only recently that it became possible to register them - in the past they were sold without papers. If this was the case with either of the parents (if they are white too), then this pup cannot be registered.

If this is a white pup in a litter from standard-coloured parents, it is more likely that it can be KC registered.

Of course, any registration other than Kennel Club registration is worthless anyway.

If the parents aren't registered, the puppy won't be & if the parents aren't registered, they can't have been hip scored under the KC/BVA scheme. As G-J says, health is more important than colour.

Unless you are in a country such as Australia where whites are not recognised then YES whites are most definitely recognised by the UK kennel club and any breeder that may tell you otherwise is pulling a fast one and probably asking a ridiculous price too. Why would you not have discussed this very important issue with the breeder?  Where are you getting this pup from?  There are a few people out there who prey on people like you thinking that whites are not recognised and they charge a disgusting amount of money too, it is nonsense, as long as the parents are both registered and neither one is 'endorsed' you should get k.c papers regardless of colour or coat pattern.  If you would like details of our club please e-mail me or if you have any q's regarding whites I will be happy to help you.
Debbie 

As Debbie has said you should get KC papers.  Did the breeder not tell you if the litter was registered when you enquired?  By the way, is this the pup you are getting through Ellen King in Scotland?

Becky.

Now I am very confused if the poster is the person that asked for help what seems an eternity ago but we have had xmas in the way, then why on earth are you asking us      I gave you Ellens tel.no. she is the clubs rep. for Scotland and I would very much hope that her pups are registered and parents hip scored. If this is not the case please let me know so that I may advise people correctly in the future.
:)

tcarlaidh i am getting papers and the dam and sire have been hip scored and i will be forever in your debt for putting me on to mrs king
sounds like grovveling, well i am extremley happy
as i said my hubby was getting me confused

yes the pup is from ellen king and yes i am the one that asked for your help    i just thought i was to get papers and my husband said i would not  just did not want to make a fool of myself at her place next week

Please check that the pup will be registered with the KC and no other registration club.  At the end of the day German Shepherds do suffer several health problems if not bred properly, as do some that have had all the best love and care put into them from the start, but there is never a health guarantee that comes with any dog.     

Becky