Why are white GSD's acceptable in the UKC?

Question

Ok, so I have no problem with White GSDs as pet quality dogs. I think that they are fine placed in a home as a pet rather than culling the pups at birth. As a companion animal, coat color should have no affect on how they rank as the family pet.

BUT, lets talk working dogs:

A white GSD is not a desirable trait to have in a working shepherd. Here are a few reasons:

http://hometown.aol.com/heisstwessen/page14.html

GSD's are ultimately bred to a working dog standard, correct? If not, they would be in the toy category if they only served as a companion, right? So why would the UKC not find fault in a dog that cannot truly do the job it was bred to do? I read the reason on the WGSD club website and I think its kinda flimsy, but I could be wrong. It ranges from blaming Hitler to claiming that sheep are not white. Seems to play too much with semantics rather than really disputing the converse argument.

http://www.wgsdca.org/thebreed/gsdvswgsd.asp

I don't have anything against a WGSD, or anyone for owning one, but I have to wonder about why a reputable breeder would purposefully breed to yield a white coat when it goes against the job the breed was designed to perform. Its one thing when one is born as a fluke, but another entirely to try for ONLY the white coat. i don't agree with it, personally. I think breed standards exist for good reasons.

Does anyone know why the UKC would accept the WGSD? Is there converse research that would indicate that the white coat is NOT a fault? Preferably research not posted on a pro WGSD page. Something from a neutral source would be great if you have it.

Thanks for the input!

Answer 1

UKC accepts them because it enables them to make $$ on entry fees and registrations.  They accept them because there is a contigent of people who want them to be a separate breed from the GSD.  I will say, as someone who has shown in UKC, structurally the WGSD I've seen are FAR & AWAY superior to the conformation GSD seen at AKC shows.  They do not have the roached backs or overangulated rears that appear as if they are walking on their hocks.  As far as whether a white GSD is suitable for herding work or work as a herd perimeter guard--- I've seen more than a few Komondor, Great Pyrenees, Kuvasz and some Samoyeds who are white and do just fine herding/guarding.  

I am not for or against WGSD.. but I try to see both sides of the story.

As far as a black Samoyed (as another poster pointed out) being registerable... yes, it would be although it is not an allowed color.  Historically speaking Samoyeds came in black (as well as a variety of other colors) so, on very very rare occassion they do still pop up--- as do blue eyes.  Neither of which would be showable but both of which would still be Samoyeds.  Should it be bred for? No.  Is it possible.. Yes.

Answer 2

I can't answer why the UKC has seen fit to accept WGSD's as conformation dogs (as well as some other *questionable* breeds and colors)

I am a firm believer, however, in the belief that when a breed club has something listed as a fault, there is a good reason- just as there is here.  I also believe that dogs shouldn't be bred without that eye on the perfect example of the breed.  A white GSD is NOT the perfect example of the breed- and would not be used as working stock.  To intentionally breed away from that is a slap in the face to the breed.

Answer 3

My biggest concern about white GSDs, or any other dog that is purposely bred for colour is this:  If the colour is found to be a fault, then generally, there are not many dogs with that colour.  So anyone breeding specifically for that colour MUST be inbreeding.  Although I have no problem with line breeding and inbreeding when done by responsible, knowledgeable breeders, doing it just for a colour is the hallmark of a bad breeder, in my opinion!!

Answer 4

The UKC recognizes the White Shepherd as a breed. During the 1970s a few white dog fanciers formed the White German Shepherd Dog club. By the 1990s, they decided to form their own American White Shepherd breed standard separate and independent from the German Shepherd Dog club. Whereas the AKC registers white coated German Shepherd Dogs under their GSD breed registry, the UKC has separated the two "breeds" and registers white coated dogs under a different breed name. The UKC registers White Shepherd Dogs separately from German Shepherd Dogs with white coats.

It comes down to this:

The German Shepherd Dog, American White Shepherd Dog, Canadian White Shepherd Dog, White German Shepherd Dog and the White Swiss Shepherd Dog are all the same breed of dog and yet are considered separate breeds by different registries. They all have different standards, but they all have common genetic heritage.

So to directly answer your question, the UKC recognizes the White Shepherd as a breed separate from German Shepherd Dogs with white coats which are simply recognized as German Shepherd Dogs.

Answer 5

Honestly I don't understand the UKC sometimes when it comes to what they will and wont allow



COLOR

      Catahoulas come in an endless variety of coat colors and patterns. All color combinations and patterns can have color points or trim, which may be located on the chest, cheeks, above the eyes, on the legs, underbody or under the tail. The Leopard pattern has a base color, with contrasting spots of one or more other colors. Solids have a single coat color. Brindles may have a light or dark base coat color with contrasting stripes. The Patchwork pattern may or may not have one predominant solid color with one or more different size patches of different colors and shades placed randomly on the body. In dogs of equal quality, rich, deep colors are preferable to the lighter colors. However, in evaluating the Catahoula as a true, multi-purpose working dog, coat color is not a primary consideration. No coat color or pattern is preferred.

      Serious Fault: 70 percent or more white.

      Disqualifications: 90 percent or more white coat color; solid white head; albinism.

Now albinism I can understand HOWEVER this is what the Breed's National clubs says:

COAT COLOR: Although leopards predominate, any color or combination of colors is acceptable. Solid colored dogs are not to be penalized.

Big freaking difference here,  This is a breed mostly used with cattle and hunting down wild hogs - if the breed club has set down that white dogs are acceptable and fully capable of doing their job where does the UKC get off saying otherwise?

Answer 6

itsa odd too because the ukc doesnt allow white shepherds iether, for a working gsp it would be hard to track

EDIT

sorry you said gsd well people are slow they might get around to it

Answer 7

well I'm not going to give any links. but I was wondering about the differences as well

what I have come up with is:

like you said, white dogs did not do well in their line of work (used for war) and were easy to spot. just like boxers

so here in America they stopped classifying them as part of the gsd breed. and since people argued that-they named it the american white shepard, or white shepard, or white german shepard (you pick)

they have the same genes and everything. they are just like they German Shepard's. but their color disqualifies them from showing. like a merle great dane or a white boxer

from what I have read-they can be registered as german Shepard's. but not shown

and people breed whites b/c they are pretty. beautiful. and they obviously cant be shown-but they can be registered. so people buy them as pet quality dogs.

there are no differences in temperament. only color. like there are only differences in labs temperament only color.

like I said-they are beautiful, and if you arent planning to show-why not?

Answer 8

I have seen a couple of white GSDs at the shelter I work at.  Although they are beautiful and I wanted to take them home with me, I understand that it is kind of an odd thing to do. That would be like the AKC standing up and saying, "Okay, we now accept black Samoyeds!" It just doesn't really make sense that they would make a fault into an accepted trait, especially one that hinders their ability to work properly.

Answer 9

That WGSD site sounds like it's just trying to make up reasons for their dogs to be acceptable.

All it boils down to, is the are against the original breed standard set forth, and that's it.

And why people would breed them?  Simple... just like merle "pitbulls" they are considered "rare" or "more valuable" when really, they're just conformationally incorrect junk dogs.

Answer 10

I can only speak about my breed.  The very light to almost white golden are accepted in the UKC for showing but they are not here in the US.  It is a bias that some Golden people have.  Some say it is because it then taints the word "Golden".  

Now things are changing here in the US but it is still very slow in doing so.  I see more and more very light Golden's being shown in the venues I have attended.  By very prominent Golden Breeders too.  There is still alot of die hard "True" Golden people out there and until everyone is on the same page about colors then it will continue.



My own personal opinion is that all white is a tough one to swallow!