How Much Will It Cost To Own A White German Shepherd
Breeders may charge anywhere from $700 to $1500 for each White Shepherd puppy. Of course, the expense doesnt stop there.
Initial costs for accessories and neutering would be around $400 to $500. Annual medical expenses are may reach up to $600, while yearly non-medical costs like training, food, professional grooming can be as high as $1000.
Here are a few reputable White German Shepherd breeders to consider:
Rescuing or adopting a white GSD is a more affordable option, with adoption fees ranging from $175 to $200.
If you want to adopt a White German Shepherd puppy instead, check out rescues and shelters in your area. Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue , Bay Area German Shepherd Rescue , and White Paws German Shepherd Rescue are great places to start your search for an adult White GSD to take home.
Smart Toys For Smart German Shepherds
Personally, I think smart toys and dog puzzles are great! Theyre perfect for those that cant spend hours a day with their GSDs. With that said, here are my favorite dog puzzles.
One of my dogs all-time favorite is the StarMark Bob-A-Lot. Its an interactive bobble toy that requires your German Shepherd to tilt it a certain way to release his favorite treats.It comes with 2 chambers so you can put your dogs meal and treats inside. For your German Shepherd, make sure to get a size large. If youre interested, I highly recommend checking it out at Amazon.
A dog puzzle that my dogs absolutely love is the Nina Ottosson Dog Puzzle. There are 3 variations, but I went with the Hide n Slide.Its a challenging puzzle where your German Shepherd needs to move the sliders to reach his favorite treats. Put in a few of his favorites and hell be all over it! I suggest you take a look at Amazon here.
There are a ton of fantastic puzzles and toys thatll help with your German Shepherds mental stimulation. If not what I recommended, I suggest you get them something.
German Shepherds Adaptive Intelligence
The last dimension of dog IQ is adaptive intelligence. It refers to the ability of the dog to learn for itself. Problem solving and the ability to learn from past experiences are both associated with high adaptive intelligence in dogs.
Though theres no objective way to measure this type of intelligence. Though, we do have real owner stories that suggest high adaptive intelligence in German Shepherds.
For example, a German Shepherd owner tells us:
If were sitting on the couch, I can tell Odin Ok Odin, its bath time. and hell hop off the couch, go into the bathroom and get in the tub.
Kelsey
She adds, Ive never met a dog who can do that before! Kelseys GSD quickly learned that the action that follows the words bath time. From his previous experiences, Odin knew exactly what was going to happen and did what he had to do. Smart boy, indeed.
As we already know, learning verbal commands is easy for the German Shepherd. As such, learning word correlations is not a problem for this dog. But how about learning actions through other stimuli?
Another GSD owner, Jacob, tells us why his German Shepherd is highly intelligent:
I go into my bathroom all the time, but the moment I put on sunscreen he knows that were about to go for a walk and waits patiently next to his leash.
These are just two examples, but if you asked any German Shepherd owner, they would probably tell you equally remarkable stories of adaptive IQ in these dogs.
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Short Haired White German Shepherd
The short haired white German Shepherd Dog is more common than the long haired white GSD.
A German Shepherd with short hair has the same insulating undercoat as any German Shepherd, regardless of coat color.
These dogs make for hard-working dogs who excel in guarding, herding, service, search and rescue, police, military and protection jobs.
They are sometimes favored by farmers and ranchers.
Their white coat helps to distinguish flock guard dogs from darker-haired predators such as coyotes and wolves.
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What Is The Temperament Of The White German Shepherd
A White German Shepherds temperament is no different than a standard color German Shepherd. White shepherds have a calm disposition but will react accordingly to protect their pack. They may only become aggressive if provoked or mistreated.
White German Shepherds are often aloof and observant when strangers are around. They watch over their family. They arent afraid to protect small children if necessary.
White shepherds are playful, fun-loving, and friendly. In between naps, theyre usually game for playtime with a tennis ball, a tug rope, or a frisbee.
Please note that white shepherds are very vocal. Barking can be trained out of them, but they will usually whine, moan, groan, or how to talk to you. Your house will not be silent with a shepherd. But they love being with you and talking to you. Its their form of communicating with you.
White German Shepherd Rescue Groups & Breeders
German shepherds arent hard to find as mentioned earlier, theyre the second most popular breed in the U.S. Accordingly, you wont have to look very hard to find one.
However, white German shepherds arent as common as those of standard colored GSDs. As such, you may have to do a little more searching than normal if you have your heart set on a white GSD.
One of the best places to start your search for a white-coated German shepherd is the AKCs puppy finder. However, you may be able to find a White German Shepherd from a rescue too.
Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue is a good place to start your search, however, you may also be able to find white German shepherds puppies from other rescues they neednt necessarily focus on German shepherds of a particular color.
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German Shepherd Coyote Mix
The German Shepherd Coyote mix is probably the least common mixed breed on our list today.
This is partly because it involves mixing a domestic German Shepherd dog with a coyote. As you can imagine, results can be quite unpredictable.
Although these two species are quite closely related, there is no guarantee that their temperament will be closer to the GSD parent than the coyote parent.
These dogs will potentially be aggressive with guarding tendencies and strong natural instincts.
This is a hard mix to find, and not one for a novice owner.
How Big Do White Shepherds Get
According to the UKC breed standard for the White Shepherd, the ideal height and weight for the White Shepherd at maturity is 25 inches tall and 75-85 pounds for males and 23 inches and about 60-70 pounds for females. Dogs can be and inch up or down in height.
The UKC breed standard for German Shepherds calls for male dogs to be 24-26 inches and female should be 22-24 inches. No weight requirements are given.
AKC lists the German Shepherd Dog as 24-26 inches for the male and 22-24 inches for the female. Males weigh 65-90 pounds females weigh 50-70 pounds. This includes white German Shepherds even though they cannot be shown in conformation.
So, you can expect most White Shepherds and white German Shepherds to be very large dogs, especially the males.
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What Causes A White German Shepherd
German Shepherds with all-white coats have always been present in litters. However, now that you know they are not albinos, what exactly causes their beautiful white coat?
A recessive gene is responsible for causing a white German Shepherd and appears to have been part of the breeds original gene structure. It masks the dogs true color, making it appear white. The gene is only related to coat color and has nothing to do with health or temperament.
When studying the genetics of coat color, its difficult to predict what colors a white German Shepherd Dog would throw when bred to a non-white GSD because its unclear what color or pattern the dog is masking.
The easiest way to explain it is that the white gene is a recessive gene that works independently of all other color genes. If a dog has two copies of that gene switched on, the white hides the color. Consider a white bed sheet on a grey mattress it conceals the mattresss color rather than changing it.
So, whats the bottom line?
If the colored dog has the recessive gene, the pups would have a 50/50 probability of being white or colored. To guarantee an all-white litter, two white GSDs will need to be bred.
What Will It Cost To Own A White German Shepherd
Owning a dog is not cheap. Purchasing a White German Shepherd puppy is far from cheap. Breeders may charge between $750 and $1,500. The initial cost of supplies could be around $500. Yearly medical costs could be about $500 while yearly non-medical costs could reach $1,000.
If youre lucky enough to find a White German Shepherd in a rescue shelter or adoption organization, you could spend as little as $150 to $250 in adoption fees.
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Akc German Shepherd Puppies
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White German Shepherd Puppies
Their litter size is typically five to ten puppies.
White German shepherd puppies will cost anywhere from 750 USD to 1,000 USD.
This really depends on the breeder. Its important to know your breeder to ensure you do not get scammed, sometimes breeders try pass off German ahepherd mixes for pure white German shepherds.
At one year of age, they should be pretty close to their full growth potential.
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Are White German Shepherds Albino
Many myths exist about white-coated German Shepherds and the gene that determines their coat color. When some people see them, they think they are an albino. But are they?
White German Shepherds are not albino. Albinos lack all pigment, whereas white German Shepherds have black noses, black pigment around their mouth, black paw pads, and brown eyes. Their eye rims and nails also have dark skin. The white gene is recessive and is only responsible for coat color.
Although the albino can exist in German Shepherds, it is extremely rare. This genetic mutation causes a complete absence of pigmentation. Most albino dogs will have skin that appears pink around their eyes, giving the appearance of pink eyes when their eyes will usually be blue in color. You will also be able to spot the pink nose easily.
How To Spot A Black Shepherd
If you ever came face to face with a Black Shepherd, your initial instinct might be to run away since they look like a wolf. Dont fret theres more to love than to fear from this canines majestic features.
The Black German Shepherd has a chiseled face and long muzzle. Perched on their rounded forehead are their semi-pointed and erect ears.
Some German Shepherds aged 16- to 20-weeks old have floppy ears. But once the cartilage hardens, their ear will become stiff and upright.
These dogs have dark almond-shaped eyes which match their black nose.
They have a muscular body with sturdy and thick legs. The Black German Shepherd has a straight back which ends with a bushy tail. Sometimes they tend to have a straighter back than the regular one.
The Black Shepherd has a medium-length double coat a dense and straight outer layer with a soft undercoat.
These dogs may get long hair, which is a bit wavy and fluffy. Usually, they have a longer or straighter coat than the standard German Shepherd.
But no matter the length of their coat, this canine has one primary color, black.
For a German Shepherd to become black, both of his parents must have a recessive gene for a black coat. A more sure way of producing this rare canine is breeding two Black Shepherds.
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Other Reasons German Shepherds Are Smart
Stanley Corens smartest dog breeds list was based on just one dimension of canine intelligence, that is, obedience and work intelligence. And although its not the best way to gauge true dog IQ, it can be measured in an objective manner.
With that said, there are actually three components of dog intelligence, according to Stanley Coren. The other two, which may actually be more important, are instinctive and adaptive intelligence. Both of which, the German Shepherd excels in as well.
Gsds Are Incredibly Smart
If youre a German Shepherd owner, you have a strong suspicion your dog might actually be smarter than you are. After all, what cant your dog do? These dogs are known for their intelligence and many can learn a new behavior in only a few repetitions. In addition, they have a legendary desire to cooperate and work with us, a trait many see as a wish to please their humans. No wonder this breed excels at so many activities and is a top Obedience competitor. Because German Shepherds are one of the brightest breeds, be sure to be consistent, use positive reinforcement-based methods, provide plenty of mentally stimulating toys, and play brain-challenging games.
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What Health Issues Can The White Gsd Have
The white GSD is prone to the same health problems as other German Shepherds. Crippling joint diseases like hip dysplasia are prevalent in these dogs in fact, nearly 20% of evaluated GSDs suffer from this joint condition.
Here are other health issues commonly seen in this breed:
- Panosteitis
- Neurological disorders
- Epilepsy
- Bloat
The average lifespan of a White Shepherd is around 12 to 14 years. You can help your dog live to a ripe old age by giving him enough exercise and a proper diet and taking him to the vet for regular checkups.
Theyve Been Recognized By The United Kennel Club
Aside from their coloring, the American White Shepherd is no different from any other German Shepherd. But some purists still consider them less worthy of recognition. The German Shepherd Club of America, for one, has refused to recognize them, leading to the creation of the American White Shepherd Association. The American Kennel Club also refuses to acknowledge them, despite the fact they behave the same, act the same, and do all the same things as their multi-colored cousins. The United Kennel Club has been more welcoming, extending them recognition as a breed in their own right and allowing them to compete and show at all UKC events.
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Origin & History Of White German Shepherds
White German Shepherds are originally from European farms where they were valued for their obedience and loyalty as a herding dog. Their white coats blended in with the sheep, making it easier for farmers to spot wolves and coyotes.
White German Shepherds are direct descendants of Max Von Stephanitzs German Shepherd. Howard, the first German Shepherd, had a direct grandfather named Greif von Sparwasser, a White German Shepherd, making the recessive gene always present in modern German Shepherds of all colors.
These descendants of Howard were eventually brought to Canada and the United States.
Is The White German Shepherd A Separate Breed To The Standard German Shepherd
Technically, it isnt, but it is recognized as a separate breed. Let me explain:
The recessive gene that causes this breed to be white has always been present in the original genetic structure of the German Shepherd White German Shepherds descended directly from German Shepherds.
Since the 1930s, however, the White German Shepherd dog has been considered a fault and has yet to be recognized or accepted as a type of German Shepherd.
Supporters of the breed began forming their own breed clubs and registries for this dog in the 1970s, and eventually, in 1999 the United Kennel Club , the second largest dog breed registry in the US, recognized the White German Shepherd as a separate breed.
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