American White Shepherd
White Shepherd or the American White Shepherd is a medium-sized, powerful, fearless, and clever dog breed. It is basically the white version of the German Shepherd. Their loyalty can be confirmed by the fact that they wouldn’t think twice before giving their lives for their owners. Their protective instinct makes them a very useful guard dog and police dog.
Breed Profile
Height
22 - 25
Inches
Weight
75 - 90
Pounds
Life Span
12 – 14
Years
Health
health
Gastric Bloat
What is it?:
Gastric Bloat is a common problem in dogs with deep chests. It happens when the contents in the stomach get trapped because the stomach twists on itself. The blood flow can also get affected due to this.
Clinical signs
Hypersalivation
Restless retching
Lethargy and weakness
Pale gums
Sudden collapse
Enlarged abdomen
Cold body temperature
Increased heart rate
Treatment
It is very important that the treatment for dogs with GDV start right away as it can be fatal if not attended to. Vets usually use painkillers, intravenous fluids (drip), and emergency drugs right away to help curb the pain. If feasible, passing a stomach tube will help aid in allowing some of the gas to escape. If this is not possible due to twisting, the pressure can be relieved by inserting a metal tube or large bore needle through the skin into the stomach.
The condition is life-threatening in nature because of its fast advancement, the potential for cardiovascular shock, and the risk of comorbidities. Mortality rates can be very high. It is also possible that some dogs may not survive surgery and if they manage to, there may be some internal damage done.
Eligible vet bill
$2,000
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://spotpet.com/spot-sample-policy.pdf for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
health
Hip Dysplasia
What is it?:
Hip Dysplasia happens when the hip or elbow joints loosen up which can cause dysfunction and pain. Over time, this may result in arthritis, muscle atrophy, and limitations in mobility
Clinical signs
Lethargy and reluctance in walking
Decreased range of motion
Difficulty or reluctance in climbing stairs, rising, jumping, or running
Thinning of the thighs
Enlargement of the shoulder muscles
Discomfort when the lower back muscles are touched
Treatment
When diagnosed, the vet may administer anti-inflammatory medications to help ease the pain and swelling. Few treatment options incude –
Physical therapy
Total hip replacement surgery
Femoral head ostectomy
Supplements for joints
Eligible vet bill
$3,500
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://spotpet.com/spot-sample-policy.pdf for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
Personality
Fearless
There may be bigger dogs in front of these Shepherds but nothing usually intimidates them as they will show confidence in their strength. However, they wouldn’t usually attack anyone without reason.
Faithful
Once you have a White Shepherd, he is yours forever. He will be devoted to you for life.
Clever
Just like their German counterparts, they rank high in terms of intelligence. This makes training them easier.
Lifetime Care
Coat
These White German Shepherds have a fluffy white double coat with a fine-textured dense undercoat
Colors
The name suggests that these would come only in white. However, they can have multi-colored German Shepherd puppies.
Hypoallergenic
No
Grooming
Another name for these dogs is German Shedders. You will find fur lying around in the house often as they are heavy shedders. It is important that you brush them daily and bathe them whenever there is a need. Dental hygiene and nail clipping should be done regularly as well.
Training
These intelligent creatures can be trained for tracking & protection, search and rescue, herding, guide dogs, medical alert, guarding, and therapy. It is also important that obedience training is done at an early age. Make sure that you are the dominant one here as it could be difficult for you to make them listen to you.
Learn more about the cost of caring for an American White Shepherd.
American White Shepherd: Introduction to the Breed
The American White Shepherd is literally a German Shepherd gone American and turned white. The Germans had initially banned the white variation of these Shepherds from registration, but the popularity grew in US and Canada giving them their American name. Despite their popularity, the AKC doesn’t recognize the white variation as a breed of its own and puts them under the category of White GSDs. Some may also think that the color white is a sign of an illness or a deficiency in the breed. But those are all myths and the color is merely a color and not a sign of deafness or any other condition.
The breed traces back to Europe, where they were used as herding dogs. The white color helps as it blends with the sheep, making it easier for farmers to spot the wolves and coyotes.
The White GSDs are usually calm and will usually only attack if they find something suspicious. They are great with families of all sizes, especially with children. They love to play and interact with kids of all ages. Given their love for children, they can be very protective of them. While they have strong personalities, it is possible that they may act aloof in front of strangers. They may also not be the quietest dogs around as they would love to share their opinion in every family conversation.
American White Shepherd Physical Characteristics:
Long tail
Large erect ears
Dark brown or black colored eyes
Long rather than tall body composition
American White Shepherd is best suited for pet owners:
Who want a beautiful companion and a watchdog
Who have kids
Who live in a big house or have access to open space for the dog to walk around
Who can spend time on their grooming
Who like spending time with the dog
Things to know before deciding to own an American White Shepherd
Training an American GSD is very important as it is possible for it to become aggressive and disobedient if not trained properly.
Bark training is also important if you don’t want your neighbors complaining about the loud barks, sometimes in the middle of the night.
Leaving them alone for a long time may not be the best thing to do as restlessness can lead to some destructive behaviors.
They are a very energetic and lively breed that will need an adequate dosage of exercise every day. In the absence of that, they may get restless.
These Shepherds can be quite stubborn. So, it is recommended that negative reinforcements such as punishing or scolding not be used while training.
Grooming them is going to be a big task as they are heavy shedders, especially during the shedding season which comes twice in a year.
What is the price of a White American Shepherd?
There are multiple ways how you can bring one home, including approaching a breeder and buying it from them, going to a rescue shelter and adopting one from there, or ordering one online through any of the multiple online portals available. The average price of a pup can be in the range of $1000-$1500. Some factors affecting the price include the age, breeder’s reputation, bloodline, and coat color.
Conclusion
The AKC or the UKC may have their debates about whether the American White Shepherd is a breed of its own or not. But for us, it is a beautiful-looking dog breed that is courageous, calm, active, loving, protective, affectionate, and energetic. There is a reason that GSDs are among the top 3 most popular dogs, not only in the US but in the world. So, if you’re planning to get one, there’s not much to think about as every monetary or non-monetary cost it could have will be offset by all the qualities it has to offer.
Happy Health and Mood to your Doggo and Lots of Love and Licks to you!