The Swiss Shepherd is a friendly, lively dog. It is not only visually attractive, but is also characterized by high intelligence, willingness to learn and a balanced temperament. This loyal, affectionate four-legged friend needs a lot of exercise, he is an excellent companion during walks, hikes or jogging. Due to his devotion and high social skills, he is an ideal working and family dog.
The breed comes from the USA and Canada, where white shepherd dogs over time developed into an independent breed. Their white coat was considered particularly practical because working and shepherd dogs colored this way could be easily distinguished (especially in the dark) from wolves. In the 70s, the first dogs of this breed were imported to Switzerland, where a stable breeding base gradually developed. The American male Lobo, born in 1966, is considered in Switzerland to be the ancestor of the Swiss Shepherd breed.
From generation to generation, the Swiss Shepherd became more and more popular in Europe and gained new enthusiasts around the world. In 1991, it was listed as a new breed in the appendix of the Swiss Stud Book (SHSB). The breed was officially recognized by the International Federation Cynologique (FCI) in August 2011. In the FCI standard No. 347, the white Swiss Shepherd is called Berger Blanc Suisse and belongs to group 1 - herding and herding dogs, section 1 - herding dogs.
Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog is different.
A balanced temperament combined with an active, friendly and joyful disposition - this is how the character of the white Swiss Shepherd can be briefly described. With great kindness towards people, it can also be a vigilant and incorruptible guard dog on its own territory. To maintain well-being and mental balance, he needs close contact with people and a lot of exercise. Very quickly establishes a strong bond with the guardian and the household. With patient, positive upbringing, he quickly becomes a friendly roommate who faithfully follows orders. Thanks to his friendly attitude, he is perfect for dealing with children, although care should be taken to ensure that a too active toddler does not disturb the sense of security of this sensitive quadruped.
Physical exercise and mental challenges are important to keep this active and resourceful dog balanced. Therefore, a large portion of various recreation should be included in the pet's daily program. Since the Swiss Shepherd is extremely eager to learn and cooperate, his training offers a wide range of possibilities. Representatives of this breed achieve excellent results in many areas. Due to its intellectual abilities, this breed is perfect for responsible tasks and is often used as a working dog. Swiss Shepherds are great as guard dogs, guard dogs or sports dogs. Because they show great abilities in searching for missing people in the field, their quick learning and obedience skills are used in the work of a rescue or assistance dog. The great potential of the Swiss Shepherd is also reflected in the successes achieved at the FCI World Championships of tracking dogs.
The Swiss Shepherd is a medium-sized, strong dog with an elegant and well-proportioned body. Males reach a height at the withers of 58 to 66 centimeters and weigh 30 to 40 kilograms. For bitches, the average height is 53 to 61 centimeters, and the weight is 25 to 35 kilograms. Sheepdog has a strong and well-sculpted wedge-shaped head with a clearly marked stop. The eyes are slightly slanted (almond-shaped) and the ears are triangular and set high. The figure is strong, well-muscled. The chest is deep, the limbs muscular, and the loin strong with a broad croup sloping backwards. The Swiss Shepherd's tail is fluffy and saber-like in shape. At rest it hangs loosely, in movement and excitement it is lifted.
The coat is only white. It is double-coated with a dense, profuse undercoat and a straight, hard topcoat. There are two variants of the coat: short-haired and long-haired. The coat is slightly shorter on the muzzle, ears and front of the feet, and slightly longer on the neck and back of the legs. The general appearance of the Swiss Shepherd goes hand in hand with a noble and balanced disposition.
Both short and long haired varieties of the Swiss Shepherd have a dense undercoat which means they require more careful grooming during periods of shedding. Daily brushing is recommended during this time. At other times, regular brushing, preferably twice a week, is enough to remove dead hair and comb out tangled strands. We bathe the Swiss Shepherd when necessary, we also periodically check the condition of its claws, ears and teeth.
Although Swiss Shepherds are robust and athletic dogs, common diseases cannot be ruled out. The clinical picture characteristic of this breed includes various eye diseases, hip dysplasia (consisting of degeneration of the joints and defective shape of the elements that make up the hip joint) and (rarely diagnosed) malignant hyperthermia, the basis of which lies in disorders of calcium metabolism at the cellular level. To avoid possible hereditary diseases, reputable breeders carefully check the health of the parent animals before breeding.
Basically, the Swiss Shepherd has no special nutritional needs. However, it is worth introducing high-quality food to the diet and taking care of balanced, varied meals. For older animals, the food should contain essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements that support bones and joints. The increased energy needs of four-legged friends working as guard, protection and rescue dogs should also be taken into account.
Although walking on a leash is not a natural activity for puppies, the need to learn this skill is dictated not only by regulations, but above all by safety reasons. However, before a walk becomes a safe and pleasant form of cooperation, the guardian must patiently, step by step, teach the puppy to walk on a leash. So how do you teach your puppy to walk on a leash?
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