In German Shepherd Dogs the recessive gene for white coat hair was cast in the breed gene pool by the late 19th and early 20th century breeding program that developed and expanded the German Shepherd Dog breed in Germany.

A white herding dog named Greif was the grandfather of Horand von Grafrath, the dog acknowledged as the foundation of all contemporary German Shepherd Dog bloodlines. Rittmeister Max von Stephanitz December 1864 to April 1936 Information provided in early books on the German Shepherd Dog make mention of Greif and other white German herding dogs, with upright ears and a general body description that resembles modern German Shepherd Dogs, shown in Europe as early as 1882.

The early 20th century German Shepherd breeding program extensively line bred and inbred "color coat" dogs that carried Greif's recessive gene for "white coats" to refine and expand the population of early German Shepherd Dogs.

White coats were made a disqualification in the German Shepherd Dog Club of Germany breed standard in 1933 after the breed club came under the control of the German Nazi party that took over all aspects of German society in February 1933 when Hitler declared a state of emergency.

The German breed standard remained unchanged as German breeders repopulated the breed in the years after the conclusion of WWII.

In 1959 the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA) adopted the exclusively colored breed standard of the parent German breed club. White-coated German Shepherd Dogs were officially barred from competition in the American Kennel Club conformation ring in the United States starting in 1968. AKC-registered white German Shepherd Dogs may still compete in performance events.

During the 1970s, white dog fanciers in the United States and Canada formed their own "White German Shepherd" breed clubs, breeding and showing their dogs at small specialty dog shows throughout North America. The White Shepherd Club of Canada (WSCC) has been dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the White Shepherd since 1971.

German Shepherd Dog Studs

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Choosing a German Shepherd Stud for your female is a very important decision.

As breeders we take the place of nature and select what we feel is the best male to compliment our females. There is so much to consider as� you review the stud listings here on GSDsite.

Keep in mind the ancestry of your dog, physical and mental traits you want to retain and improve upon, health clearances such as hip and elbow certification and screening for DM.

Success in the conformation ring or on the trial field is another component to evaluate.

Things to consider when selecting your German Shepherd Stud:

Titles and awards: Generally people don't bother putting time and� effort into a male that will not be desirable as a stud in the end.� As a result most European males are not considered stud candidates unless they have� attained a high degree of training such as Schutzhund 3 or IPO3. American studs typically have some form of American Champion associated with their list of accomplishments.

Show ratings: Show ratings can be� difficult to assess. May breeders offering stud services seem to have it confused themselves. Show ratings are broken into two catagories; the level of the event the rating was given, World,� National, Regional, and Club as well as the placement itself, V1, V2, V3, or SG1, SG2, SG3, etc. If a dog is advertised with a show rating it should be identified as to where and what the rating was. Protocol is the show rating given with the dogs name is earned at the World level or National level the consumer should check the results to see where the rating was earned. Ratings earned at Regional and Club level are often presented and mis-interpreted as World or National level results.

Health clearances: Typical clearances are the Hip and elbow certifications offered by OFA or the German 'a' stamp program. There are other certifications obtainable from other organizations. Check to see how they compare to the American and European standard. Another health consideration now emerging on the scene is the DNA test for DM. Most stud owners can advise you if their dog has been tested as a carrier and what the result is. In the American breed there are tests for other ailments prone to the breed. Ask your stud dog owner what test were done if your selection is an American male.

Production: By the time the dog is offered as a stud male, there should be some history of the dogs' ability to produce. Many top dogs are top producers, many are not. Check the results of the males offspring and talk to the owner to find out specifically what their male has produced.