The truth about the Solid White German Shepherds:

The German Shepherds was originally bred to herd sheep and the Solid White coat was very useful.

During World War I & II the founders of the German Shepherd breed found these highly intelligent dogs were very useful and adaptable to other jobs besides herding sheep.

Although the white shepherds were just as intelligent as the other colors, their white coats made them too good of a target for military use.

For this reason the German breeders start avoiding breeding white coated shepherds because there was a larger demand for a military working dog than a sheep herding dog.

This demand for a military dog is “THE REASON" the German Shepherd dog is known world wide today. Had the connect for the German Shepherd as a military dog not been made, the German Shepherd dog would been known today as a much smaller sheep herding dog breed.

In the 1940’s the American German Shepherd Parent Club (The German Shepherd of American) followed the Germans and banded the White Shepherds from being shown in AKC shows. (Please note that showing a dog for championship is for breeding purposes).

The confusing issue over the white shepherd (here in the U.S.) would be, “We Americans” are breeding for a herding dog and not a military dog. The American Kennel Club list the American version of the German Shepherd in the Herding Group. The white coat could be a plus for herding purposes. The big question would be why would a white coated shepherd be banded from being shown in a herding dog group?  

The white shepherds are AKC registered and they are accepted in every other AKC activity such as the AKC Obedience and tracking (but not the show ring). They are accepted and shown in UKC (United Kennel Club) and white shepherd club sponsored shows and become champions (White German Shepherd Dog Clud of America www.wgsdca.org). 

Any UKC and White Shepherd club championship a white shepherd may gain would not be recognized by the AKC.  Does this make them any less of a champion?

Many white shepherds are registered with both the AKC and UKC.