White Shepherd vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison

White Shepherd vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed ComparisonFlat-Coated Retriever is originated from United Kingdom but White Shepherd is originated from United States. Both Flat-Coated Retriever and White Shepherd are having almost same height. Both Flat-Coated Retriever and White Shepherd are having almost same weight. Flat-Coated Retriever may live 4 years less than White Shepherd. Both Flat-Coated Retriever and White Shepherd has almost same litter size. Both Flat-Coated Retriever and White Shepherd requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Herding dogs
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United Kingdom
United States
Height Male:
59 - 61 cm
23 - 25 inches
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
Height Female:
56 - 59 cm
22 - 24 inches
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
27 - 36 kg
59 - 80 pounds
35 - 40 kg
77 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
35 - 40 kg
77 - 89 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 10 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
2 - 10
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Flatcoat, flatt, Flattie Flatte (Sweden)
American White Shepherd
Colors Available:
liver and yellow (blonde, black
White
Coat:
double, glossy and smooth
Medium length, dense, straight
Shedding:
Constant
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

flat coated retrieverThe Flat-Coated Retriever traces its heritage to 19th century England. A popular gamekeepers’ dog, the actual descendants of the breed are not entirely known. Like so many well-established breeds, there are many lines of thought about the breed line. There is an unverified line of ancestry that includes the St. Johns Water Dog – an extinct breed from North America. Another story has Canadian sailors bringing their Newfoundlands to England and mixing them with Colliers and Setters. This story has more truth to it and it took 20 years to establish the final breed type.

The breed was originally a retriever with two purposes – to retrieve the hunters’ bounty on land and on water.

The Flat-Coated Retriever was then introduced to the United States as a gun dog. By 1873 it was a “stable type” and in 1915 the AKC recognized the breed. After this, their popularity grew quickly until the American public fell in love with the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. Then the Flat-Coated Retriever’s numbers and popularity fell. The irony was that both the Golden and the Labrador credited the Flat-Coated Retriever as an ancestor. The survival of the breed was questionable following World War Two. They were brought back by a specific breeding program in the 1960’s.

Breeders in the ‘60s made sure they bred for both show dogs and companion animals. The Flat-Coated Retriever survived and is less popular than other retrievers, but he has his fans. The breed is more popular in the United Kingdom than it is in the United States in part because of Best in Show wins at Crufts

white shepherdThe German Shepherd and the white German Shepherd are the same dog - the only thing is that their coat colors vary.

The White Shepherd evolved because people were looking for a working companion dog with a high degree of intelligence and a white coat.

The development of the White Shepherd began at the time of the 19th and 20th centuries. A breeding program was started but in 1933, the white coat color was made a disqualification in the German Shepherd Dog breed standard.

Not to be deterred, it was in 1969 that the U.S. and Canada formed White German Shepherd breed clubs and the breed was actually recognized by the UKC in 1999.

Description

flat coated retriever puppy - descriptionThe Flat-Coated Retriever has a straight and strong topline with unique head, strong jaws, a long muzzle and small ears. His eyes are dark brown almonds with a friendly and intelligent expression. He has an arched neck and a moderately long tail. The Flat-Coated Retriever is more of an athlete, lighter and certainly more elegant than any other type or breed of retriever.

white shepherd puppy - descriptionThe White Shepherd is a true beauty and is a medium to large-sized dog that is muscular and strong. He stands at between 55 and 65cm in height and weighs between 35 and 40kg.

He is somewhat longer than tall. The double coat is medium length, dense, straight and white. He is a fairly heavy shedder. He has an intelligent face, a long muzzle and erect ears. The long tail is low-set.

Temperament:

This beautiful dog’s face tells you that he is highly intelligent. He can be easily trained. The bright eyes are eager and alert and he is ready to be an excellent guard dog and take his role as protector and guardian seriously.

The White Shepherd loves his human family and isn't overly enthusiastic around strangers. They’re playful dogs and will make great playmates for children. They also aren’t aggressive with other dogs and will get on well with other pets in the house.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

flat coated retriever dog - characteristicsThe Flat-Coated Retriever is great with children. Just be careful they don’t knock over small children in their enthusiasm.

Special talents

They are confident great family dogs. They are “thinking dogs” and need something to work for or they will work for themselves. They can be clowns.

Adaptability

They are adaptable although their size might preclude small locations without yards.

Learning ability

Smart, thinking all the time, they are very trainable. However, they are considered the “Peter Pan” of dogs – they never grow up.

white shepherd dog - characteristicsThe White Shepherd is such a beautiful dog and he has some great characteristics to match his good looks.

He is friendly and amicable with his human family and is a great protector as well. He isn’t aggressive yet he makes a great watchdog.

He is loving and loyal and forms strong bonds with his human family. Bringing him into your home and heart is guaranteed to confirm the opinion held that dogs are man's best friend.

Health Problems

flat coated retriever puppies - health problemsFlat-Coated Retrievers have their share of health concerns from dysplasia to cancer. The breeds problems include:

  1. Hip Dysplasia – not very common
  2. PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) – can result in blindness
  3. Glaucoma - an eye disease that can result in blindness
  4. Epilepsy – very rare but still seen
  5. Bloat (Gastric Dilatation and volvulus) – fatal if not treated immediately

Cancers

Hemangiosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Malignant Histiocytosis, and Fibrosarcoma. Studies show that about half of all Flat-Coated Retrievers die of cancer.

white shepherd puppies - health problemsThe White Shepherd shares health problems much the same as the German Shepherd, and one of these is hip dysplasia.

These dogs are at risk of getting hip dysplasia. It’s a congenital disorder with dogs inheriting the disease from their parents. Some young dogs can get the disease too. Because they are such active dogs, the White Shepherd is at risk of dysplasia. There are a number of signs you can look for in your dog and some of these are -

trouble standing up

limping

favoring the use of one particular leg

reduced activity

weight gain

Your vet may want x-rays to examine your dog's hips. Your vet will want to slow the development of the disease and also ease the pain in your pet. There are other steps the vet will suggest to you that can make it as comfortable as possible for your pet.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

flat coated retriever dogs - caringHe will be a medium size dog. Feed puppies 3-4 times a day about a 1/8 cup of high-quality food. Feed a puppy food designed for medium size dogs or specifically for retrievers.

Feeding the adult

Feed 2 times a day about !/2 cups of dry food per meal. Do not overfeed. They have a tendency to be obese.

Points for Good Health

Maintain a healthy weight and avoid exercise before and after meals. The good news is dysplasia and epilepsy are rare in the breed.

Games and Exercises

They are very energetic and need good exercise. Long walks and a yard to run in. Remember they are hunting dogs and will chase to retrieve things so don’t let them off leash outside your yard. They will excel at agility, tracking. Rally, obedience, swimming, hunting, and jogging. They make great therapy dogs.

Grooming:

white shepherd dogs - caringThe White Shepherd's weather-resistant double coat will need to be brushed regularly as he is quite a heavy shedder. When brushing him, check for ticks and fleas as well as any unusual lumps.

Exercise:

This beautiful dog was developed from a herding breed so he is very active. He will love a walk every day but that won’t be sufficient. He just loves ball games, and if you take him to the park, he’ll love you throwing sticks for him or the frisbee.

Because of his intelligence, he will require mental and physical stimulation. You get some toys for dogs where you can put some kibble in the toy and he has to figure out a way to get the food out.

Diet:

The White Shepherd is an active dog, so to keep him that way, ensure he gets good food which has the right balance of vitamins.

There are good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market, but the idea is to know how to choose the high-quality ones and to avoid the ones that can actually jeopardize your dog’s health.

Always read the write-up on the packaging and choose according to your pet’s age and his activity levels.

It is always a good idea to give such a dog some home-made food too. Not any kind of home-made food either because you have to be careful with dogs to avoid them suffering from abdominal pain. They like their food plain and simple – boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables.

Some raw meat occasionally is also good. Don’t forget to ensure a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Flat-Coated Retriever vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Flat-Coated Retriever vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Flat-Coated Retriever vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Flat-Coated Retriever vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
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  26. White Shepherd vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  28. White Shepherd vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. White Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. White Shepherd vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. White Shepherd vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. White Shepherd vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. White Shepherd vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. White Shepherd vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. White Shepherd vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. White Shepherd vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. White Shepherd vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. White Shepherd vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. White Shepherd vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. White Shepherd vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. White Shepherd vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. White Shepherd vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. White Shepherd vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. White Shepherd vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. White Shepherd vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. White Shepherd vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. White Shepherd vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. White Shepherd vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. White Shepherd vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. White Shepherd vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison