Seems like there has been another push lately to attract attention to the white coated German Shepherd dog and the idea that they would be better off as a seperate breed from the German Shepherd. I am strongly opposed to this idea, but I've been thinking through exactly why I feel so strongly. When I first heard the idea - when I was very new to GSDs - my only thought was "why would you make them a seperate breed when they are German Shepherds?" This is a reasonable response but a naive and uninformed one. There is so much more to the issue than that.
First, I have been thinking about the benefits of breed seperation. I know there must be some or people wouldn't push the idea so strongly. The only thing I can come up with is that it wouldn't be a disqualifying fault in AKC anymore. So if they worked through the process, they could eventually show in AKC conformation. I can't really think of any other benefit, which really scares me because why do people want it so bad?
Then I think about the negatives - and to me there are a lot of them. First, the gene pool of the GSD is already small enough. To take out a fraction of that gene pool and seperate it further makes no sense to me. Almost all whites are related. It's almost impossible to look at a pedigree and not see some overlap within 4-6 generations. We need genetic diversity and we need the gene pool the colored dogs offer. Even if the white GSD gene pool is technically "big enough" (and that's a hard thing to quantify) it's still smaller than the gener pool of the GSD, so you're cutting off access to genetic diversity.
We don't know enough about canine genetics to know if we can cut off a huge portion of the gene pool safely. What happens if there is a gene mapped in 5 years that causes cancer and we find that it's in most of the white lines? What happens if we find that the inbreeding/linebreeding we have to do because of the lack of colored dogs to breed to causes health issues? It seems like if you're going to willingly limit the gene pool and with it the potential health of the breed, you better be getting an awful lot out of it. And I can't figure out what that is besides the ability to show in AKC.
Second, white to white always breeds true, but what do you do with colored dogs who produce white? Two colored GSDs have a white pup - is it a mutt? Or a DQed white GSD? It couldn't logically be the new breed because its parents aren't of that breed. My Vegas has two colored parents - had she been born under breed seperation what breed would she be?
Another issue to me is AKC. I know AKC is the holy grail of dog events and everyone wants to show AKC. But the reality now is that showing whites is limited to UKC and small speciality clubs and that makes it relatively free of politics, much cheaper, free of professional handlers and more family friendly. If the white GSD was an AKC breed, all that would be lost. If I wanted to show AKC conformation now, I would. I don't want to. I don't want to have to send my dog with a handler or hire a handler in order to win. And the reality is that would happen - look at most of the breeds showing in AKC today.
Sure, no one would have to show AKC and could still show UKC, but AKC acceptance in the show ring changes a breed. It changes what the breed looks like, its temperament, and its health. And never for the better. Look at the GSD if you don't believe me - the extreme angulation and sidegait are all because of the AKC show ring. The temperament issues? It's because of dogs who spend their lives in kennels waiting for the next show and no thought given to working agility. Health issues? It's because a top show dog needs to be bred to recoup the investment regardless of health. What percentage of AKC champion GSDs have performance titles? I bet it's a lot lower than the percentage of champion white GSDs that do.
There are always good breeders who try to keep a breed from going in the wrong direction, but showing in AKC brings money, prestige and to some degree power into the equation and those are very hard factors to combat.
So in my mind, a small group of people are willing to risk the health, structure and temperaments of our white GSDS all for the chance to hand your dog off to a stranger to show in the AKC show ring. If you think that's a good deal, I have a bridge to sell you.
I have ignored in my analysis the issue of public opinion. Because white is currently a DQ in AKC, people have the impression that there is something wrong with whites. Anyone who owns a white has heard all the misconceptions, all the unfounded biases and all the stupidity. For some people, this eats at them. They know there is nothing wrong with their dogs and it really bothers them that public opinion is against them.
I do understand this, but at the same time, I would rather have the healthiest dog with the best temperament and structure I can and have people hate them than risk health, structure and temperament in order to sway public opinion.
Plus, ask anyone with a pitbull - sorry, an American Staffordshire Terrier - how much having their dogs accepted in AKC has helped public opinion for them. I don't think people care that the Am. Staff is accepted in the AKC show ring when they back away in fear of this "viscious" breed. The public opinion of these dogs is terrible - public opinion is not made solely by AKC acceptance and it can be swayed without it.
I just don't get the thought process of why people want to hurt these great dogs for so little return. Even if I am over estimating the potential damage, any risk seems to outway such little benefit to breed seperation.
From the CCC Web site: "Clever Canine Companions Versatile Working Registry was founded in 1991 with the purpose of reaching and educating the public on responsible dog ownership. The registry also celebrates the versatile working abilities of all dogs, purebred or mixed. CCC offers three levels of versatility titles that recognize all types of activites our dogs can do. A required part of the team's accomplishments for each title must be earned by the owner. This involves volunteer time educating the public about responsible dog ownership. "
I really enjoy working Anubis. He has such a great personality and zest for life.
The sire of this litter is "Polar" 
