Breeding Philosophy

Our breeding philosophy is focused on producing only from the very best representatives of the White Shepherd. Each pedigree is carefully researched to ensure excellent health, temperament and structure as dictated by the breed standard. As a result we are pleased to provide a written guarantee on each puppy's health.

Breed Standard: The White Shepherd has a distinct personality marked by direct, but not hostile expression of self-confidence.  It is poised but when the situation demands, it should be eager and alert, ready to serve in any capacity such as companion, watch dog or service dog. Timidity, shrinking behind the handler, lack of confidence or any other display of poor character or aggression are severe faults. 

Braehead has striven to develop a uniform line of White Shepherds that excel in sound structure, sound movement, superior health and outstanding temperament, all in keeping with the breed standard. These characteristics are our primary considerations when planning every breeding.

Braehead has paid particular attention to minimizing the health issues that can occur in the German Shepherd Dog. Hip Dysplasia (H.D.) is a disease that can have a profound impact on the quality of life for a dog. To do our best to minimize the risk of H.D., we insist that our breeding pairs have proper hip clearances. We also research closely related dogs to ascertain that this highly desirable quality is present throughout the family. Our dogs' hip ratings are a matter of public record, and I encourage everyone to visit the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals' web site for verification. 

Because of our commitment to these breeding objectives, we are founding members of, and participants in the White Shepherd Genetics Project. The WSGP website contains a database for reporting genetic traits and health clearances which helps conscientious breeders make informed decisions in their breeding program. This database will help improve the health of our white shepherds in future generations.