The White Swiss Shepherd Dog will become the 219th pedigree dog breed recognised by the Kennel Club with effect from 1st October 2017. The breed will be classified in the Pastoral Group on the Imported Breed Register.
The breed, as its name suggests, is a type of herding dog developed in Switzerland in the twentieth century. It comes in two coat types, medium-length and long-haired, and has had an FCI breed standard since 2011. A Kennel Club breed standard is being developed and, when this is published, the breed will be able to be entered at Kennel Club licensed shows.
The breed is only the ninth new breed to be recognised in the UK in nearly a decade, following recognition of the Russian Toy earlier in 2017, and the Braque d’Auvergne and the already well-known Jack Russell Terrier last year. Prior to that, the Hungarian Pumi, Griffon Fauve de Bretagne and Picardy Sheepdog were recognised in 2014, the Turkish Kangal Dog and the Portuguese Pointer in 2013 and the Great Swiss Mountain Dog was recognised in 2008.