was formed in the year 2000, when the white coat was a disqualifying colour in the GSD breed standard in most countries and it was actively recommended any White Coated Shepherds be culled from German Shepherd breeding stock. Most if not all White Shepherds by this stage where unable to be ANKC main registered under the colour white, breeders who wished to continue on with the white coat colour where forced to do so without the benefit of ANKC registration or papers. As the popularity of internet communication steadily grew and it became easier for localised White Shepherd breeders and owners to began reaching out to each other, the need for a national organisation dedicated to the preservation of the White Coated Shepherds became apparent. The White Shepherd Association began with the help and support of two early clubs, the Friends of White Shepherd Club of South Australia - Ms Jo Van Dokkum, and The White German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria run by Ms Jaquie Cunningham from the 1970's through to the 1980's. registered the name the White Swiss Shepherd Dog Club of Australia, adopting the White Swiss Shepherd breed standard. This action was inline with progress made Overseas, where the FCI and its member bodies accepted the White Swiss Shepherd breed (country of origin Switzerland) through the use of a development registers bringing together the locally bred White Shepherds and disenfranchised White German Shepherds. The decision to adopt the White Swiss Shepherd breed standard over eight years ago has ensured that the Australian dogs have continued to develop along with their European counterparts, allowing many WSSDCA registered dogs to be exported and re-registered as FCI White Swiss Shepherds. To this day the White Swiss Shepherd Dog Club of Australia continues to register without discrimination White German Shepherds, White Shepherds and White Swiss Shepherds. The WSSDCA would like to acknowledge and thank both current and past committee members who have helped shape the Club into the organisation it is today!
