White Swiss Shepherd Dog — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Hip and elbow dysplasiacan shorten life or cause chronic pain
Malformation of the hip and/or elbow joints causing pain, lameness and early arthritis; documented at around 13% of screened individuals by breed sources.
Ask to see: Hip and elbow score from a recognised national radiographic scheme (the breed's own clubs require official radiographs before breeding — AFBB in France, ZGBBS in Germany), on both parents
Association Française du Berger Blanc — Tests de santé (http://www.bergerblancsuisse-france.com/sante-tests.php)
Degenerative myelopathycan shorten life or cause chronic pain
A progressive, incurable disease of the spinal cord causing hind-limb weakness and eventual paralysis, usually from around eight to fourteen years old onward.
Ask to see: Degenerative myelopathy (SOD1) DNA test, on both parents — mandatory for breeding approval under the German club (ZGBBS) and recommended by the French club (AFBB), which cites around 99% test reliability
ZGBBS — Degenerative Myelopathie beim Weißen Schweizer Schäferhund (https://zgbbs.de/degenerative-myelopathie-beim-weissen-schweizer-schaeferhund) · Association Française du Berger Blanc — Myélopathie Dégénérative (http://www.bergerblancsuisse-france.com/sante-myelopathie-degenerative.php)
MDR1 drug sensitivity
Not a disease in itself, but a mutation that makes some dogs abnormally sensitive to ivermectin and several other common veterinary drugs, which can be fatal if the prescribing vet is not told in advance.
Ask to see: MDR1 (ABCB1) DNA test, on both parents
Association Française du Berger Blanc — Tests de santé (http://www.bergerblancsuisse-france.com/sante-tests.php)
Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae
A malformed vertebra at the junction of the spine and pelvis, associated in shepherd-type breeds with lower back pain and, in some dogs, cauda equina-type nerve signs.
Ask to see: No DNA test. Visible on the same pelvic/spinal radiograph taken for hip scoring — ask specifically whether the vet who read it checked for a transitional vertebra, since it is not always reported by default.
Association Française du Berger Blanc — Dépistage dysplasies et VTL (http://www.bergerblancsuisse-france.com/sante-dysplasie-info-depistage-protocole.php)