In the United States, the White German Shepherd appears throughout the history of the breed. Ann Tracy, owner of one of the first two German Shepherd champions on record in America, imported some of the finest German show stock to the USA, and white puppies showed up immediately in her litters. In 1917, the first White German Shepherds were registered with the American Kennel Club. In the 1920's H. N. Hanchett of Minnesota imported German-bred White German Shepherds. Some of the finest early German lines such as v. Oeringen, The Strong heart, Rin-Tin-Tin and Long Worth bloodlines frequently produced white dogs. 

     It was not until the 1930s that white dogs were discriminated against, after the death of Max Von Stephanitz (architect of the modern Shepherd), and increased with the rise of Hitler. During the 1960s as the White Shepherd grew ever more popular, friction developed between the breeders of the White German Shepherd and the breeders of the current standard colored German Shepherd. Genetic problems appearing in the breed were increasingly blamed on the White German Shepherd, and Germany began a campaign to outlaw the white color. Puppies born with the snow white coat were drowned, and records of their births destroyed. White Shepherds were held responsible for "fading" or "washing out" the darker dogs color. This point has been refuted innumerable times by leading breeders and geneticists. However in 1968, following Germanys lead, the White German Shepherd was disqualified from the conformation show ring in America. In 1980 the Canadian Kennel Club was petitioned by the German Shepherd dog Club of Canada to disqualify the white dogs from the show conformation show ring.

     However, in response to hundreds of letters, the CKC refused to disqualify the White German Shepherd, and the white dogs are still eligible for conformation competition in that country. 

     Other than color, the White German Shepherd does not differ substantially from the standard colored Shepherd. Color does not affect the dog's personality, temperament or trainability. However, our Shepherds do differ from standards in some ways. Because of better care and feeding the natural tendency of the breed has been to grow larger than the standard, which was set at the early origins of the breed. We allow this natural occurrence and do not purposely down size our dogs to maintain out dated standards. Many of our dogs grow to well over 28 inches at the shoulder and weights of 80 to 130 lbs. These are not over weight or disproportional dogs, but simply dogs who reflect better feeding and the best in modern care. We also are not breeding to promote the current tendency toward the exaggerated angulation or long hunched back so common in today's show ring. Instead we breed only dogs who have been certified sound in hips and health and proven stable in temperament and trainability.

 The snowy shepherd has a worldwide following that is pushing to have it recognized as a separate breed or as a viable color for the GSD. There are two clubs in North America that promote the white German Shepherd.

The White German Shepherd Dog Club International Inc. was formed under the name the National Club for the White GSD, according advancement of the White German Shepherd Dog, in 1964 in Sacramento, California, to protect and further the interests of the dog. In 1977, the club changed its name to the White German Shepherd Dog Club International Inc., and today nearly 20 local chapters exist.

The American White Shepherd Association, founded in 1994, works for full acceptance of the White Shepherd as a separate and distinct breed in all major kennel clubs and registries. It currently has nine regional clubs in the United States and Canada.

At press time, the AWSA had successfully petitioned the UKC to grant the White Shepherd full status as of January 1, 1999.