What is more important for understanding current judging eligibility for a white dog?
The registration papers listing GSD or White Swiss Shepherd.
The confusion surrounding the White German Shepherd versus the Berger Blanc Suisse stems from kennel politics, not biology, and this has a direct consequence for owners interested in showing their dogs. For a prospective owner researching pedigrees, the most practical and important detail concerning judging eligibility in conformation shows is not the dog's biological classification (which remains *Canis familiaris*), but rather the specific registration listed on its papers. Whether the lineage is registered predominantly as a GSD lineage or as a Berger Blanc Suisse lineage determines whether the animal is eligible to compete under the respective breed standard, especially where white was historically disqualifying for GSD shows.
