Brandon,

Let's look at the article a little closer...

The author is saying Stephanitz established the breed for shepherds and sheepherding, this is incorrect. He established the breed for utility work, primarily for police and military. Yes, it was comprised of shepherd dogs, but the underlying goal was not a better sheep herder.

The article repeats how coat color is not important, but repeatedly argues the point that the white coat color is important.

I question that the 'majority of K9's injured or killed in the line of duty' is the result of friendly fire.

The argument about color in regard to herding is completely off. The perspective that needs to be considered is not how the dog & sheep blend into the environment, it's the perception that the sheep have of the dog. The sheep (and any other herd animal) tend to fear/respect a dark, erect-eared dog moreso than a light-colored, soft eared dog. The jist of it is about prey animal & predatory animal, not camoflage.

The article also promotes working ability over beauty. Where are all the great white working GSDs? I'm not saying they're aren't any, but the overwhelming number of police, military, SAR, SchH, Detection GSDs are sable, b&t, and/or black. On that note, I took the opportunity to visit a number of White GSD breeder websites and few if any are breeding working dogs of any description, but a number are breeding whites to whites, whites to blacks, and listing breeding stock as coated or carriers of coat, as if it's a good thing as far as utility is concerned.

Feel free to send this back to the White GSD forum.

All right, I'm done......

John,
Good post, I think that I will cross post it.