According to Embark, the average Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) for White Shepherds is 26% (as of July 2026). For reference, the expected COI (eCOI) for a brother/sister mating is 25%, assuming that the brother and sister had a 0% COI themselves. When studbooks are closed, the COI can only increase over time, unless new genetics are introduced to the population. This is what has happened in the White Swiss Shepherd - over time, the same genes have been doubled up on in the genepool, which is how we end up with dogs with a 5-10 generation pedigree COI of 0% and a genetic COI of 25-30%. This is a very important distinction, as the pedigree COI can only use as many generations as are inputted into the program. By contrast, the genetic COI provided by Embark uses over 200,000 genetic markers to determine the percentage of homozygosity in the dog's DNA.

​

Thankfully, White Swiss Shepherds have an open studbook in the USA and in many other countries in Europe. Soon, more studbooks will open in Europe as there has been a lot of anti-inbreeding legislation proposed there. Knowing that the genetic COI is the single most important predictor of health, we do not take this issue lightly. We are working to add new genes into the White Swiss Shepherd breed via outcrossing and selecting lines previously excluded from the breed due to various political reasons. Although we have faced many setbacks, diversity remains one of our overarching themes, and we hope to make meaningful change, particularly in the next few years.

​

We have already raised our first F2 outcross litter (a singleton we named "Joker"), and we hope to have F3 puppies by the latter half of 2027. Joker gives an eCOI of 16-22% with our females, and each puppy would have a 50/50 chance of being white or colored. If you would be interested in an outcross puppy, please reach out to us at firesidefernweh@gmail.com, and be sure to let us know if you would allow us to use the dog for breeding when he/she matured. This would require that the dog be health tested.