Shiloh Shepherd

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Shiloh Shepherd Profile

Very similar to a German Shepherd except larger and heavier, with a calmer, softer, more easy going personality, the Shiloh Shepherd portrays a distinct impression of nobility with a superior aura of intelligence that radiates a sense of regal wisdom and strength. Powerfully built with unsurpassed beauty and elegance, this gentle giant possesses superior intelligence wrapped in a heart of gold, faithfully protecting his home and those he loves. The Shiloh Shepherd comes straight from German Shepherd and Malamute stock, and is simply bigger, less skiddish with a more reliable temperament, and with healthier hips. The breed was separated from the German Shepherd in 1990. The Shiloh Shepherd is a strong, agile, well-muscled dog, alert and full of life. They are extremely intelligent and make a wonderful companion, show or obedience dog. They are lively, intelligent and very strong. They are excellent in agility and obedience tests. They excel in serving their masters, and they are continually responsive. Shiloh Shepherds should be calm, consistent in attitude, obedient and alert. If puppies are born that exhibit nervousness, shyness or aggressiveness, the pup is maintained to not be bred. Therefore, this breed has been developed to the point of having rather sound, pleasant, friendly personality. Knowledgeable training and handling are required, however, due to the Shiloh Shepherd's natural instinct to protect their owners. They are large and alert enough to protect, but are loving and friendly towards friends and family.

Height: 26 - 30 inches.
Weight: Females: 80 - 100 lbs. Males: 100 - 140 lbs.

Colors: A variety of colors including solid black or white, shades of black with tan, golden tan, reddish tan, silver, and cream as well as various shades of richly pigmented golden, silver, red, dark brown, dark gray, or black sables.
Coat: Shiloh Shepherds have two types of coat: plush (long) and smooth (short). The smooth hair is straight, lying close to the body. The Plush variety has a double coat of medium coarse guard hairs, with a soft undercoat. They have an obvious mane.

Temperament: Shiloh Shepherds are loyal, protective & very intelligent. Calm & stable when dealing with the rest of the world. Without careful socialization, they could become suspicious or timid of everyone, which is very difficult to live with.
With Children: Yes, very gentle with little children. Shiloh Shepherd puppies romp and jump, and are great playmates for children.
With Pets: Shiloh Shepherds are fine with the pets in their own family, but some are dominant or aggressive toward strange dogs of the same sex. Some have strong instincts to chase cats and other fleeing animals.

Watch-dog: High.
Guard-dog: High. These dogs are excellent guards and watchdogs, even though they are quite friendly to family and friends.

Shiloh Shepherd Care and Exercise: Shiloh Shepherds shed profusely. They should be brushed daily to remove the dead hair and prevent it from getting all over the house. Provide mental stimulation to prevent boredom and destructiveness. Take them for brisk walks or runs every day or as often as possible. A great jogging partner, they very much enjoy outdoor activity. Regular exercise is a must for this breed. Regular brushing takes care of either coat type. The Smooth variety requires less work but the Plush variety sheds less.
Training: Extremely intelligent and easy to train, Positive re-enforcement works well in most situations. Shiloh Shepherds are one of the most capable and trainable breeds, they are eager to learn and to work and excel at the highest levels of competition.
Learning Rate: High. Obedience - High. Problem Solving - High.

Activity: High. Shiloh Shepherds love to do activities, exercise, play, or just have a walk.
Special Needs: Socialization, training, and exercise.
Living Environment: It could be a problem if a Shiloh Shepherd was expected to live in a big city apartment unless daily walks a couple times a day are a part of your life. A rural country environment with large yard and plenty of room to run are ideal. The best owner for this breed would be an active owner living in the country or suburbs.

Shiloh Shepherd Health Issues: Hip dysplasia (abnormal development of hip joints), skin disease, congenital heart disease, Von Willebrand's disease, nervous condition, panosteitis (inflammation of long bones in the legs and low thyroid), autoimmune disorders, and digestive problems, and bloat. Bloat is a common health problem for most dogs, being the second largest killer of dogs second to cancer. Shiloh Shepherds are susceptible to it because of their deep chests. It is also known as twisted stomach or gastric torsion.

Life Span: 12 - 14 years.
Litter Size: 5 - 10 puppies.

Country of Origin: United States
Shiloh Shepherd History: German Shepherds date back to as early as the 7th Century A.D. The German Shepherd's roots are in the mountainous sheepdog of Germany. It is said that the breed descended from the Bronze Age wolf. In the 7th century, there was a German dog similar to the Shepherd, but lighter in coat. By the 16th century, however, the same breed had darkened in coat color. About 1880 the German army modified this breed for work as a military dog. The first German Shepherd exhibit was in 1882 in Hanover. Credit for the formation of the modern breed is given to fancier Rittmeister von Stephanitz. In 1899 German von Stephanitz began a breeding program to produce a stable, reliable shepherd dog. He combined long-haired, short-haired and wire-haired dogs from Wurtemberg, Thurginia, and Bavaria. His friend Herr Artur Meyer also helped in the breeding process, and from 1899 to 1935 Stephanitz oversaw the group that promoted the German Shepherd. Until 1915 the breed was split up into three separate versions: the long haired, the short haired, and the wire haired. Later, the wire haired became practically extinct, and these days the long haired is disqualified from the show ring. 48,000 of these dogs served in the First World War, and thus became hugely popular. They have been used for search and rescue, police, army and sentry, scent discrimination and as a guide dog. At the time, it was insulting to call anything by the name of "German", with the war and discrimination. But English sheep herders did not want to get rid of the useful dogs, therefore they called them Alsatians, because they originated in Alsace. Finally after 40 years, in 1971, the British Kennel Club allowed the name to be German Shepherd Dog again. In 1974 Tina Barber set out to restore the German Shepherd breed to its former glory, meaning the larger version that had sounder temperament and was once so prominent in the breed. Focusing on larger size, intelligence, good temperament, and sound hips, she combined German Shepherd and Giant Malamute and changed her Kennel name to "Shiloh Shepherds", which is where the breed gets its name. In 1990 the breed was separated from the German Shepherd in the AKC, and Barber kept all records of registries that named the breed "Shiloh Shepherd." In 1991 the International Shiloh Shepherd Registry was established. Due to disagreements among the members, splinter groups split off to form their own Shiloh Shepherd registries. Today the Shiloh Shepherd has a small but growing number of fans and specimens.

Class: Herding
Registries: ISSR

Shiloh Shepherds

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