|
Breed History:
The development of the Shiloh Shepherd breed began in western NY State. Tina Barber was a breeder of AKC registered German Shepherd Dogs in the 1960's, but as GSDs gained in popularity the quality of the breed started to decline, with health issues cropping up in the breed, including such debilitating diseases as Canine Hip Displasia. There were temperament problems, with GSDs who were spooky, fearful or unnecessarily aggressive. The dogs lost size, they lacked good, solid bone structure and 'fashionable' flaws like roached backs and over-angulation of the hind quarters became much more common in the breed. Many people began importing 'working' dogs from Europe, which brought even more aggression issues into the breed.
 Tina was disheartened over the decline of her beloved breed. She continued to breed her dogs for size, health, intelligence and temperament, no matter what others were doing to the GSD breed. Her goals remained the same, to breed the old fashioned German Shepherds that she remembered from her childhood in Germany. The large Shepherds on the farms who were courageous enough to protect the livestock, while also being safe and reliable family companions.
Tina was dissatisfied with the registry as well. Anyone who has AKC registered GSDs could breed them together and register the puppies as purebred German Shepherd Dogs, but there was nothing to say that these were good quality dogs, just that they were German Shepherds. The public was (and in many cases still is) fooled into thinking that AKC meant quality dogs, but that has never been the case. There are no controls in place to prevent people from breeding dogs with genetic diseases or poor temperaments. Tina much preferred the methods used in Europe, where breedings were approved by a Breed Warden and breeding was done to improve the quality of the breed rather than making quick money by selling puppies.
Tina finally decided to break away from the AKC and do things her own way... she began the Shiloh Shepherd breed. She knew that to breed healthy dogs you need to keep copious records not only on the genetics of the dogs you were breeding, but their lineage for many generations back. She also took another innovative step and has the ISSR registry track faults and virtues on more than the dogs that are being bred, but all of their littermates as well. That is one of the foundations that the ISSR Shiloh Shepherd breed is build on Tina's LMX/LMI (Littermate X-Ray and Littermate Information) system.
In 1991 ISSR (International Shiloh Shepherd Registry) was incorporated. Some of the tasks of this registry are to track the genetic faults, virtues and breeding data not only the dogs being bred, but of all the dogs within the breed. This data gives our breeders a much better ability to predict what we will get from a particular breeding, and to be able to minimize the chances of coming up with genetic faults and diseases.
Over the years Tina has used a few very carefully selected outcrosses to bring in 'new blood' and to enhance specific traits in the breed. To date, there have only been 3 non-Shiloh dogs brought in to expand the genepool. The resulting puppies were carefully watched as they grew up, and only those that met Tina's critical standards were allowed to breed further generations.
Tina is still going strong and has been breeding her Shilohs for over four decades. She is supported by a team of dedicated Licensed Breeders who are working with her to fulfill her vision of the ideal Shiloh Shepherd. She leads the parent club, the SSDCA (Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club of America) which is made up of dedicated members who support Tina and her breed, and she runs the ISSR (International Shiloh Shepherd Registry) where all the Shilohs are registered.
Description:
Shilohs possess a distinct impression of nobility with a unique aura of intelligence, that radiates a sense of regal wisdom and strength. Powerfully built with unsurpassed beauty and elegance. Being of giant size does not deter from his proud carriage or seemingly effortless movement. His total devotion and willingness to work can be seen in his alert eyes, and his happy attitude. A certain amount of aloofness is acceptable as long as it is not associated with any form of sharp-shyness.
Height for males, at the top the highest point of the shoulder blade, can be no less than 28" with the ideal height of 30" or more preferred. The minimum weight for dogs should not be less than 120 pounds at maturity (three years), with the ideal being 140 to 160 pounds.
Height for females, can be no less than 26" with the ideal height of 28"or more preferred. Minimal weight for bitches is 80 pounds at maturity and the ideal being 100 to 120 pounds.
The Shiloh Shepherd™ comes in various colors. Shades of black with tan, golden tan, reddish tan, silver, and cream are as desirable as are various shades of richly pigmented golden, silver, red, dark brown, dark gray, or black sables. Also solid black or solid white is acceptable as long as the nose, eye rims, and lips are solid black.
Also see the ISSR Shiloh Shepherd Breed Standard which is the blueprint that all ISSR breeders strive to meet in our breeding program. It contains descriptions as well as detailed drawings of what we are working to achieve. www.shilohshepherds.info/issrShilohShepherdIllustratedBreedStandard.htm
Coat Varieties and Grooming:
The breed comes in two coat varieties. Plush and Smooth. The  plush coated dogs have longer coats, with a thick ruff of hair around the neck and shoulders, feathers on the back of the legs and longer hair on the body and tail. They shed heavily twice a year and minimally during the rest of the year. Their coats require more care and they tend to tangle if not brushed regularly.
The smooth coats have shorter hair, like the average German Shepherd's coat. They also blow their coat twice a year but tend to shed more the rest of the year than the plushes do. They have more of a 'wash and wear' type coat, with less brushing necessary, but also much less tangles and matting.
Temperament, Trainability and Energy Levels:
There is a variety in the temperaments as well as energy levels within the breed, some excel at search and rescue work, sheep herding, and many of our dogs love to have a 'job' to do. Others are much more laid back, more of a 'couch potato' variety. They often make wonderful therapy dogs and service dogs. No matter what energy level they have, the Shilohs are bred to make great family companions.
Shilohs are extremely intelligent, intuitive and sensitive. There are many stories about Shiloh antics on our Forum, including Shilohs who have figured out how to unlock doors and kennels, open the fridge and toss eggs around the kitchen, there's a Shiloh who loves to throw scraps of paper out of open car windows as the owner drives down the highway, just to watch them blow away. Another who holds sports bottles between her paws and pops open the tops to take a drink. Left to their own devices, Shilohs may find ways (not always to your liking) to amuse themselves. On the other hand, if you show a Shiloh something a few times they've learned it so teaching obedience and house manners is easy as long as you are smart enough to stay one step ahead of your puppy. J Shilohs do well in obedience, but they can get bored by dull, repetitive classes because the classes progress too slowly for the active Shiloh mind.
The Shiloh Shepherd has been selectively bred to possess a very unique highly intelligent, yet sensitive personality. As Tina put it, "Do you remember a specific 'German Shepherd' you used to know as a child (or if you are under 50) one that your family or friends told you about? He was the dog with that super, almost human intelligence; that big family protector that was so very gentle with little children, yet would give his life for his master without question. The dog that would walk you to the school bus, and then show up again exactly on time to wait for your return; the hero that everyone talked about; the one that seemed half human. His personality consisted of Lassie, Strongheart, and Rin Tin Tin all rolled into one. Well, that dog is still here today, and he is called a Shiloh Shepherd."
This is the ideal that we are working towards. They are also spectacular family companions, gentle and reliable with children but protective of their homes. They are large enough to scare off an intruder just by their looks and bark alone, but are not inclined to hurt a child that jumps the fence to retrieve his baseball.
Living Conditions:
Shilohs live in every conceivable environment, from Vermont and Canada to Hawaii, Arizona and Florida. There are Shilohs who live in Brooklyn, and many who live on farms and ranches and in the suburbs. Breeders use the Litter Evaluation and a detailed survey of the prospective puppy-buyers lifestyle to help place the 'right' puppy with each family. The more detailed the information you provide, the better chance you have of getting the perfect puppy for you. ISSR breeders also work together to find the right puppy for each family. If they don't think their puppies have the right temperament or energy level for what the buyer needs, they will often refer you to other ISSR breeders who have puppies that might be more suitable, or ask you to wait for an upcoming litter with a different sire and dam, that they feel will have what the buyer is looking for.
Litter Evaluations:
All ISSR Shiloh Shepherd litters are evaluated when the pups are approximately 8 weeks old. The puppies are tested  on Human Interaction, Submission/Dominance, Sociability, Forgiveness, Pain threshold, Retrieve drive, Gunshyness, Fighting Drive, Conformation/Structure, Movement, Temperament, etc. and notes are taken on each puppy. The testing is done by certified testers who are trained to interpret and understand the puppy's slightest reactions to each obstacle that they encounter, as well as being trained to look at a puppy's physical traits and structure and be able to foresee what that pup will look like as it develops into an adult. All of that information is used by the breeder to place the right puppy with each puppy buyer. It insures that the puppy buyer gets a puppy that suits their lifestyle and needs. An example of a LER can be seen at www.shilohshepherds.com/upcoming3.htm
Pet, Show, and Breeding Quality:
The Shiloh is a rare breed, with a relatively small breeding genepool. Therefore it is important to keep as many of the superior quality puppies available as potential breeding dogs. The litter evaluation is used to determine where best to place each puppy. Those that most closely meet the breed standard will be placed in homes with people who plan to show and/or breed their dogs following the ISSR's rules and regulations. Those with minor faults such as a hooked tail still make absolutely wonderful pets and they are the dogs that are routinely placed in 'pet' homes where they will be spayed or neutered. Pet owners often can't even pick out their dogs 'faults'. They're still beautiful dogs, but they are sold at a discounted price because they aren't going to be used in the overall breeding program.
Temperament Testing:
All breeding/show quality dogs that we are interested in breeding must also pass health and temperament clearances. The ISSR Temperament Test is done on adult Shilohs before they can be bred. It tests the dog on numerous items, including walking on strange surfaces, meeting a friendly stranger, their reaction to hidden noises, an umbrella being popped open towards the dog, their reaction towards a small animal, gunfire and also to a stranger who jumps out of a hiding place yelling and brandishing a large stick, then the stick is dropped and the stranger tries to make friends with the dog. The testing is done by certified temperament testers who are trained to read and interpret the dog's slightest reactions to each obstacle that they encounter. If the Shiloh doesn't pass the temperament test it isn't used in the breeding program.
Don't Fall for Imposters:
Unfortunately there are some people who have refused to follow Tina's lead and have broken away from the SSDCA club and removed their dogs from the ISSR registry. There are unscrupulous people out there who breed inferior quality dogs, are breeding Shilohs to other breeds against Tina's wishes, and have refused to follow the rules of the SSDCA club and the ISSR registry. They insist on calling their dogs Shilohs and have come up with all manner of fake registries to try and make themselves seem legitimate.
Please don't be fooled by the imposters who have splintered off from the original parent club and registry. To get a REAL Shiloh Shepherd, look for the SSDCA/ISSR affiliation in any breeder that you contact.
For a list of ISSR Licensed Breeders:
Where you can be sure of getting a real ISSR Shiloh Shepherd, please visit out website at www.shilohshepherds.org/licensedBreeders.htm
The Shiloh Shepherd Genetic Task Force:
The GTF is a group of dedicated breeders and Shiloh owners who work to track the genetic faults and virtues in every dog in the ISSR Shiloh Shepherd genepool. By having Shiloh owners and breeders submit information about their dogs it helps us to determine which dogs in the genepool carry the genes for those diseases, thereby making it easier to purge the diseases from the genepool. Even though the Shiloh was primarily created from German Shepherd stock, it has much fewer genetic diseases than the GSDs have. This is due in great part to selective breeding and knowing the genetic history of our dogs. Check out the GTF website for more information. http://shilohgtf.com
Shiloh Rescue:
We have a small group of dedicated members who work hard to help rescue any ISSR Shiloh that is in need of a new home. There are very few real Shilohs that need to be rescued, due in large part to the fact that the breeders work so hard to match their puppies to the perfect homes. Check out our website for information about adopting a Shiloh Shepherd and for a list of available dogs. http://shilohrescue.com
For More Information on ISSR Shiloh Shepherds:
Always look for the letters ISSR as you do your websearches to ensure that you are looking at REAL ISSR Shilohs! Here are two sites that contain hundreds of pages of information about the breed. http://shilohshepherds.info
http://shilohshepherds.org
Join our Forums and talk to hundreds of Shiloh breeders, trainers and owners:
http://shilohshepherds.infopop.cc/eve/forums
| 
