The breed founder Tina Barber’s original aim was to develop a different type of German Shepherd Dog. Bigger dogs with good hips & more reliable temperaments. Eventually her dogs became so far removed from their original German Shepherd heritage that they are now a separate breed in their own right & have become known as the Shiloh Shepherd.
The Shiloh Shepherd, although still similar to the GSD in some aspects, is heavier and larger, has a calmer, more easy going personality and is noted to have a higher level of intelligence. They have a more balanced build than their German Shepherd cousins and an elegant fluid action that is poetry in motion.
The Shiloh Shepherd was primarily developed to be a loyal protective companion that is totally trustworthy with children & other animals. A member of the family, not a guard dog.
Although bred for size they have few of the health concerns associated with giant breeds. As with all large, deep-chested breeds there is a small risk of gastric torsion & they are prone to temporary bouts of Panosteitis before adulthood but in general they are robust healthy dogs that have an average life expectancy of 12 to14 years. Most importantly the occurrence of hip dysplasia & other genetic problems endemic in the modern German Shepherd have been minimized in this breed because of the strict breeding practices.
A Shiloh is noted to have an intuitive almost human intelligence. Their innate willingness to please adapts and responds well to any kind of training & they make excellent therapy & service dogs.
While other registries have sprung up since the inception of this breed, the ISSR remains the only registry that adheres to the strict breeding rules & can guarantee the purebred lines of the Shiloh Shepherd. Other registries have allowed the re-introduction of the German Shepherd into their breeding programmes which is a backward step for the breed so if you are considering purchasing one of these wonderful dogs please make sure to carefully research your breeder & the origins of their dogs before making your decision.
As someone breeding under license to another kennel there is little financial reward in rearing & selling these wonderful Shiloh puppies. That is not why I do this.The reason I wanted to get involved was twofold:
Years ago I had been involved in breeding my idea of the ideal German Shepherd. A big-boned, sturdy dog without hip problems or other health issues & with a calm reliable temperament. I wanted to breed Shepherds with a keen work ethic & a willingness to please that would do well in competition. In that I was successful but then followed the huge disappointment of discovering epilepsy in the lines I was using & I bowed out of breeding altogether. There were just too many health & temperament problems emerging in the German Shepherd.
When I came to Canada & again started to look for my kind of German Shepherd I came across the ISSR Shiloh Shepherd. They had a code of breeding ethics that I admired & a breed standard describing exactly the kind of Shepherd dog I was looking for. My very first Shiloh Timba lived up to my every expectation & so I began to think seriously about breeding again.
Secondly I was fascinated with how a new breed is developed & the enormous amount of dedication required. The more I researched the breed & read about Tina Barber’s journey the more I wanted to get involved. Nowhere will you find more knowledge of the complicated genetics required to develop a new breed, more rigid adherence to strict breeding practices or more dedication to consistently producing sound, healthy dogs. Only the best of the best are allowed into the breeding programme.
This is not a business venture for me but just a desire to help this breed achieve the full recognition it deserves. I feel it is a privilege to be allowed to do so.