THE HISTORY OF THE BREED
What is a Shiloh Shepherd ?
The Shiloh Shepherd is a large herding dog descended from ancient German Shepherd lines. Shiloh Shepherds tend to be larger, calmer and gentler than many other types of Shepherds. Other breeds have been used to develop the breed and improve its health, especially its appearance and temperament. ISSA (The International Shiloh Shepherd Alliance) is a club consisting of members and breeders whose mission is to preserve and improve this unique and rare breed for the future.
Where does the Shiloh Sheperd come from?
The Shiloh Shepherd is a breed created by Tina Barber in the US in the 1980s. Tina Barber began training German Shepherds for personal protection in New York State in the mid-1970s. Early on, however, she saw that many of these Shepherds were too difficult for the average family to deal with. Tina wanted a Shepherd that could be trusted and handled safely by a small child. She also discovered problems with hip dysplasia in her lines and started getting ideas on how to reduce this problem. This started her quest to create a dog as she remembered it from when she was a child in Germany: a large, healthy, family-friendly Shepherd. Gradually other breeds were introduced into the Shiloh line, to develop the qualities she was looking for. The German Shepherd bloodlines from which Shiloh Shepherds were bred came from Tina's kennel. Tina eventually named the breed Shiloh Shepherd in 1991 when she split from the AKC (American Kennel Club). In 1991, the Shiloh Shepherd was recognized by the American Rare Breed Association, a kennel club for owners and enthusiasts of dog breeds and types not recognized by the AKC. This marked the official launch of the breed. Tina worked on developing the breed for another 20 years before she passed away in 2011.
What is the difference between the Shiloh Shepherd and other sheperd dogs?
The Shiloh Shepherd is a large breed, considerably larger than most shepherd dogs today. The aim of the Shiloh Shepherd breeding programme is to produce an excellent companion dog. The Shiloh Shepherd's head is more wolf-like in appearance than that of the German Shepherd.
Outcross, how and why?
What exactly is an outcross and why is an outcross so important? Unfortunately, many problems have arisen in purebred dogs over the years. Due to too little variation in genes, many purebred dogs suffer from hereditary ailments. So it is not for nothing that many crossbreeds are now known as 'healthier and stronger'. These dogs generally have more variation in their genes.
