WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SHILOH SHEPHERD
AND A GERMAN SHEPHERD
Genetics and breeding goals
Due to the risk of too much inbreeding, Tina Barber was forced to introduce various outcrosses. This made it possible to breed back to a healthy sheepdog as she knew it from her youth.
For example, the Shiloh Shepherd consists of a combination of breeds that Tina used as an outcross. She has used German Shepherds, Canadian White Shepherds and Altdeutscher Schaeferhunde, among others. At the very beginning a male was a cross between a German Shepherd, a White Swiss Shepherd and a Malamute. These outcross dogs were also very carefully traced, as were their ancestors. The introduction of these other breeds has distanced the Shiloh from the original German Shepherd in appearance, genetics and temperament.
Unlike most other breeds, the ISSA (International Shiloh Shepherd Alliance) continues to introduce other breeds into the gene pool for health and diversity. The offspring are carefully bred back with Shiloh Shepherds to regain the healthy breed type.
The German Shepherd is on the left.
The Shiloh Shepherd is on the right.
Shilohs are taller and squarer, with a flat back. The head is more wolf-like,
with triangular ears.
Differences in appearance
Most Shiloh Shepherds are significantly larger than the German Shepherd of the same sex. They have smaller, triangular ears and a less square head, which looks more wolf-like. The body is not as long as the German Shepherd. The long "plush" coat is the most popular coat type, unlike the German Shepherd where the long coat exists but is not the standard. The less common short-haired coat is called 'smooth'. The coat colours can vary between completely white or black, the dual (two colours) and the mixed coat colour with grey, sand or brown in it.
Differences in behaviour and temperament
As a result of selective breeding for a more family-friendly herding dog, Shiloh Shepherds are noticeably calmer and easier-going than most working herding breeds, including German Shepherds. Although there is a higher energy and drive within the breed, including some individuals that are able to perform demanding tasks such as search and rescue work, the Shiloh Shepherd is generally not a working breed. As breeders we strive for a calmer, social, versatile companion dog.
Shiloh Shepherds have a "softer" temperament than the German Shepherd, they are more receptive to going with the flow and are less likely to pose a challenge to their owners.